Here is a picture of what my front flower bed looked like for a while. My mom had planted a lot of really pretty flowers last fall and with what was already planted everything was growing beautifully. Then something just popped up out of no where. We assumed it was a squash plant so we left it alone to see what would happen. Before I knew it, it had completely covered the flower bed choking out everything in its path. When I finally pulled it out the vine was about ten feet long. What was it? We still don't know. The bloom looked just like squash but a green oblong thing the size of my hand started growing. It looked a little like the beginning of a watermelon and that would make since with stray seeds getting spit random places in the summertime. We know it wasn't watermelon because the vines were too tall and leaves too big. Either way, it is now gone and my snapdragons, pansies and wandering dew are in pitiful shape! But don't worry the canna lilies are busy trying to take over and the  blueberry bush is still thriving. (one full gallon of blueberries so far)

What I want to know now is how to pick blueberries when I have seen these! This one was dead but the other one was alive. Now every time when I walk in the flower bed, I get the heevy jeevies.

One smart thing we (actually Rachel and Lydia) did this year - planted sunflowers under the window in the den. They have grown so high that I can see them from all over the den and the kitchen bar.

Spring Has Sprung

Great news! The hydrangea that came from my grandmother's old house has sprouted.
As a child I thought she could grow anything and I especially loved the hydrangeas that banked her front porch and steps. After she died and her house was torn down, one of my aunts transplanted some of her hydrangeas to her home on another part of the family's home place. When we went to visit the family last summer my aunt gave me several cuttings. She gave me wondering dew that I think I killed, an oak leaf hydrangea that I can't tell about yet and the prize - a piece of Grandma's hydrangea. As I was pulling weeds this morning I was thrilled to see the first signs of life and new growth. After close examination of everything in my yard I found buds on blueberry bushes my neighbor gave me, hydrangeas from the girls last year and cone flowers that our dog really likes to sleep on.
Spring is a season that we all can be reminded of God's blessings. When you open the door and are greeted with the sweet melody of the birds and fragrance of new growth, you can't help but say, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."