Spring Symphony(Part 1)

Floral Orchestra

I love spring. Bringing rain and temperate breeze, breathing life into the earth, waking up the nature, banishing the wintery hoariness and dullness, it transforms my surrounding into a much more colorful, refreshing and interesting one.

My Susan Magnolia tree, on south east corner of our house on the lake side, is the harbinger of the season; literally renewing herself overnight with all its branches covered by beautiful flowers, she heralds in spring in early March. As its flowers grow, leaves gradually come out, filling in where there is room and making a rich, green foil to the purplish-pinkish flower.

Susan Magnolia

In the mean time, verdant baby leaves dot all branches of trees around (White and Dark Oak, Willow Oak and Hickory Oak in the majority). Several Pieris Japonica (Scarlett O’Hara), bordering the east edge of house, put on new clothes of bronze-red leaves and sprays of white flowers, next to them, are two Otto Luyken English Laurel flaunting elegant spikes of white flowers. On the south east corner of the yard right by the lake, Wisterias come all out and completely veil the small tree they claim home. In the front of the house, my Japanese maple turns into a red –headed, plump beauty from a scrawny bald, and pink azaleas burst out in wild profusion. The road sides of the neighborhood are blanketed by a mix of green, blue, yellow and purple, that I couldn’t name. Among the woods, there are clusters of pink Mezereon and pendants of Wisteria in pale Violet.

Pieris Japonica (Scarlett O’Hara)

English Laurel

Japanese Maple

By early Apr, spring is in full swing. The gaunt, unanimated row of all dark gray tree boughs, rimming the other side of the lake, is replaced by a screen of lively boles with big green heads.

Joining the floral orchestra later in spring are Dogwood tree with deep pink, four petal flowers, Daphne Retusa with lavish pink-flushed flowers, Rhododendron with clusters of lovely purple flowers, Hydrangea Quercifolia (Oak Leaf Hydrangea) with large spikes of white flowers and Honey suckles, which is most fragrant of all.

North Carolina state flower-Gogwood

Pink Daphne Retusa

White Daphne Retusa

Permeating through the pleasant environ are the singing, twitting, chirping and occasional squawking of various birds. Amidst this flourishing spring scene this year, I welcomed a couple of very special guests. When a flitting sound outside my bed room window drew my attention two weeks ago, I found a couple of doves building a nest on one of the camellia trees right by the other side of the wall. I have been watching since, while being careful not to cause any stir to this fascinating little world that I don’t know much about. Hopefully I’ll see the baby bird(s) in a week or so. Stay tune for their story in the next post.