Flowers for Leontien

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Yard Tour~ The Garden

Spring is finally here!

It's been kind of fun & exciting to see what is growing on the yard.

There are a few things in the garden spot that I'm especially happy about.

This is from the top of the garden, looking down. It's terraced.

And it needs a lot of TLC...we are working on that part.

Let's take a closer look...

Concord Grapes growing on the small porch/deck area on the South side of the house.

They are in serious need of pruning, which we'll do this fall. For now, we're working on getting them trailing around the railing again. I think the deer knocked them down.

Last year they produced a lot of grapes. Great for juicing!



At the bottom of the garden is this grape arbor, with table grapes. Also in serious need of pruning. To the right of the arbor is a mock orange which is struggling right now. Hopefully we can nurse it back to good health. There is also a Quaking Aspen (not pictured) that I just noticed the grape vines have attached to. We'll be cutting those vines out! I'm amazed at those little vines. Don't stand still too long, or you may find them attaching to you!

(Not sure what the plant to the left is)

Looking up: The grape arbor is behind me. We have planter boxes & a

rocky terraced area.

Quite a bit of this growing amongst the rocks (and everything else).

(Catnip)

And some of this in various places in the garden & the yard. Don't know what it is.

(Feel free to let me know what any of the plants are!)

And in the rocky terraced planters...I've found several of these little beauties.



That's right...strawberries! There used to be lots of strawberries, but the garden area was not well maintained. I weeded yesterday & found 15 or so plants. We'll see how they do this year with a little care. At the end of the season, I'll transplant them all in the same area (they are spread all over right now). They are blossoming right now and Shane is so excited that we might have fresh strawberries!

This is the raspberry patch. Not a dandelion patch...a raspberry patch.

There are 3 or 4 canes showing new growth...so we are hoping to salvage those. Weeding this planter is my next project. Then some much needed TLC for the raspberries.

I'm not expecting them to bear fruit this year.



Showing some struggling signs of life.

We did find out the sprinklers have not been working in the garden area...

Rick finally found the problem last night (a disconnected wire). So hopefully some good old water will help the plants thrive.

Although these seem to be having no problem growing.



We have 4 fruit trees; Plum, Cherry, Apricot & Peach.

All have blossomed and the apricot & cherry both have set fruit.

The apricot tree was drooping a little, but we got some water on it & I am amazed at the difference!

In just two days, the fruit has doubled in size!

I'm not sure we'll get fruit on the plum tree...I think it might have gotten some cold/frost damage with the last snow we had here. Just keeping an eye on it to see if it will set fruit.



This bush is outside the garden area...but also in the "not getting water" zone!

At first I thought it was a lilac. But sadly, it is not.



If you know what it is...do tell!

I'm hoping the buds will open up soon! This morning there are quite a few more buds on the plant (that water is good stuff!)

Beautiful peach blossoms. The peach tree was struggling. It has been nearly overpowered by the Apricot. All the trees need a good pruning...But I am hopeful that the peach tree will set fruit too.



Hooray for Spring!

(Now I'm gonna go take some Claritin :)





The Early Years

Come with me on a little stroll down Memory Lane...

Rick & I have known each other since 2nd grade. We lived in the same neighborhood, attended the same Elementary School, and the same ward (church congregation).

Our Elementary School put on a school program every year, called the "Spring Festival".  When we were in 5th grade, our class was outside practicing for our part on the program.

Rick asked me to be his girlfriend...

We broke up later that day.

In 6th grade, he asked me to dance with him at a school dance, and I told him NO!

I guess you could say we had a bit of a rocky start!

During our Senior year in High School, we had almost every class together.

Toward the end of Senior year, we got to be really great friends.

He was dating one of my friends and I went out with one of his friends.

Then he asked me out...

Our first date

We went to dinner at The Coachman's Restaurant in Provo.

Then we went for a round of miniature golf at Trafalga.

While we were on our first date, he asked me out to the Senior Dinner Dance at school.

 Our 2nd Date: The Senior Dinner Dance

I'm still thinking were "just friends".

But we kept dating.

And that friendship just kept getting better and better.

Over the summer, we dated other people too, but by the end of the summer we had had enough of that.

The deal was pretty much sealed by then.

And after almost 6 months of dating, he finally kissed me!

(Can you believe that?)

 Another school dance picture. Senior Ball, the winter after we graduated.

We got engaged on my birthday, February 1985.



 Dance picture from Sweetheart's Dance shortly after we were engaged. I was taking classes at what is now UVU.

  A year later: This is our engagement photo

(cringe)

I would love to do the photos from our engagement & wedding over! 

 (Oh my heck~ enough with the mullet and the big glasses, already!)

Gotta love the 80's!

And a year and a half later...

Our first family picture!

Happy 26th Anniversary to my forever BEST FRIEND! 

He Is Risen

He Is Risen

by Del Parson

 "He is not here: for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

(Matthew 28:6)

He Is Risen

(The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos)

I Looked Out the Window...

And what did I see?

Popcorn popping on the

apricot

tree...???

WAIT...

WHAT???

OK, technically it's a crab apple tree that is pretty close to blossoming...

And this morning is covered in SNOW!

I guess that changes my idea for the beautiful Spring post I had planned.

The fruit orchards near us are starting to blossom and the greening hills are swathed in pink and burgundy patches of flowering trees. So beautiful bathed in the morning sunrise.

(Technically again, it was 9 AM and cloudy...but that's not very poetic, is it?)

Hopefully I'll still be able to snag a picture in the next day or two.

Either way~

Happy Spring?

Happy Easter!