Friday, March 6, 2009

Ladybugs!

First of all, thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes. Can you believe that my husband and I have the exact same birth date? We both had a very good 47th birthday. We are so thankful for our health and another year to celebrate together!



We had a little taste of spring today! It was cloudy and windy but it was warm. At 6:00 PM it was still 65 degrees, (F)! I did some cleaning in the flowerbeds this morning before work. I cut back the echinacea seed heads that had been left for the goldfinches. I cut back a few more of the
grasses and trimmed back the Jackmanii clematis. I skipped trimming it back last year and it wasn't very pretty and didn't have as many blooms.

I planted two really small weeping, red Japanese maples several years ago. They aren't so little anymore and probably not in ideal locations. They are beautiful and very healthy and I dare not move them, so I had to prune them a bit to keep them from encroaching on the sidewalk and driveway.

While I was cleaning in one of the front yard flower beds I noticed two ladybugs on the lambs ear. Yes, it is almost spring! Not only that, but I am seeing some of the perennials and a few daffodils starting to emerge from the earth.

It was so wonderful to be outside playing in the dirt. I didn't even mind that the wind was blowing all in my face as I shook it loose from last years annuals.



I usually buy some type of camera equipment with our credit card reward points, but this year I'm thinking about the garden. I ordered my first pair of Felco pruners today and I got a few gift cards that can be used for some things in the garden.

I'm so thankful for this little taste of spring, I just wish it was here to stay.

28 comments:

Gail said...

Robin, Happy Belated Birthday! Emerging perennials, ladybugs and planting in the garden...not a bad way to celebrate a birthday. Your ladybug shot is wonderful.
Gail

Gardeness said...

Glad to hear you had a good birthday. These photos are amazing! You can see the texture on the ladybugs. Awesome.

Sue said...

Well, happy Belated Birthday!
I am so incredibly jealous....being able to work out in the yard would be wonderful. I still have tons of snow in the yard. Ugh! But, I DO have a few ladybugs on my windowsills....does that count? : )

Daphne Gould said...

Warm weather - what a wonderful birthday gift. I'm still waiting for my snow to melt out, but I'm thinking it will this weekend.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Another belated Happy Birthday to you and your hubby ! .. that is so strange to share ? weird coincidence ? LOL, the same birthday : )
Wow with the pictures of the ladybug ! .. you are so far ahead of my garden .. big sigh !

Anonymous said...

Wow .. double celebration for the shared birthdate. And, that ladybug surely brings smile to your face as well.

Sue Swift said...

A belated happy birthday Robin. You and your husband weren't also born in the same hospital I suppose :)

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Happy Birthday!
I love the lady bug pictures, they are always a great sight!

Gnome said...

Robin, I just found your blog, happily :) Your pictures are incredible! The lady bugs are so beautiful against the dried up lambs ear, and the clarity, amazing! You inspire me! Happy Birthday to you and your husband :)

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Oh, I missed the party!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday, Robin!!!!!

joey said...

Delighted you enjoyed your shared birthdays, Robin. You filled my heart with joy viewing your stunning ladybug photos.

Sherri said...

Glad you and your hubby had a great birthday! I love the lady bug pictures. We've had some lately in the house too!

Balisha said...

Happy belated birthday from me too! I had the same experience with my clematis. I trimmed it back yesterday too. Mine is a shady spot now that the tree has grown so big. I hate to move it though.Have a great Sunday.

Unknown said...

Yes, belated but warm birthday wishes to you and hubby, Robin. I know this past year has been a challenge at times so here's hoping that this year will be full of spring joy and surprises, all year long!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you & hubby had a nice birthday together. That is really cool that you share the same birthdate. Makes it easier for remembering too, lol. ;) Ladybugs already! That's a great sign of spring!

Mary said...

Robin! Sorry I missed your birthday. Been away from the blog again :o/ Happy Belated Birthday to both of you!

I love that ladybug! Fantastic photo!

Mary

Theresa/GardenFreshLiving.com said...

Awesome ladybug photo. You are so close and so in focus that I can see every little scratch and speck of dust on the shell. Incredible. I am always so amazed by your beautiful photography.

Jan said...

Awesome photos of the ladybug Robin! Isn't it uplifting to have a little warmth in the air and a taste of spring for a change? I hope you get to see some sun because I know how gloomy it can be in IN and OH, having lived in both areas! (OH is worse, I think). Sun-wise, that is;)
It is interesting that you guys share a birthday...and, that mine is just one day after yours! I only got 1 or 2 wishes from blotanical people though,because blotanical was down that day and noone got the email, I guess!!! that's ok...don't want to advertise the fact that I'm aging!

Jennifer AKA keewee said...

I enjoy seeing the cute little ladybugs in my garden. Your camera take great pictures.

Pat said...

Congrats on the birthdays.
Awesome pic of the lady bug !
Love gift cards :)

Anonymous said...

Such amazing photos, as usual. Love the ladybugs! I sowed some more seeds today, how about you? This time, instead of seed starting mix, I simply started two containers that I had planned for climbing annuals. So now I have two big pots of soil in my kitchen, and hopefully they will soon be full of passiflora blue and thunbergia Blushing Susie.Wish me luck!

Anonymous said...

Belated birthday wishes to you and your husband Robin. Sounds like you had a good day and oh my, what incredible ladybug photos!! I saw my first ladybug the other day too (but no photos!!) so maybe spring is here?? We can only hope!!!

GartenGrl said...

Fabulous photographs! Me and my daughter were in Florida over the week end and she was freaking out over all the lady bugs!

Sheila said...

Congrat's on those Felcos!

Anonymous said...

I dated a guy once who had the same birthday as me. I told him he was lucky. Happy belated to you as well. And that ladybug is so real. It even ate an aphid on my screen.

Kerri Farley said...

Happy Belated Birthday Robin! My hubby and I are 1 day apart in our birthdays!

Fabulous close ups of the Ladybug!!

Chuck Dilmore said...

Wow - beautiful photography!
Especially love the close-ups. Impressive!

peace,
Chuck

Diana said...

Robin - I saw lots of ladybugs -- in the house! -- at the in-laws last week. Your photos are stunning! So glad it's been nice weatehr for you - it feels great to be outside, doesn't it?