In Bloom

Every February, I curse the Knock-Out Roses that came with the house.  I hate pruning them, and no matter what I wear, I always get cut up.  Last year, they suffered terribly with what I now know is Black Spot (thanks to my Master Gardener training!  Knock-Outs are supposed to be highly resistant.  HA!).  This year, they appear to be rewarding me for my diligent care.  I have never seen so many blooms.  The yellow roses by the front steps:

 The container I assembled between the garage doors.

 The pink Knock-Outs around the maple tree (with blueberries in the containers):

Me playing with my Aperture Setting:

 More pink Knock-Outs around the Crepe Myrtle:

 One of the last Azalea's:

 More Azalea's, from the bush that had been languishing in full-on sun.  I moved it this Spring, and it is thanking me profusely (more Aperture playing):

 The Garden.  Sam the Scarecrow came home with me from the thrift store yesterday:

 Chives blooming, as well as German Chamomile:

Yarrow, a gift from a friend:

The Amarylis that I planted out front in the daffodil bed.  I am relieved it made it through the winter.  It has thrown off 4 babies that I will separate after they are all done blooming:

We are in the throes of Strawberry Season here.  I picked my 55th pound of the year today.  So far, they've all been either made into low-sugar Strawberry Jam (I also tried Strawberry Chocolate Mint and Strawberry Lemon Verbena) or dehydrated.  I will freeze less than I did last year, but I do need to go get more and freeze some.

Happy Spring!

Here's the Buzz...

Got in the hives today.  It's been about 3 weeks since we last checked on the bees, so it was time.  I wanted to make sure they weren't building any swarm cells, and I was also curious to see if they were storing any honey.

Our neighbor, Tom, who is in 3rd grade, wanted to tag along.  So he suited up and joined right in.

His Mom is afraid of bees.  She stayed far away. 

We were pleased to see lots of larvae and eggs.  We had to add another brood box because I wanted them to have enough room.  There's a box of honey which was left from last winter, and another box that they are filling but haven't yet capped over, and another one for future stores.  I think we're in good shape.  After the honey flow, we'll make a split and get back to two hives.

It makes me happy to know the bees are thriving.  I wish we hadn't chose the hottest day of the year to get in, but it's good to know they aren't planning on swarming anytime soon!