First of the Month - April

Wisteria - 1 April 2011

The changes that take place between March 1 and April 1 are always impressive. It now truly looks like spring and I for one say, yipee! The blooms are almost gone from the wisteria, which is sad, but worth it for the few weeks it is covered in purple flowers. The bald cypress now has leaves, so it no longer looks quite so sad and the river birches have new lime green leaves. The oak has done its typical shedding of leaves for spring, odd I realize, but true none the less. It looks a little forlorn, but is starting to get new lime green leaves as well. The weather is wonderful, hardly an humidity and temps in the mid to high seventies. Not too shabby. Here's to April. 

Oak - 1 April 2011

River Birch - 1 April 2011

Bald Cypress - 1 April 2011

River Birch #2 - 1 April 2011

Camellia - 1 April 2011

First of the Month - March Edition (almost)

Oak - 6 March 2011

Well, it's just been a dismal March so far - until today. I guess it means that spring is here when the lines of storms start to come our way from the west. Unfortunately, there have been tornados in parts of the south, which almost always means someone dies. I hate hate hate tornados - they scare me more than any other weather thing - hurricanes no problem, but tornados - hate them. 
I just keep thinking that spring is here, that said, the high today was 53˚but I can hear the cardinals chirping as they pig out at the bird feeder and that's good enough for me .... so far. 

Bald Cypress - 6 March 2011

River Birch 6 Mar 2011

Realizing that this is the 6th and not the 1st, this isn't quite right, but I couldn't make it through the rain and then the cold and the wind - what the heck - like a tropical storm - but it appears that's over - just in time to go back to work. Woo.

River Birch #2 - 6 Mar 2011

I'm sure to someone up north, I'd sound like a lame-o, but you know, it should be warm by now. I'm sure this has something to do with me gloating (just a bit) to the Verizon tech that helped me this week. She innocently asked me "How's the weather in Florida?" and I went on about how we'd been wearing shorts for two weeks and eating at outdoor restaurants on the water. She in Utah. Oops. Well, it does get humid here and we have gators (at least that made her feel better). 
When are things going to get going in the backyard? It's driving me nuts. Come on. Get going. Um, now. 

Wisteria - 6 Mar 2011

Camellia - 6 Mar 2011

First of the Month - February edition

Oak - 1 February 2011

It is a dark and stormy night, no really, it is. Photos were taken at 5:30pm and it was almost dark then  with temperature of 66 and humidity of 68% and a tornado watch until 8:00pm tonight. There is a line of thunderstorms moving through the area. This is the same storm that is dumping snow everywhere else in the US. The winds have been up as high as 64 knots with a couple gusts higher than that. By 6:30pm the rain was in torrents, sheets of rain, cascades of the last hanging on leaves oh, and thunder and lightening and an power outage. I should know - I was out in it for an afterwork meeting.  So, now -- on with the extremely wet 1st of February 2011 pictures.

Bald Cypress - 1 February 2011

River Birch #1 - 1 February 2011

River Birch #2 - 1 February 2011

Wisteria - 2 February 2011

Camellia - 2 February 2011
How did I forget you in January?

7:08pm Weather Update - Line of storms has moved through. Just rain now with occasionally lightening and thunder. Temperature is dropping now - is supposed to be colder tomorrow with more wind. Ah, winter in the Gulf Coast.
11:22pm Weather Update - 4,200 people out of power. Not surprising - though this is no fault of Gulf Power, they do an amazing job, but this was a heck of a storm.

First, First of the Month Photos - January edition

Oak - 1 January 2011

I'm starting to document the changes in the garden at the beginning of each month, thanks to a lovely (I do think I over use that word), idea from MotH. So here are our lovely (there it is again) back yard plants, all replacements, excepting the oak and wisteria, from after Hurricane Ivan (2004). It's a typical Gulf Coast winter day. Currently 66 degrees with rain and a good bit of humidity all day today, but at least it is not freezing. So, now -- on with the wet 1st of January 2011 pictures.

Bald Cypress - 1 January 2011

River Birch #1 - 1 January 2011

River Birch #2 - 1 January 2011

Wisteria - 1 January 2011