barb – Barb's Back Yard

the promise of spring flowers!

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022 by barbNo Comments

First flowers of the season say "yes! earth is awakening from her rest!" Each time my heart leaps at all the miracles which come in this time. Every year. This year my back garden has sunny daffodil faces rimming the garden edge, with some hellebores nestled in. Bowls of pansies with their sweet faces flank my front porch. I love seeing their happy spirits raised up to the sun! And my yard has so many wonderful spring plants! Including so-called "weeds" -chickweed, red and white clover, spring onions, wild violets and dandelions. These "weeds" are also edible! (daffodils and hellebores and the other flowers not so much.) Most of all, spring lifts my spirit, to remind me that all things begin anew, and beauty is so healing. I hope you enjoy the spring - hear the birds call and rejoice, inhale the delicious scent of flowers, and share the strength of trees. pansiessnow dropsspring treesyellow daffodilspurple crocushellebore bloom ...

Snowdrops – signs of spring

March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 by barbNo Comments

©Copyright 2020| Barbara Eilert | All rights reserved Snowdrops, popping up through leaves and twigs, mean spring really is coming to life! We had a beautiful sunny day last weekend, and my friend Jinny said "Let's take a walk!". So we did. And happily spied this wonderful little patch of snowdrops at the very beginning of the trail! To add to the happiness? Going through my photos, this little bee showed up! I had no idea it was feasting in the snowdrop! Have a wonderful day! So excited to see the first signs of garden season - natural and planted versions! ...

Spring memories for the final winter weeks

February 4, 2017February 5, 2017 by barbNo Comments

No matter what the ground hog said, we long for spring as the cold sets in for February. On cold winter days, it brings me comfort to look at photos from spring. I guess it tides me over until the flowers begin to bloom again, and the sweet scent of hyacinths fill the air. ...

8 reasons I love White Clover

June 10, 2012June 8, 2016 by barbNo Comments

Every year when I look out and see clover in my yard, my heart leaps with the happiness of seeing an old friend. I absolutely love the stuff. Why on earth anyone would want to kill it off with herbicide goes beyond my comprehension! Here are just a few of the things I love about it: White clover attracts beneficial insects, and naturally controls bug populations. As a gardener, this means a lot. Whiteflies? Watch out! White clover attracts parasitic wasps (the itty bitty kind, not the big nest building kind) and bees. Bees pollinate vegetables, fruits and flowers. Unless you are allergic to them, welcome them to your gardens for much greater abundance! Beautiful to look at, white clover also smells good! Rabbits absolutely LOVE to eat white clover. Last week I looked out to my garden to see a rabbit, with his back turned to my garden, happily munching on the adjacent patch of clover. Made us both...

Spring came early to KY this year!

April 10, 2012February 1, 2017 by barbNo Comments

This year, spring arrived about a month ahead of schedule - and even brought a few summer like days. The trees blossomed early - and virtually all at once! Normally I enjoy the pear trees flowering first. Just as they leaf out, my two cherry trees in the front begin to blossom with delicate white flowers. As they fade, the remaining cherry tree bursts forth with beautiful branches covered in deep pinks. This year? They all bloomed at once! And after two spectacular weeks, the season ended. Yet what a marvelous two weeks we had! Enjoy the pictures. :) ...

Winter Branches

February 20, 2012January 31, 2017 by barbNo Comments

This winter turned out fairly mild, to my great delight. (I'm not a tremendous fan of the cold, being more of a summer gal.) As I look back over the past few winters - all of which involved ice and plenty of snow - I came across some photos of the pear trees in my backyard. It struck me that each branch - though sheathed in snow and ice - showed the promise of spring through the early buds forming on each branch. Nature has a way of working in her own time, as anyone knows who has patiently waited for a baby to enter the world, or prepared for a dear one to leave. Birth and death, winter and spring. All seasons cycling through nature. As we patiently wait for cold to warm, it helps to see the promise of spring held in the forming buds of a snow coated tree....