The buds reaching into the sky prove that winter was survived.
Our front yard Robinson flowering crabapple survived its first winter in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.
The snow, the cold, the wind, the snow, the snow, the cold … our little beauty is entering its second growing season with us in good health.
I see the buds to prove it. Lots of bus, from down low to the top of this 12-foot, soon-to-be-blushing beauty.
As it grows taller, I stand prouder of the tree that my dear wife Karen and I planted in the middle of our front lawn early last May.
Here’s what I wrote about last year’s first flowering after we put her in the ground following our adventurous little trip up the road from Lowes with the top sticking out the passenger side window.
Do you walk around your yard and take stock of the progress of your favorite plants, bushes and trees? What is your best garden buddy?
Mark Bialczak 
No, I rent, so I covet my neighbor’s lovely loquat tree and I also envy my more Northern friends’ apple and peach trees. Meanwhile, I get frustrated cleaning up the mess my Oak leaves on the lawn and in the gutters. 🙂
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The apple and peach trees sound pretty nice, Rachel. Do you get to taste the fruits?Yes, oak trees give off fallen oak leaves. Nature’s fall revenge for summer.
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Yes, and dreaded oak pollen. Not to mention that in Florida, where roaches are prevalent, roaches LOVE to live in oak leaves. YUCK!
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Not good, Rachel. Achoo and yuckaroo!
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LOL! Exactly!
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I love apple blossoms when the tree is full–it looks so ethereal! Thanks for reminding us to look around at all the beauty, Mark. So easy to forget. 🙂
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This is the season to truly appreciate it here, Ermigal, after our tough winter.
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The crabapple is looking good!
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Today it looks like it’s getting ready to bust out the flowers, Rachel. Exciting!
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sorry – meant to say or what passes for winter these days
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Just heading into winter over here – or passes as winter these days
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I hope it is not harsh … but it sounds as if you might like it to be more winter-like than it has been recently for you down there, George.
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That is so delicate and lovely, it’s just so peaceful. It’s terribly cloudy and windy, so it wasn’t a good day for photos. We have 72 hours worth of potentially damaging weather on the way, so knowing what the wind may do, I did walk around and enjoy a few pretty things.
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I hope you make it through the rough 72, PLGCM. It was rainy here this afternoon, too. I tried to walk the dog but she didn’t want to continue because it was raining too hard for her. She didn’t have a jacket with a hood like I did …
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I moved away from a yard that I had planted many trees and many plants in. Broke my heart. Haven’t really been able to get in to it again…..but I do remember that feeling every year…. The trees were a little taller. The plants fuller. The yard so beautiful. 🙂
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Sorry to hear you had to leave the garden yard behind, Colleen. You obviously loved it like Karen and I do.
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I did love it. 🙂
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yay, isn’t that exciting to see ?! i love walking around the yard to check the return of things, gives me assurance that summer is coming. i planted 120 daffodil bulbs last fall and was worried the woodland creature crew ate them, but finally see some of them up )
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That was some meal you served down to the woodland creature crew (great line, Beth!) but I’m so glad they left some daffodils for you to appreciate. The first burst is so wonderful this spring.
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it is, and i thought it was mighty kind of them to leave me a few )
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I can’t wait to see the fruit thereof….
Hey! Your site isn’t letting me do a like or anything. I had to backdoor this comment!
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Well I have not changed any settings, Trey. Oy.
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Check your email, please. . . Anne
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So glad it is really thriving, Mark! I saw an interesting, but sad, report of a winery up north, along Lake Erie, where there vines are black! They froze! The owner/grower was telling news reporters that it would not revive this year! I liked my last house, where we bought a few flowering trees from Lowes! They seem to have a pretty good nursery.
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We usually go to a local nursery, but were at Lowes to buy on-sale mulch when we spotted this beauty last year, Robin.
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I love walking around my father’s yard. Brings back such awesome memories of family. We are big believers in transporting flowers, bushes and such from each other’s yards. Like having a piece of each other nearby which holds a cleaver or loving memory.
Now I need a trip home to the midwest. Miss those peeps of mine.
Have a super day!
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We went to our favorite local nursery this afternoon, Audrey. I will write about it for my Wednesday waer.org community blog. There’s a teaser for you!
I love your family tradition of transporting flowers. One of our butterfly bushes here in Syracuse came from one sprig of a white butterfly bush transported from my sister Fran’s backyard on Long Island. That makes it so special.
I hope you get a visit with the Midwest peeps of yours soon.
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I’ll have to watch for the post, Mark.
See y’all do it, as well. Fun moments!
Thanks!
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Was thinking about you and your bride. I remembered you mentioned outlet shopping……you like a bargain like I do !!! Glad you saw this. . . Thanks. Big weekend smiles. . . . .
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You, too, on your trip through CNY and Skaneateles, Anne!
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Actually, we drove to Skaneatles to on Thursday, spent the night, then drove to Ithaca on Friday…did all that and got back to the Albany area about 7:30 last night!
Phew….fun packed two days. . . . .
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I am watching the beautiful buddings as best I can, Mark. Thanks for adding to that beauty, today.
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I hope you get a trip outside to that gorgeous Boston Park this weekend, Ann. I’m glad my crabapple photo could pinch-hit for you this morning.
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