There is never a boring view from this home.  This view looks from the driveway across the field in the direction of Pisgah Mountain, which can be seen from the house on clearer days.  I love the snow clinging to the tree limbs and the pristine snow lying on the ground...as yet untouched by wildlife, pets, grandchildren or us.

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”   John Ruskin

FRONT YARD SUNSET!

Catch your breath!  Looking from the front porch across the driveway and beyond the pasture.   Each sunset is even more spectacular in person!

  This awesome  picture of early morning mist was  shot by my granddaughter, Ashley, from the side porch of our home. The photo is overlooking the distant French Broad River flood plain in Mills River.  It is quite breathtaking. The sepia tones were caught by the camera and not by editing. Way to go, Ashley!

Our Rose Garden, which is somewhat heart shaped in design, bloomed well this year. Must be more due to lots of rain and sun than to my green thumb. Well, maybe my thumb helped a bit, but the credit goes to Mom Nature!

Transfer Garden

This must be part of the Spirea family, but I am not sure. It blooms about the same time of year (Spring) and it has thousands of tiny fragrant flowers. This shrub is in the "transfer garden" - where we moved plant offsprings from our former home. Over the years we have added other shrubs to this area and have moved many of the perennials to other gardens. We have three acres of land and this garden is located approximately near the border of the 1st and 2nd acre. In the winter I let the leaves mulch the roots and in the spring new growth emerges with good umphf!

Spring cometh! And it does!!

Corner of Porch: Spirea and HDTV

Each year we are thrilled with the Spirea at the corner of our front and side porch. It is large (have to lightly trim its branches on one side so as to not interfere with reception from DirecTV!) and its fragrance fills the surrounding air. I love the Spirea, but I am also hooked on our HDTV!

Blue Siberian Irises and First Knock-Out Rose

The blue flowers are Siberian Irises. My husband found one on the roadside years ago. We planted it at our former home and then brought a few to Fairwinds. Now there are many. The lovely pink-red plant in the background is my very first Knock-Out Rose. I love it. The full size will be about 3-4 feet high and wide, I believe. Currently the rose bush is surrounded by Violets which seed themselves yearly and add an abundance of purples to our gardens in the Spring. We have a dedicated rose garden, but this Knock-Out Rose in our front garden is supposedly long blooming and easy care. Pleasant.

Japanese Maples

These two Japanese Maples were grown from seed by our neighbor over the hill beyond the pasture. He could grow anything it would seem, from a great family, to a great dairy farm, to great gardening. These were given to my husband and I as a housewarming gift 7 years ago. Each were still small then; each grew well. A couple of years ago we got hit with very bad winter weather and thought we had lost these gems. We waited. God worked. They are glorious in their abundant color once again. Thank you, B. F. Nesbitt.

Sir Waddles

The knight in shining armor is "Sir Waddles" named for the cat path of our former wooded home. Our cats would waddle down the path and hence his name - guarding over our sweet animals. Now he guards our gardens at Fairwinds. He does his job well.

Spirea & Memories of Early Childhood

Spirea...Wedding Veil variety I think. Planted 4+ years ago. What a display we get each year of delicate, fragrant buds covering the long stems. I remember that my Mom and Dad had this type of shrub on their land in Wethersfield, CT when I was growing up. My sister and I loved the flowers following those harsh winters and the blustery Spring month of March.

Spring Garden Phlox

Every winter we see the dormant creeping phlox keep the sundial garden somewhat green. Then come early spring and the color begins. This started with one small plant in a plastic black pot. Now it is a good 6 x 3 foot patch. At its fullest, the green is nearly hidden by the mass of purple blooms.

Fairwinds Gardens in North Carolina

Fairwinds Gardens

in

North Carolina

Today I gingerly set out my first new plant for the growing season. By mistake, I had opened a blogsite but had no idea what to do with it. Inspiration struck while planting that first geranium in my ornamental garden cart given to me by the parents of two of my grandchildren.

So, let this blog begin and be blessed by God's garden marvels.