My perennial garden with garden house.

What is there to celebrate today?—-ME!   Today is my birthday, and I’m taking the day off because its going to be a very busy day.

Just thought I would share a few thoughts with you before the day gets started;  a break from my usual blog format.

This evening I am dancing in a special show called a “Showcase Ball”,  where I’ll be dancing a solo routine with my teacher/dance partner.  We’ve been working on this since  February;  first choreographing and learning the routine, then practicing it, then tweaking and polishing it till it’s performance ready.  Hope all goes well.  I don’t usually get nervous at these performances, but you never know what may happen and I need to stay focused.

Early morning sun filtering through the young leaves of a red maple tree.

So far this month, the weather has been spectacular.  The sky is the deepest blue, and the light green of budding trees silhouetted against it is so awesome .   All the homes in my neighborhood have beautiful flowering trees in full bloom.

Flowering Crab-apple tree.

Kousa Dogwood tree;  white flowers now, red berries in the fall that the birds love.

Purple phlox, and chartreuse Euonymus, a striking color combination.

There is so much beauty everywhere I want to photograph it all.   I think May is the prettiest month, and I feel so lucky that it’s my birthday month.  It makes me want to celebrate.

A tiny beauty peeking out.

Another tiny beauty; a species tulip.

More of the same. Aren’t they cute?

The photos I’ve included in this post were taken in my yard.  Although I love to see mass plantings of one kind of flower for its impact value, when I take pictures I like to focus on just one or two flowers and bring out the details.  I also look for color combinations that I find striking.

An all white daffodil, so lovely!

Flowering Quince

Grape hyacinths, a mass of them planted outside the garage welcomes us home.

I hope you enjoy my photos.  You probably have some of the same in your yard, but its kind of fun to see others, too.

This azalea provides a bright spot of color at the side of our deck.

Sunday, coming up, brings with it Mother’s Day.   Another wonderful day for celebration.  Honoring our mothers  (and fathers, too, on their day), is a wonderful thing to do.  We owe them so much—we wouldn’t be who we are, or where we are without them.  So if you still have your mother with you,  give her a big hug and kiss, and do something really nice for her.  And for all you mothers out there I hope you have a wonderful, love and family-filled day.  Be good to yourself, and have a great weekend.  See you on Monday with another really yummy recipe.

View of the perennial border.

Early May morning.

All photos taken by yours truly.  If you would like to reuse them, you may do so only with my permission.