Every couple of days when I walk around my yard, I spy something new blooming or coming out of ground (though it's usually weeds). Yesterday, I discovered my rhubarb.
Goodness.
Goodness.
Today I headed to the garden center for the first time this season. What a welcoming sight to see all the pansies. I know they're common, but I don't care. They shout "spring" to me and are cheerful and lovely, so that's all that matters.
I also found dahlias in bright pinks and purples...
and little Forget-Me-Nots.
Every which way I turned, more vivid colors. More goodness. It simply made me smile just looking at all these flowers. I miss them so much during our long, gray winters.
This nursery also has a fabulous array of succulents, though I didn't buy any as they were too pricey. I'll wait for a sale.
Though it barely reached 50 degrees today, the sun was shining brightly. It felt so darn good to be outside. On the way home, I stopped at a church where they have a labyrinth in the back. Have you ever walked one? It's so calming. I could see hawks circling overhead and spied a few deer running out of the cluster of trees. Goodness.
So, what did I bring home with me from the nursery? For now, some viola - also known as Johnny Jump-Ups - which are a relative of pansies. The purple and yellow ones are my favorite color combination.
A beautiful spring day also calls for a springtime meal. For dinner, I made a pasta dish (I used quinoa pasta, so it's gluten-free) with lemon, herbs, spinach and pine nuts. It was easy and quick to make, and absolutely delicious. You can find the recipe HERE.
I hope that your day was filled with some spring goodness, too.
Sharing with
Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
At Home with Jemma - Thoughts of Home on Thursday
Art and Sand - Share Your Cup
Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
At Home with Jemma - Thoughts of Home on Thursday
Art and Sand - Share Your Cup
I worked out on my new gazebo, which I'm showing tomorrow. I enjoyed the warmth of spring in shorts and a t-shirt. I love pansies.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
It was a sunny but cold spring day here too, but no matter, it was WAY better than the snow we had on Saturday! I never care how "common" pansies and violas are, they just scream spring to me, and I have to have them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice post, Melanie. I enjoy seeing the good things in others' lives. Your flower photos are really pretty. I especially love the photo of the succulents. Your pasta looks delicious and healthy too. Thanks for sharing. I hope you're having a good week.
ReplyDeleteI define spring goodness the same way you do-
ReplyDeletegardening, visiting a great nursery, and great food!
I hope you will share this at Thoughts of Home on Thursday.
We would love to have you.
Just stop by my blog to join in.
www.whitespraypaintblog.com
Enjoyed visiting,
Laura
Great post with gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteJudy
It is past midnight and now I am craving chocolate cake after looking at your header!
ReplyDeleteI love this time of year when the flowers are fresh, colorful and abundant.
Steve made a fantastic shrimp pasta dish - with fresh basil I grew! But, I hate to eat starchy pasta so I am going to look for the quinoa pasta.
Love this!! I can feel your peace and happiness - and oh, my!! That garden center!! I'd be there for hours!
ReplyDeleteLots of pretty eye candy here...I've never walked one but that church's labyrinth made of stones is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post, Melanie! I'm so excited to get out to the garden center and see what I can find. Johnny Jump Ups are one of my favorites. The rule of thumb around here is to wait until Mother's Day to do any planting, so I am making myself sit tight for a couple more weeks. We are expecting snow again this weekend:( I've never walked a labyrinth, but it sounds wonderfully restful.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it all! I have a hunch that you might be all giddy right now:)
ReplyDeleteLove your photos too!
Jemma
Love all your pictures of these beautiful blooms. I get so overwhelmed when I visit the garden center...I want everything. If you have a chance, I'd love for you to stop by and share at our Talk of the Town Link Party.
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful photos of spring flowers make my heart sing. I think my favorite are pansies and violas...they're inexpensive, low maintenance, can survive cooler days, and bloom prolifically. What's not to love? Your wonderful cooking always makes me wish I lived closer...maybe I'd get an invite. :-)
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Pansies are popular here when the winter season rolls around as they certainly can't survive the summer heat. Weather has been gross the past few days and after yesterday's dust storm, all my plants are covered in a layer of muckiness since it tried to rain a few times, too.
ReplyDeleteI looked for pansies the last time I went to HD but they didn't have any. I was so disappointed. Pansies speak of spring and happiness to me.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring gardening to you ~ FlowerLady
Pretty flowers, plants, food and the prettiest is Melanie.
ReplyDeleteXo Mom
What beautiful spring photos, Melanie...I love the labyrinth. It has warmed up here today...and looks like it may stay for awhile!
ReplyDeleteWe had our first warm sunny day today (50) and it felt so good to feel the sun on my face after so many months of cold and gray. We've even got a few perennials poking their heads through the ground!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get out to the greenhouses, and I'll be buying a few flats of pansies, too. I love their cute little faces!
Your dinner looks yummy!
Melanie, I love to walk around at the nursery in off season. Here in Texas we are sailing past pansy and viola time and we have planted most of our summer flowers already. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday. I really enjoyed your beautiful pictures.
Thanks for sharing all this beautiful spring bounty with SYC.
ReplyDeletePansies may be common, but I love seeing them in my garden. I have them all over the place.
Good Morning Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to see that you shared this wonderful post with us at TOHOT.
You know all of your photos are wonderful, but that one of the succulents, should be framed!
Love the inspiration, my friend!
Jemma
What a riot of color you've shared! It must have been breathtaking at the nursery, if you photos are any indication. I've never walked a labyrinth. I cannot even spell it!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Sonday!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Thanks for coming by!
Gah!! So much beauty! I'm itching to do some flower shopping but have not had time to do any thinking about my beds yet. I need to get on it.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful flowers, Melanie, and you captured them so well; sure you did them justice! Your pasta looks delicious, too. I love using greens with pasta, it's so refreshing with lemon, a bit of Parmesan, garlic, and a touch of cream!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
Poppy