Clematis on my mailbox
As is usual this time of year, Spring has arrived in the South. Last week was just about peek and I took a walk through my neighborhood to show you what is blooming around here. In spite of our severe drought last year, it doesn’t seem to have affected the show of flowers. We have had lots of rain lately, so that has helped a lot. Foliage and blooms are pushing their way up to the sunshine and giving us a grand show that only happens this time of year. This is my very favorite season!
Azaleas are a staple in the Southern garden and they are tried and true bloomers. Our neighborhood is 10 years old, so many yards are well established (ours, not so much, but that’s another story).
I won’t attempt to name everything I’ve taken pics of, but what I do know, I’ll share. This is especially for all you gals up in the frozen north who will have to wait another month or so to see a show like this. I’m so sorry for you!
I love this bunny planter at a neighbor’s already filled with tiny petunias that I think are Million Bells.
Lady Banks Roses on a mailbox.
Pretty purple iris
Don’t know this one.
More azaleas, the colors are spectacular this year.
White dogwood in full bloom
More azaleas
Such gorgeous colors. 
Not sure what tree this is, but the blooms are amazing.
I think this is a snowball bush with one crazy limb climbing up to the sky.
Snowball closeup.
Pink dogwood
More coral azaleas.
I love this color azalea! My favorite pink.
These tulips were so pretty!
Ahhhhh.
Pink azaleas and pink dogwoods.
Red Japanese maple, you can’t beat their foliage for beauty.
We always called this Thrift and I can’t remember the real name of it.
More azaleas.
Lilac perhaps??
Carolina jasmine at the end of the blooming season.
And then I ran into these cute little guys in one yard. They were happy to have some company and came right over to be petted.
I’ve been by to see them before and they’re very friendly.
Aren’t they cute?
Pink and white azaleas right next to each other. I’m determined to get some in our yard. We have no azaleas right now and have lots of landscaping work to do. I miss having all these blooms in my yard, as my yard in GA was full of them. 
Now here’s what’s been blooming in my yard. I fell in love with Lenten Rose (or hellebores) several years ago when I saw them at Callaway Gardens in Georgia and vowed to have some one day in my own garden. I planted 3 little plants two years ago and they are rewarding me now with some beautiful blooms. I actually took these pics back in March and they were in full bloom then.
I really don’t know all that much about Lenten Rose, except they bloom in late winter and have the most delicate flowers and colors.
Isn’t this a beautiful flower?
Just thought you’d all love a little shot of spring to cheer you up, just in case you are still stuck in Winter where you are.
Hang on, Spring’s coming your way too!I’m chillin’ out in Florida, literally. They’ve had a little cold snap this week and the nights are a bit chilly and highs for a couple of days around 70. We walked around the lake last evening and I was freezing! I’m going to do a little shopping and browsing at some antique stores and if the sun is out some this week, I’ll sit by the pool and read my books. I brought plenty of reading material so I won’t be bored.
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I just couldn’t get enough of these pictures! I’m one of the unlucky ones in the cold north, but I think it’s breaking. We’re up to 62 today! I’m brand new to blogging, but I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for sometime. Thank you!
Hi Rhoda.
Thanks for taking us on a tour of your neighborhood. Spring is my favorite time of year too! Hope it warms up in Florida for you.
Hugs,
Rhondi
What a beautiful tour..I loved it..I especially loved hearing someone else talk about Thrift…most call it creeping phlox but we grew up calling it thrift all my life ..you could always see it in the yards of in the countryside and even where my grandparents lives folks would have it growing on ditchbanks and in old tires turned inside out and cut in fancy edges filled with dirt..come to think of it those old tires had alot of uses…farmers would cut them in half like a bagel and use them to hold water and feed for the chickens! lol Do I got some memories or what?!!! lol I truly loved this though!
You know I’m jealous of all the pretty blooms in the south. We are just starting to see some color up here.
Hope you’re havin a great time in FL!
Hugs, DebraK
Oh Rhoda, your pictures are just lovely…thanks for sharing! We’re still waiting for everything to bloom here in MI but even seeing buds poking through the dirt is at least promising! LOL Hope you enjoy the rest of your time in FL!
Beautiful photos, I long for flowers in my garden, you gave me pure joy this morning seeing yours!
Thanks so much!
Donna Lynn
Good morning Rhoda 🙂
You’re such a tease! The only thing that’s bloomed here is the Forsythia 🙁
Have a great time in Florida. I would LOVE to be sitting by a pool today!
Hugs,
rue
Your Spring pictures are beautiful! But the pictures of Southeastern College was such a surprise! My husband and I met there 37 years ago!! It brought tears to my eyes seeing the group of happy young girls coming down those stairs! Oh I remember those days! So free and happy! It sure has changed! My family also lives outside of Plant City, in a little town called Pleasant Grove. Some of the most wonderful preachers and missionaries lived on the grounds of the church where I grew up. Thanks for the memories!
Mary Ann, I hope you come back & read this, although you may not. WE just might be related. That’s where my mom grew up, in that church, Pleasant Grove, and her family is full of missionaries & preachers. I wish I could email you, seriously! If we are not related, you know all my relatives.
Rhoda
Hi Rhoda – Loved your beautiful photos and musings. In west Michigan the daffodils are just getting ready to bloom but not much else is out…not until May:(
I’m glad you’re enjoying Florida. My husband also is a consultant and is spending much time with a client in Orlando so…I’m going to do as you have and head down to spend some time in the Sunshine state. I can easily entertain myself as you are doing…a little shopping, a little reading, some garden peeping, some picture taking.
Enjoy your break in Florida and keep up with your lovely blog!
Sheila from west Michigan
Those are amazing flowers. Even my veggie garden has some flowers in it!
Please stop by my blog and read about a creative contest I am holding with a great prize. If you are not interested – please forward it onto as many people as you can. Thank you!
How absolutely beautiful! I’ve never been farther south than Virginia, so to this Yankee, Alabama looks like heaven!
xoxo
Mary
Hi Rho- I think you’ve got a handle on that new camera, girl! Loved seeing Spring in Alabama, which isn’t too unlike Spring in Georgia! The Dogwoods are my favorite! So how did you like Dade City? Will there be a post, I hope?
Spring in Alabama looks sooo beautiful. PLEASE send some north our way 🙂
Blessings,
Sher
Do you feel guilty even a little bit for showing allthis deep south beauty to our friends up in PA, and MI, and elsewhere in the far North? No? I wouldn’t either! 🙂
Oh I would give ANYTHING to see a Dogwood or Azalea right now. I watched The Masters last week just to get a sneak peek at all the beautiful blooms. Maybe next Spring we’ll be back in the good ole South during Spring time….oh that would be glorious! Thanks for sharing a taste of home!
Love ya
Vonda
Oh I can’t wait till spring gets here.I love your blog as you can tell by me visiting so many old posts.
We always called it thrift too.I remember an elderly couple had a huge garden of it across the road when I was little.
I started a batch for myself.I only have purple but come spring I hope to get more colors.