rise and shine

I will confess, I know none of these pics are stellar, I live in my garden from sunrise to sunset, but its rare I have a camera with me at the right time, either I head out at dawn, like when the sun is just highlighting the rooster...

 

 

or just before the sun sets to catch the blossoms blooming in the orchard...

 

 

which means I either get the early eastern exposure, or the late western exposure, which means 1/2 of the garden always is in the shade, I never take a camera out mid day, I am just to busy working the garden for that perfect exposure! like this pic of only half of katies face, but I adore how she is always hauling her ball around the 11 acres while I garden...

 

 

or how my front wall is brilliant pink, but looks dull in the evening shade...

 

 

the colors just look washed out when the sun is brilliant on the other side of the house...

 

 

 

 

again Katie has just half a head, but I loved the brilliant apricot behind her

 

 

 

 

this almond tree dazzles me morning and night, with the dawns light it is the only thing that shines brilliant from ten acres away...

 

 

 

as the sun sets, tucked off in the corner, its still smashing

 

 

 

 

our front driveway is a tear drop shape, the center garden is really staring to fill in this year

 

 

I love looking out on the land through the olive trees and seeing the dragonfly bench far off on the hill

 

 

the trees lining the the top of the property are starting to be visible from afar

 

 

another almond tree on the canal is bursting white by the orchard

 

 

my star magnolia is blooming this year with its wonderful fragrance

 

 

its hard to capture the magic of snow white blossoms smothering the trees against a brilliant sky...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am jealous of the birds dinning under a snow white tree...

 

 

despite the drought, more daffs are making an appearance

 

 

the bears bench by the canal will be in full bloom in another day or two

 

 

the acacias are giving me gorgeous blooms to fill my vases indoor, the tiny evergreen clematis vine heading up to that giant trellis is actually getting ready to bloom with a dozen buds.

 

 

the new kitchen garden is coming together, we have 2 exterior walls up, so far 50 yards of fill dirt has been hauled in, with much more required, to level the garden and we went to pavestone and ordered another 15 pallets of retaining block to begin laying out the beds. the goal is to get this in by spring so I can have a kitchen garden with fresh herbs and veggies for the summer

 

 

I know these pics aren't special, but the nonstop joy I get putting in a new garden and seeing the land change before my eyes delights me to no end. its fun to look back and see how far we have come in two years, from these humble beginnings...