Uncle!!

 Remember how happy I was when I showed you this?

Those pictures were taken just over a year ago and are what I was expecting to see any day now. But, it finally became obvious to me that that wasn't going to happen this year. And, honestly, I don't know why. For the past few years all I do in the winter is cover the bottom portion of the plant and the pots. Most of the leaves will freeze back but begin sprouting back quickly. For whatever reason, that didn't happen even though I have been faithful in watering and fertilizing with a fairly expensive bougainvillea food.

I have checked carefully every day just positive that soon I would see a new leaf but I finally had to give up! This is the best I was getting.

I wish I could say that the green that you see was new growth but, alas, it is just a weed that seems to be happy for now. And so, I headed to the nursery this morning. I chose the original color bougainvillea that I did because I am not a fan of the fuchsia color and it wouldn't clash with all of the seasonal decor that I used but this fuchsia color was all that I could find today. And, it does seem to be the only color plant I see flourishing on neighbors' mailboxes so I am wondering if maybe the color I had chosen last was a hybrid of some sort and harder to maintain?? I would like to think that might be the reason my green thumb once again failed me. Lol

And so, I caved.

I also grabbed a few new annuals and thought I would get them all down today but by the time I got home and caught up on a few other things, it was too late to start. And so, tomorrow, my day is full. Not only will I be doing that but I will be moving some furniture in all four bedrooms for carpet cleaning on Wednesday. And then, for whatever reason, I have an urge to finally paint the sunroom ceiling. Don't ask me how that happened as I have had the paint for over two years. Let's hope it is still liquid when I open it.

I thought I would zip around the yard and get some pictures of the things that have come back this year but they are few and far between. I guess our winter really was colder than years past.

Just one lonely little gardenia on one of my many dwarf plants but there are more buds so I am hopeful.

Lots of clover growing everywhere and although I know I probably shouldn't encourage it, the little blooms are pretty so for now I am leaving them alone.

The hydrangeas on this side of the yard seem to be fairing the best but so far, this is the only bloom.

I think I have four mock oranges now. Even though I know they have no fragrance, I seem to find myself sniffing them as I walk by anyway. Lol I grew up in the Indian River area of Florida known for its plentiful citrus groves and I will never forget how beautifully perfumed the air was when those trees were in bloom! 

And then there is this that went from this...

...to this almost overnight!

I go out there every day and I swear I expect to see "Jack". This thing grows a foot every day and I am trying hard to keep tying it back so that maybe it grows a little more evenly over the top of the pergola this year. We shall see.

The next few days promise to be busy but I will be back soon. Until then stay safe and stay tuned.