Duke Gardens: February 27, 2016 (and some food)

I love running errands in Durham because when you're done, if you have energy, there are so many fun things to do.  Yesterday, after our two errands, dear husband and I went to Duke Gardens.

DSC09940csPaperbush

DSC09941casCherry tree

DSC09944casAnother cherry tree and The Bridge

  DSC09949casHeron and duck

DSC09950casReally short daffodils in the grass

DSC09954casFormal garden

DSC09956casPansies (It's encouraging to see lush pansies like these.  Mine are still struggling after the winter.)

DSC09957Then we went to lunch at Pompieri Pizza - my favorite pizza (oh... favorite in Durham and Chapel Hill.  Then there's Lily's Pizza in Raleigh, and my all-time favorite, Pizzeria Regina in Boston's North End)

DSC09959saWe brought cupcakes home for dinner from the CupCake Bar (and a brownie for Younger son who doesn't care for cake).

 

 


The most wonderful idea

I always get excited by the first daffodils and crocuses of the spring - particularly after really cold winters like this last one.

DSC08490sDaffodils at the bottom of the back steps - March

When we get to the dogwoods and azaleas blooming, I want to squeeze every bit of bloomy goodness out of the season.

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 Duke Gardens - last Wednesday

Things calm down a little bit in the later spring.  Not too much, though - I love the columbines all over the yard.  

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Columbines in the front yard (all the rest of the photos are from this afternoon)

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Forget-me-nots and columbines

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Columbine and star of Bethlehem

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Later-blooming azaleas in the backyard

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I bought this 12 years ago as a 6" tall, pitiful, heavily discounted azalea.  It's happy where it is, and it spreads all over

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Lily of the Valley is my favorite scent

We ate lunch outside today.  Every year, after the first rush of daffodil/dogwood/azaleas blooms is over, it always hits me that this will last until late October.  For the next six months, something will be in bloom somewhere in the yard!  

What a wonderful idea!