More blooms in the 'hood

 I always think I wouldn't bother planting white azaleas, when there are some more vibrant colors available!

 The pink dogwood continues to bloom.

 My kitchen window is over on the left, but with the counter and stove right inside it, I can't even see the pink dogwood tree.

And right by my porch is this severely trimmed azalea, which is finally coming back.

Today's quote:

When the Beloved wants to take you Home,
extend your hand to His welcoming
even though your body may be trembling
and your mind may want to flee;
even though those around you grieve,
and you yourself have mourned, even before they,
the changing form of your body.
Tears are not the final truth
though they will come and go
like stars that need a dark sky to be seen.
Death is not a failure of a mind
that is not strong enough,
or positive enough, or pure enough.
Those who hold such views are simply
masking fear with ideas of being in control.
We are being lived...
...anguish, fear or deepest grief
cannot alter Who you really are.
The beautiful Spirit that extended ItSelf
in space and time, and called ItSelf by your name,
is simply ready to return, unencumbered by a body,
to Its vast and spacious Unborn Self,
that kisses you at birth,
and holds your hand in death,
and never for a moment
forgets you are ItSelf.

The mind imagines you are leaving,
but where could you truly go?
You are Life ItSelf...
Unceasingly flowing,
moment to moment unfolding Yourself.

A body is born; a body dies; but you do not.
Deep within your heart, you know this Truth.
Rest there.  Rest in the knowing that
opens your heart to all that IS,
that loves ItSelf in all that comes,
and returns to ItSelf in all that goes.

Dorothy Hunt
Buddhist Teacher

Colorful walks

Some azaleas by the B & B by the lake

Lake Tomahawk is a bit silty after a rain a few days ago

Looking uphill at a dogwood by the playground

Looking uphill again, this time from parking lot below the Clay Studio in Black Mountain NC

A nice little path and more azaleas as I climb the hill

Yes, more pretty yellow flowers, these in a bed by the entrance to the Lakeview Center for Active Aging

Then there are azaleas

 This bush may be under my kitchen window, but I can't see it when I look out.  Oh well.

 This fuchsia color definitely says it's spring! Of course it's been hit by a few freezes since the buds first appeared.

 It's funny that bushes that were planted at the same time, next to each other, have different times to bloom - full sun must do a lot for them.

Before the big renovation during which I was able to obtain one of these apartments, some of the residents had planted bulbs.  This iris still remains, though now we're told the landscapers will do all the planting these days.

Brief and beautiful

s,

  

I have a neighbor who has plenty of potted flowers.
I'd better upgrade my pots of plants!  This week I did a bit of pruning.

My kitchen window was blessed by azaleas, which I could only see from the walkway, so my neighbors enjoyed the blossoms while they lasted.

With all our rain, I've got quite a crop of mushrooms.

Spring weather also brings out the topless vehicles...and this strange thing is actually built on a motorcycle!

And at Lake Tomahawk on Tuesday this week, I saw these beauties.

And I've heard that May 6th is Nude Gardening day...however don't expect any lack of clothes from this gardener.

Today's quote:

There is nobody else like you in the world and this is worth celebrating rather than searching for faults. Daily Om.

Indoors or out...

As far as I can tell, this is one azalea bush...but with two color flowers on it.  Grafted?

I am so blessed, or lucky, whichever, to be living among such beauty!
But with the hot weather last week before the rain, all the outdoor blooms have now faded.  Glad I captured them while they were there!

Sourwood and cherry blossoms

Sourwood is in bloom now.  It's a favorite for honey farmers.

The last of the ornamental cherry blooms, unfortunately as shoots on the trunks, which will be removed soon.  But I enjoy the blossoms anyway.

Azaleas huddle against my fence.

Unknown blossoms on some volunteer stems.

Trunk on the left is a sourwood tree, and the one on the right is obviously dead.

More of the former neighbor's azaleas; all of her yard has been ignored.  Maybe soon there will be some care given to these plants. Some relatives were visiting there this week.

I had a half hour of internet being down last night...around 8:30.  My connection was strong, but nothing out there could connect.  Oh no, here we go, I thought.  "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine..."

Quote for today:

Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed.

William Saroyan