Friday, May 10, 2013

Apple Blossom Orgasm!!!!


I know I've been revealing Connie and Chris's Vermont country house....
but today I just have to share my apple blossom orgasm!!!!!
This is right in front of my condo in Massachusetts!!!!!
I am normally in Florida when these babies bloom, so I miss this.
But this year, because of family stuff, I am up here for the show.
I am sooooo in love with them, that I took lots of pictures that I will now make you look at share with you guys!!!!
This was the view last evening from my front door, while it was drizzling.
The shot was even taken with the storm door closed!!!
Here's the view across my driveway to the little pond that is starting to scum over for the summer.
Notice how we are good little earthers, and have our recycling out!!!
This pond is slowly turning back into wetlands, so in the cooler months, it has clear water, but in the warmer months it has a solid sheet of scum.
I try to convince myself that it's a nice green expanse of lawn!!!
Looking back up towards my home.....
I feel so lucky to live here.
It took me a while to adjust to the idea that I no longer lived in a house, but a condo......but it's almost like a house.
My parents unit is right next door, just to the right.
I got them to buy it several years ago, in case they needed to live closer to our family.
And they did.
So now they do!!!!!
My mother tells me to be careful what I wish for......
because I wanted them to buy the unit.....
But they're not that old.....
My dad will only be 98 this month......

Now for some more apple blossoms!!!
Looking at then against the sky,,,
Looking at them close up.....
Some more....
Then.....
I went under them and took a picture looking out!!!!!
Because I was here in the early spring, I had a chance to do some decent spring pruning.
Sooooo....
I had to share a picture of my foundation flower bed, to show what a good girl I am.....
Those are Knock Out Roses between the hosta and the rhododendrons.
My brother, who is a wise guy, calls them Knocked Up Roses.

Here's a shot of the azalea next to my mom's front door.
She wants me to prune it when it's done blooming.
I need to read up on how to do that.
Don't you love google?????

The same day I took these shots.....
I was lazing on my back terrace.....
and I looked up at the extremely blue sky from under my new red umbrella....
and had to run and get my camera, because it was the same red as the Japanese maple against the blue of the sky.
Of course the camera couldn't catch the wonderfulness of this,
but I tried, anyway.
 Then I tried to take a lower view picture of my iron dog...
Those are decorative strawberry plants around it.
The chipmunks like the fruit.
It's really inedible for people.
The pink flowers are pretty!!!!!
That's why I planted them.
I don't need no stinkin' strawberries.

I was getting a little delirious by this point, so I took a shot of my feet.
The reason I did this.....
(Yes, there is a reason....)
is that changing from my fuzzy moccasin slippers to my rubber and plastic flip flops, is the real official start of the warmer weather!!!!! 
I've had these sandals for over 25 years.
I got them at a discount store.
They are old and dirty, but I love them.
THEY HAVE BOWS!!!!!
If you watch Dr. Who on TV, you know that bows are cool!!!!!

OK, I've obviously lost my mind,
so on that note.....
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket

14 comments:

Amy Chalmers said...

Love the view!! See what you have been missing!? We suffer through our winters to have the bounty of spring, and you hit the motherload kid! Love the sandals too. What a gorgeous day it was, wasn't it?

Anonymous said...

Betsy- reading your blog is like connecting with an old, and beloved friend- you make me want to come right over and share a glass of vino with you, while we contemplate the beauties of nature, or whatever else life dishes out.
Honestly- you are the nicest woman, and I am just so fortunate that you write this amazing blog for all of us out there..It still is AMAZING to me that Betsy Speert, whom I’ve admired for a hundred years, connects with us in such a lovely, generous way.Thank you!

Donnamae said...

First up...love those sandals! And if I had a view of those trees like that...I would always come back early! ;)

fixitfaerie said...

The trees are gorgeous. Here in California some of our ponds are mossing over. That's new here, aren't we lucky. Your condo looks like a house from the angle you took the picture. And you parents are lucky (I'm sure they know that) that you and other family are right there for them. Put a new bow on your sandals, they will seem new. Paula

Connie Nikiforoff Designs said...

Preeeety! I miss the pretty pink flowers of the flowering crab tree at our former home but I can see them in other people's yards too....It's not the same though {sniff sniff}

Cute feet Betsy! :-)

Kathleen said...

I agree, you're SO lucky to live there! I love that the exterior of your home is red. That's so unusual for a condo. We live in a condo too. Can't say that was something I ever thought I would do or want but I love this little nest too. What a beautiful view you have out your front door. Honestly, this is the time of year I prefer the most in the north, before the heat and humidity kicks in. I just wish I had that pond across the way. Also it's nice you're surrounded by family.

Mir said...

Maybe you should start coming back in April =)

Jayne said...

I feel the same as you about the apple blossoms! They are just lush and gorgeous!

Di said...

Love the trees and all the blossoms. My favorite is the shoes, it's the bows!

Beth C. said...

What a glorious setting for your condo! Makes me miss MA. But I do get to enjoy the cherry blossoms in all their glory around the Tidal Basin here in DC, so there's that. So fleeting, though. Blink and the show is over. Best, Beth C.

Vikki said...

Great pictures of "outdoor" decorating. Is there no end to your talent? I'm a garden person so I loved seeing the apple trees in bloom. Don't have those much here in the SE corner of Virginia. I love your bow slip on shoes too. Enjoy your time with your mom tomorrow and your summer with your parents!

Anonymous said...

I'm looking for a nice condo here in the mountains, but it seems like i'll have to go back to massachusetts to find what pleases me. But it snows up there.........too much.......too bad.......ordinary without apple blossoms is what i'll have to get......

Nita Stacy said...

Oh...it looks soooo pretty there! What a lovely environment. You are so lucky to still have your parents and have them next door. How wonderful!

Charlotte Des Fleurs said...

Hi Betsy, I think I had a pair of slippers like yours with the bows. Loved them!

As to the pond scum, looks like your HOA needs to do some serious "pond balancing". The lawn area around the pond appears to be well manicured so my guess is that fertilizer from the lawn runs into the pond. As the daughter of a Landscape Architect and the owner of a pond, I know that fish poop is another excellent fertilizer for pond scum. You have to have floating plants to reduce the amount of sun available for the scum (floating algae). Bog plants and water lilies help use up the fish poop fertilizer so the algae has less available. An additional solution is to have a "biological filter" installed. Costs money but your HOA could have a scumless pond if you wish.

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