Oasis

Our backyard is an oasis.

Seriously.

I don't look at Bessemer as a suburb of Birmingham. It is an urban city, with the same opportunities that other urban communities have. In fact, more opportunities.

But it also has the same problems many urban communities have. A neglected and deteriorating downtown. Lack of leadership. Missed opportunity. Perceived and actual crime. Traffic. Noise.

But we have a place to retreat to, where the hustle and bustle of Bessemer and the street noise and sirens can be forgotten.

Our sanctuary. Our oasis. Our backyard.

This pergola is covered with half a dozen antique climbing roses that will be exploding in color and scent over the next few weeks.

But already, this rose, known as Mermaid, which actually towers in a nearby magnolia tree, has sent a cane down to the pergola from above, and allowed a bud to open early. Mermaid's canes can grow 40 feet or more, and this specimen does not disappoint.


Even at night there is beauty (and I need a tripod to get better pictures).



This Flame Azalea, a native, deciduous azalea, is a spring favorite, but was almost overtaken by weedy vines and had to be rescued.


Spring bulbs are still coming into play, as these yellow irises opened yesterday.


Sweet Shrub is a childhood favorite, one of the shrubs that grew in the woods near my Vestavia home, and that my dad pointed out to me. It does have a pleasant scent, that's for sure.


The Lady Banks Rose is in its full splendor, and this is not all of it. A cane from this climber has travelled about 50 feet up into a nearby cedar tree and is blooming now also. What a surprise to look high op in a cedar tree and see yellow rose blooms!


Columbine. These perennials have sowed their seeds all over the place, and this is the result.


Most of the pesky Wisteria that we have is the familiar purple, but this vine has white flowers.


If you need respite from your busy life, come pay us a visit, and relax for a while in the Oasis we call our backyard. Just give me a call or send a message. A cup of coffee or a glass of wine and a hundred different birds and the floral scents will let you forget your troubles, if only for a while.

This is a good weekend for gardeners. Petals from the Past in Jemison is holding their Antiques in the Garden event.

The weekend event you have been waiting for has arrived. Our annual Antiques in the Garden event will be April 16 and 17. Shop the many antique and craft vendors we have joining us this year. There will also be food vendors and Southern Sweets will be serving lunch in our educational barn. We are looking forward to seeing you this year.

Closer to home, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens annual plant sale takes place at Brookwood Village near the old Bruno's.

Today's the big day for the 2010 Spring Plant Sale! The Preview Party is today from 5-6:30 p.m. & tickets are $45 now/$50 at the door! The Members-Only Sale (free for members) is from 6:30-8:30 tonight...if you aren't a member or you were but need to renew, come on anyway, you can join or renew right there... at the door! The doors open to the public Friday morning at 9 a.m.! See you there everyone!