Today's Flowers and Weekend Flowers: April Blooms and a beautiful book

Before posting flower shots I've taken this week, I want to thank Denise who blogs at An English Girl Rambles and who is the Today's Flowers host for for the book give-a-way I won. I was so happy to receive the beautiful book by Sara Chapman: Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory.

This book includes photographs from each month at this wonderful conservatory in Seattle. The photography brings this beautiful place alive on the page.

In my neck of the woods (central NC) we are moving rapidly into spring. Above I photographed the dogwoods and below are azaleas blooming in front of my house.

Next is a closer look at the dogwood blossoms.

Next is another azalea shot. The azaleas are blooming earlier than usual this year, although most are still at the bud stage.

My white camellias are especially pretty this year.

I have a lot of white flowers in front of my house (bushes and trees).

I have two different varieties of yellow tulips that are blooming in my back yard.

I'm still waiting for the red tulips to bloom.

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Photohunters: Scrumptious seat while watching TV

I put a jar of scrumptious strawberry preserves on the coffee table in front of the sofa where I sometimes sit while watching TV in order to combine the themes.

Other times I sit on the chair (also shown in the shot above) with my feet elevated on the foot rest. Below is a macro of the scrumptious jam.

Click for the scrumptious photohunters and click for the photohunt where you answer the question about where you sit while watching TV.

Nature Notes: Early April

Spring is in full swing where I live (central NC).

Last week we still had chilly weather but this week is quite warm.

I was glad to see in the forecast that next week will be cooler because I'm not in any hurry for summer.

My oak trees are beginning to get their little pollen sacs that give them a feathery look.

The cherry trees in my back yard are getting tiny leaves.

The redbud trees brighten up gray wet days.

The grackles are hunting and pecking for food.

I think I spot something in the male cardinals mouth.

I always glance at clover to see if I can easily spot a four leaf clover.

I didn't see any four leaf clover but I think the clover below almost looks like some kind of creature.

I still have some narcissus to photograph and I never tire of it.

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Today's Flowers and Weekend Flowers: April Blossoms

The white camellia bush in front of my house has one flower in bloom so far.

My japonica pieris has also started to bloom.

My redbud trees always make me smile with their tiny flowers.

I spotted a violet blooming in my yard.

The azalea blossoms near the ground are starting to bloom ahead of the rest of the bush.

The tree in the next shot is about a half a block away from me but I shot it from the bottom of my driveway.

Every time I go to the pharmacy I photograph these trees which line the drive into the shopping area. 

I've already posted other shots of these trees but I wanted to use some for this post.

More and more of my periwinkle are blooming on the ground in front of my house.

I'll end with a shot of my narcissus which I photograph a lot.

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Photohunters: Quirky Peace and Tranquility

When looking at the two photohunters themes: What is Peace and Tranquility to You? and Quirky, I immediately thought of the peace and tranquility I find in botanical gardens as well as the quirky art they sometimes have.

These shots were taken at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, NC.

I used to always try to go there for peace and tranquility after my appointments at the UNC Cancer Center.

The botanical garden is across the road from the entrance into the UNC medical campus so it is very convenient.

I love this quirky seat shown above and below.

Click here for the quirky photohunters and click here for the tranquil and peaceful photohunters.