Crispy, crunchy willow tree. It was so pretty this year! Can we just skip winter and go straight to spring?

Our Bradford Pear trees are really staring to get pretty now. Beautiful shades of red and yellow. They are always the last trees to shed their leaves in the fall and the first to grow leaves in the spring. I took this picture from our bathroom window because I didn't feel like getting out in the cold. It's only going to get into the upper 30's today. Ugh!!!

Dove resting in our Bradford Pear tree.

We had our Bradford Pear trees on the side of the house topped yesterday. They were planted not long after we moved into our house. Hopefully they will last us another 5 years.

The Maple trees in our front yard are really pretty this year.

This little squirrel was enjoying berries from our Bradford Pear
trees the other day. The birds love them as well. There aren't
a lot of squirrels around our yard, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Fall Colors 2011

All of these photos were taken in and around my yard 4 days
ago. After the recent rain and wind most of the leaves are gone.
The only leaves remaining are the bradford pear trees.

Spring Beauty

Pear blossoms up close and personal~

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March."
~ Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time, 1926

Spring Postcards

Our neighbor's Bradford Pear tree in bloom.


Little leaf sprout on our Yoshino Cherry tree.




I know that Dandelions are weeds, but they're still pretty :0)


Yoshino Cherry blooms. With temps in the
40's today it sure doesn't feel like spring! I
think this is what they call a redbud winter.

Signs of Spring!

Iris is popping up.


My willow tree is showing a hint of green.


Bradford Pear buds.


Forsythia is starting to bloom :0)

More bird feeder fun pics tomorrow! Stay
tuned.

Christmas Cardinal

"And finally Winter, with its bitin', whinin' wind, and all the land
will be mantled with snow." ~ Roy Bean

Mr. Redbird

That is one plump Cardinal :)

Berry Buffet

Male and female Cardinals were back in our Bradford Pear trees
this afternoon feasting on the berries. Actually they aren't berries,
but small fruit that softens up in late fall. Whatever they are, the
birds love them. Blue Jays, Chickadees and Tufted Titmice were
also eating them as well. I love watching them, plus it makes for a
great photo opportunity :)


Female Cardinal enjoying the bounty.


Mr. Blue Jay surveying the scene.


Chowing down.

Berry Feast

Got this shot through our bathroom window with my long
lens. The Bradford Pear trees were full of male and female
cardinals feasting on the berries on the trees. On the limb
below the cardinal, you can see a bite taken out of one the
berries :)

Fall Bradford Pear Color

Our Bradford Pear trees are always gorgeous this
time of year and this year is no exception.


Carpet of leaves :)

Fall Color

This Bradford Pear tree in our neighbor's yard
looks like it's on fire. Gorgeous! Bradford Pears
are the last to start changing in the fall and the
first to bloom in spring.

Mother Nature

We had a severe thunderstorm a couple of days ago. One of our
Bradford Pear trees was damaged in the storm. We've had these
trees for 13 years and have been lucky that they haven't been
damaged in the past. I guess our luck finally ran out.




It looks like Terry will get to use that new chainsaw he bought
earlier this year :)

“If there was a terrible storm outside, but somehow this dog lived
through the storm, and he showed up at your door when the storm
was finally over, I think a good name for him would be Carl.”
~ Jack Handy

Fall Is in The Air

It's been a beautiful, crisp day here in Tennessee! Fall is definitely
in the air. Ahhhhhhh!

"Free as a bird, it's the next best thing to be. Free as a bird." ~ John Lennon

I spotted this beautiful Cardinal in one of our Bradford
Pear trees.


I took this picture through our bathroom window.
I was hoping he would fly down to one of the lower
branches of the tree so I could get a better shot.


This picture is kind of blurry, but I thought I would include
it anyway. I think it's kind of cool :)

Fall Bradford Pear Leaves

Just when you think the leaves can't get any prettier!


Love the two toned colors!

Fall Beauty

Dogwood tree in our back yard




Our Bradford Pear trees are always last to lose their leaves
and the first tree to bloom in the spring.