Spring has arrived in Atlanta and it looks like it may finally be here to stay!  Cool morning temps are leading to warmer afternoons. The tree pollen is EVERYWHERE and flowers are starting to bloom.

My Dad has been in the same house for 40+ years and his backyard is covered with red azalea bushes.  He lets them grow naturally (no pruning or fertilizing) and they have become quite large but make a very natural backdrop around his driveway and swimming pool.  They started blooming this week and since I’ve been looking for new images for a Spring collection of my greeting card line (“The Art of a Handwritten Note”)  I decided to take my camera with me on a couple of my daily visits.

These were taken on Wednesday.   It was late afternoon and full sun everywhere so it was difficult getting the right exposure.  Look at all of the unopened buds!

There must be hundreds of blooms on this one plant

He’s had this ceramic pagoda for 50+ years.  He purchased it for another house we lived in when I was a young child. I remember going with him when he bought it at a local garden center.

This plant is growing on the backside of the fence.  A little bare and scrawny, but I love how the blooms look against the weathered wood.

Another perspective of the azaleas growing up the weathered fence.

The Dogwood’s are also in full bloom!

Despite the ivy crawling up the trunk, this Dogwood is still thriving!

An upward shot of the Dogwood.  I love how the pine needles and pollen peak through.

This next group I took yesterday.  I couldn’t believe how much more they had bloomed in just a few days.

We’ve had a lot of fun in and around this swimming pool growing up!

A different perspective of the pagoda.

Confederate Jasmine growing wild through the fence.

A Macro shot of the Confederate Jasmine bloom.

Growing natural intertwined with the ivy.

Macro shot of a cluster of blooms

As far as it goes with images for my greeting cards here are a few I may use.  What do you think?

Another perspective of the azaleas growing up the weathered fence.

Happy Spring!

Donna