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March 15, 2012

Blog: Vicki Batman, What's Outside Your Window?

The World Outside

I am fortunate to have a big window that overlooks my front yard and the street beyond. I've seen all kinds of things out there. Interesting people walk by. A variety of cars and trucks--some speeders. Car crashes. Cops stopping speeders. The greening of my yard. The yard men mowing. The live oak trees leafing. Flitting cardinals. Scavenging squirrels.

My flowering quince blooming in February: 
Flowering Quince

So what exactly is this stunning plant? Here's some information from eHow:

In the deep South, quince may bloom as early as January. It is a member of the rose family, and the odd fruit bears a sweet, apple-rose flavor. Flowers emerge before the leaves and hold their bloom until the leaves are completely expanded.

Most of the year, this shrub is a mass of tangled, thorny branches with mundane foliage. But in spring, the beast becomes a beauty with showy single or double blossoms. In October we are rewarded with apple-like fruit that makes a great marmalade or jelly.


As I drove around my neighborhood, I found the trees and flowers emerging everywhere I went. So I created this for you:







Anything special outside your window?



Vicki Batman adores watching the transformation from winter to spring. Find her at: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com Or at: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com. Man Theory and Other Stories is available thru Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.





22 comments:

Sylvia said...

Very pretty. Outside my window is a large Chinese Pistachio tree that has yet to leaf out. Below it is our backyard that for some reason seems it's going to need a lot of help this year as far as the grass goes. It's alway been so pretty, but this year weed-b-gone is needed. We bought our vegetable garden plants last week before the flood came, so we're planting this weekend. I can't wait. Love our garden.

Debbie Gould said...

Wow, that's beautiful. Nothing outside my window but brown grass, mud and bud-less trees. Vermont takes its own sweet time waking up from winter.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sylvia. I haven't seen the pistachios blooming either. But they do it in a great way. I've seen lots of weeds because of the light winter we had.

Hi, Debbie. And thank you. I have a drive down one road and it is stunning. Redbuds, that berry thingy, bradford pears. Yesterday, I rescued a turtle, too. LOL. Thanks for stopping at the PP.

Kathy Ivan said...

What a lovely reminder that spring has arrived--at least for everybody but me. I try each year, planting and watering and fertilizing but I have 2 black thumbs. I call myself the Kiss of Death when it comes to anything that's related to gardening. LOL

It's all beautiful, though, and inspiring. Great post, Vicki!

Pamela Stone said...

Beautiful. Our The Bradford Pear trees that line our drive are almost fully leafed out, just a few white blossoms remain. The Red and White Bud trees are really pretty this week. I also noticed a few Blue Bonnets popping out last night when I was leaving Waxahachie. Cool time of year.

Sasha Summers said...

Oh, I agree. I have a massive crepe myrtle out my window. I've hung feeders in it and love to watch the squirrels and birds being busy. The Mountain laurels have erupted in vibrant purples, too. Spring has definitely sprung!

Pat Dale said...

What a wonderful reminded that this is the season of renewal. Vivaldi sets a perfect tone for your visual evidence that, once again, we are reborn.
We have a quince in our back yard and it bloomed at the end of February; early for up here in mid-MO. I was sitting here in the doldrums until I watched your video. Now I'm ready to do something positive. Thanks!
PD

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Kathy, my mom said she had brown thumbs, but she could grow vegetables. LOL. Maybe you should switch. LOL.

Hi, Pam: I love a row of Bradford Pears. When they all burst into white at once, they are beautiful. Thanks for posting.

Hi, Sasha: I have a long row of very old crepe myrtles. They are the last to flower, around the middle of June. But when they do...beautiful.

Hi, Pat. No doldrums allowed. I'm glad the video and music inspired you. The Four Seasons is my fav. Happy day!

Patricia said...

Gorgeous, especially because one of my favorite colors is pinkish anything! Outside my window I can see the sky and some trees and our deck. I like the view out the front better, but our front room doesn't have as much light as our family room, so I stick to the back of the house where the sun shines.
Thanks for a pretty beginning to my day, Vicki.
Patti

Sheila Tenold said...

Hi Vicki,
What a beautiful sight to see. And I learned about quince, thank you!
Here in Southern California the view from my window shouts spring. My Japanese Maple is leafing brilliant green, and my French lavender is still blooming.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Patti: My family lived in our upstairs garage apartment during our home renovation 7 years ago. With all the trees about, I felt like we were in a treehouse. Birds sang to us every morning. Truly delightful. Good to see you here!

Hi, Sheila: I'm so jealous about the lavender. I tried some years ago, but it became leggy and ugly. Trimmed it back and died. Sigh. Isn't spring wonderful? Just to absorb the beauty...mmmmm.

Unknown said...

Oh my dear Vicki, if you only knew the impact spring has on me you'd appreciate how much I enjoyed your moment of reflection. Of course, the music is perfect. Who wants to work after that? I want to plaaay and eat chocolate bunnies and malted milk balls. LOL. Thanks dahling. You always make me smile.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Karen, I vote for playing, and chocolate too. I'll settle for hair day.

I'm so glad you like my video. I had fun finding those perfect spots.

ox

Liz Lipperman said...

I have no idea what they are, but I have beautiful pink flowers on bushes outside the window of my office. As hubby likes to say, "Spring has sprung."

It's actually my favorite season of the year. Maybe, I can get started on my book today.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Ms. Lipperman and why start your book today when we are plotting next week? Lol

I'm guessing you might have a quince too. Happy spring day!

Kylie Frost said...

Out my window, across the street is a young American league ball player. Now that's inspiration. Your flowers are beautiful.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Kylie! I love baseball and watched tons of little league with #2. I'm so happy you liked my movie. I had fun making and sharing it. Happy day!

Alisha said...

So pretty, Vicki! You are getting really good at making videos! Wow! Now I can't wait to take the kids to the Arboretum! :)

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Vicki,
I loved the video. Beautiful!! I had daffodils outside my window, but the blooms have faded. The yellow ones appear first and then the white. The white ones are just starting to bloom, but I don't have as many of those. :( And Liz, those are probably azaleas outside your window. I have one in a pot inside the house. Gorgeous white blooms.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Alisha! Thank you!! I heard the Arboretum is beautiful right now. Head on over!!!

Hi, Karilyn: and yes, the azaleas are blooming now, too. Everything is!!!

And good night to all. I'm heading off to...read a good book :)

Melissas Midnight Musings said...

That is a wonderfully beautiful tree!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pix, Vicki! Spring can't get here soon enough for me!!!

Janice