~
This haunting photo taken on Monday is my lone offering for Tina’s Wildlife Wednesday this month.
It is a shell my partner spotted lying on the sidewalk in Brent and Becky Heath’s display gardens when we visited earlier this week. He had an eye for small treasures like this, while I was totally absorbed in the spring flowers we found.
We’ve been enjoying the many birds who visit our garden, but I haven’t the talent Tina has for attracting and photographing them. I hope you will click to visit her post and share one of her secrets for photographing birds, which is absolutely clever! And then, if you have a moment, please also check out her gentle reminders to provide safe haven for our precious pollinators.
We were thrilled to find these trees already in bloom in Gloucester; an early food source for those hungry bees! The Heaths maintain many hives at their garden.
~
~
We did spot this wonderful guy beside the water garden, guarding some Crocus,
~
~
and this beautiful Koi enjoying the bright sunshine on his pool.
~
~
But, I was searching for the earliest blossoms from the Heath’s extensive collection of spring bulbs.
~
~
This little winter blooming Iris unguicularis caught my imagination at planting time last fall, and I planted the tiny bulbs in pots. The one above is growing by the Heath’s water garden in Gloucester. The one below is the first Iris to bloom in a pot in our garden this year.
~
~
It is still very early to expect to find much in the garden. Our friend who works in the shop on Mondays reminded us of this. But I was already headed outside, and knew there would be treasures for those who searched for them.
~
~
Photos by Woodland Gnome 2016
at Brent and Becky Heath’s display gardens
in Gloucester, Virginia
Forest Garden 
Looks like a great outing, WG. I’ve been pouring through Brent and Becky’s catalog, and thinking that I really must get down there sometime to see their gardens.
A lovely post, with so many signs that spring really is on its way!
Lovely, spring-y photos. I like the shell, but I agree, the photo is haunting. Thanks for the link and for participating in Wildlife Wednesday.
My pleasure, Tina. Thank you for hosting ❤ ❤ ❤
What a beautiful garden. I’m seeing a few blooms in my garden too. Everything is slowly awakening and I’m so excited! Needless to say it’s my favorite time of year!! I hope this is our last cold spell. Stay warm!
You, too, Tess. Around here, we’re not enthusiastic about the snow in our late week forecast. We are all ready to welcome spring! My favorite time of year, too ❤ ❤ ❤
How fortunate to have a great resource nearby for frequent visits. I always feel like the week is nearly gone when Wednesday rolls around. Not complaining: it means spring and summer are that much closer.
You are so right, Rickii. This week has flown. We will need to head back to Gloucester next week, as the bulbs we ordered haven’t come in yet. It seems that things are delayed a little this season and the shipments haven’t come in, which is fine with us! We are glad for an excuse to return, and will hope to see even more Daffodils in bloom by then. The garden, and the owners and staff, always prove a rich source of inspiration and gardening knowledge.