Spring is in the process of sprung-ing here in Richmond and we’re boiling over with excitement. Warm weather? Yes please. Green trees? Bring it. Flowers blooming? Duh, winning.
So to those of you who aren’t on the brink of spring yet, we thought we’d send a virtual dose of the season – courtesy of some photos of what’s starting to happen around here – like the little buds that are showing up on the hydrangeas that we’ve inherited.
Spring is especially exciting this year because we get to be surprised by whatever magically decides to pop up around the new house – and we finally get to see what our property looks like in all it’s bloomin’ glory. The daffodils are already on blast. Holla.
Oh and for those who don’t recognize the house above, it’s the back of ours. It’s definitely different than the original brick ranch facade in the front, right? We think it’s really funny that the addition was only built about 10 years later (in the 70’s instead of the 60’s) but it has such a different vibe. Someday we hope to unify things. Not sure how yet, but maybe it’ll come to me in a dream. Sidenote #1: I once had a dream about tiling our old shower surround with white subway tile about a year before actually deciding to embark on that adventure (and to use white subway tile).
But back to the weather. Even Burger is itching to get outside and kick off what will be many months of bug hunting in a new backyard. Here he is gazing longingly out the living room window. Sidenote #2: This shot of the bushes makes Sherry twitchy because she wants to trim them like crazy.
As for the temp, the daily highs around here have been wavering between the mid-50s and the high-60s, even stretching into the 70’s a couple of weeks back. And that means yard work is quickly creeping to the top of our to-do list (especially since we got started a few weeks back). Which reminds us, we owe you a more official “tour” of the exterior of our house. So put that in your “stay tuned” folder.
The only bummer that spring has sprung on us has to do with the tree in the front of the house. It has grown (or was planted?) crazy close to the foundation…
… and stretches up the side of the porch, sort of feathering out over the walkway to the front door. We’ve always known it probably has to go (aka we should take it out before it takes out any of the house). But it’s charming, darn it.
Especially covered in white blooms. See them below? Sidenote #3: I just typed “see them blow?” which was oddly entertaining to me (I dunno, kinda like “thar she blows”), so I stopped writing this post and told Sherry about it. She only found it marginally funny. Maybe it was a you-had-to-be-there thing.
Anyway, don’t those white flowers in the picture above (not blow) make you love it? Maybe white flowers are the tree equivalent to sad puppy dog eyes. Seems like a shame to remove that sweet little tree now. Especially since we don’t think we can save him since he’s basically on top of the house (so we anticipate a crazy root situation when we start digging). Oh and while we’re on the subject of said tree, does anyone know what it is? We have no idea.
Despite our little tree drama, we’re ready to enjoy spring to the fullest (holy buckets, it’ll be Clara’s first birthday before we know it). I wonder how good she’d be at mulching. Hmm…
Is anyone else getting a good dose of spring fever yet? Are temperatures up and flowers out in you area? Who’s shoveling snow today?
Erica says
New York still has pretty big snow piles here and there and temps only in very low 50’s but we are getting there!!!
And try to save the tree if you can! It’s beautiful!
Lisa @ Room by Room says
It is slowly warming up here (40s), but I still have a foot high snow bank next to the road. BOO HOO. As for buds and flowers? Fuhgetaboutit. Here are some piles of snow in around our house less than 2 weeks ago. http://lisasroombyroom.blogspot.com/2011/02/handpainted-jewelry-box.html
Maggie says
Dig it up soon (make about a 2 foot circle around the tree). You will cut some roots but if you IMMEDIATELY put it back in the ground and water it like crazy all spring it should be fine. Yes, it’s a camellia and they are very tough. Now is a good time to move it. Don’t cut it way back and cut the roots – too much trauma – you can prune it after you know it has settled in and is happy. Now is a great time to move it. (I’m a landscape designer!) Love your blog!
JenH says
I’ve successfully moved shrubs and small trees bigger than this. Don’t give up hope yet, you may be able to save the day (tree)! Get it identified, research and check out it’s hard-pruning tolerance. Good luck!
Elizabeth says
Duh, winning. HAHAHA…. I am so happy you guys inherited hydrangeas!!
Kelly says
Wow, I’m so jealous! Here in Southern MD (2 hours from Richmond) we have no bulbs yet and no buds. Here’s hoping they come soon!
Jean says
I’m in North Carolina and I’m so happy that spring is springing here too! Your tree with the white flowers is a camellia (I’m almost positive). They’re gorgeous; too bad it will probably have to go. The good news is that they’re inexpensive and there are lots and lots of different varieties of camellias with various colors of blooms. You can get camellias that bloom in the fall, winter, or early spring. So when you have to remove the camellia that’s too close to the house, you could have fun choosing another and planting it in a more appropriate spot.
Funnelcloud Rachel says
I’m amazed at how much sooner spring hits Richmond than it does NoVA/DC. Hoping for some warmth this weekend!
Melissa says
Duh, winning? that’s fairly topical. Been loving the Jimmy Fallon take on this…
Now… back to the post.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh we’ll have to hear the Jimmy Fallon take. He’s high-larious.
xo,
s
Lori at wom-mom.com says
Lovely North Dakota winter is still here and in full-force. This has been the longest winter ever and a blizzard is headed our way this weekend. But we are used to it.
Thank you for the beautiful flower photos. I cannot wait for spring! It is calling me!
http://www.wom-mom.com
hillary says
I vote camellia too. The good news is that they are quite easy to grow and they grow quickly so you can plant another one a bit farther out and have your camellia “tree” back in a few years, just better-placed, if you really love it. Don’t feel bad about taking it out.
Amy says
snowing in Pittsburgh :( I just want it to be 50 degrees so I can spray paint again! I have so many thrift store finds from the winter just waiting for some paint!
Terra says
-8 F here today. I’m more than a little envious of your beautiful spring pictures!
Ashley says
It’s a blah gray day here in Michigan, so thanks for posting your lovely sunny and Springy photos for us to enjoy! :)
Erin says
First, I love the Charlie Sheen, “duh winning” reference.
And second, I’m uber-jealous of the weather there. In Northern Michigan, we still have snow…and more coming.
Love the blog :)
Emily says
This is so funny – or maybe just funny to me. When we moved into our house last year we had a tree by the pool that we were thinking we would cut down so the leaves wouldn’t end up in the water. Then in the spring (soon!) it started blooming these beautiful blossoms (it’s a wild orchid tree) and I told boyfriend over my dead body would he be chopping it down. So now he just scoops all the petals/blossoms out of the pool. I think it looks romantic with the blossoms floating, but then the bugs come to eat them and that? Not so romantic, swimming with slugs.
http://michigandersinaz.blogspot.com/2010/04/les-fleurs.html
Cher says
I second (or third or fourth!)the Camelia- we have one right off the back of our deck and it looks identical in bloom, leaf and trunk. They usually bloom twice a year too so bonus!
Lindsay says
Things are blooming in Georgia too! I planted hydrangea last year, and I am so excited to see their green leaves popping out again! I can’t wait for their blooms!
play therapist mom says
So beautiful! I’m in Texas and have some daffodils blooming but still have not seen a Robin yet!
a captains wife says
My guess is a Camellia too.
http://www.camelliagrove.com.au/lovelight.php
Our cherries are just starting in ths part of the world. Camellias not for another month or so.
Colleen says
Thank you SO much for the ‘signs of Spring’ pictures. It is in the 40s here in Groton, Mass today (I consider that balmy) and there are no signs of Spring yet. In fact, we still have a ton of snow left on our lawn. We do have rain in the forecast all day though, so maybe most of it will melt away (fingers crossed). I can’t wait for the daffodils to bloom!
Kara says
I work in Groton! Small world as always! And yes, Spring seems SO far off!
Molly says
I’m quite sure, your wonderful blooming tree is a camellia. The stamens are typical for single flowering camellias. For comparison of camellia and magnolia flowers have a look at Wikipedia.
It’s hard to tell what cultivar it is. In general, camellias respond well to pruning immediately after flowering. I once had to cut back to the ground a frostbitten camellia. Four years later it was in full bloom again. The lower branches of your little tree obviously had been cut off. The new shoots show the vigour of this tree. If it would be mine, I would cut it back to above those shoots and carefully transplant it to a better place, saving as many roots as possible. Camellias like a slightly acidic soil and should be planted facing west.
Good luck!
Erin C. says
“duh, winning.” HAHA
The tulips have juuust started to pop out of the ground here.. I can’t for some more signs of spring!
Mike @HA says
Grr, we’re jealous! I just snowed in MN this week! We’re itching for warm weather and budding flowers!
Sarah says
I’m in Minnesota where it is still below freezing right now. But we’re expecting to hit 40 degrees next week (during my Spring Break!) yahoo! Thanks for rubbing your beautiful weather in our Minnesotan-faces…jerks! ;) your pictures have given me hope that the warmth will return eventually. *crosses fingers*
I can’t wait to see what kind of awesometastic things you guys are planning on doing do with your yard (and the rest of the house, of course!)
Jeanne says
Its 30 degrees here in Wisconsin, snow still on the ground (just got a few inches this week). Forecast says we could be in the 40’s maybe even 50 next week! *fingers crossed*
Anna says
I agree with Camellia, but as it’s overhanging your walkway, I would *definitely* suggest you move it. We have a *ton* of these lining the long driveway to our house, and the most treacherous time of the year is mid-spring because all those pretty (but dense) blooms will brown on the tree and then fall, creating big mushy piles of petals and leaves before you even have a chance to rake them up.
Can’t wait to see what else you do with the outside of your house!
Jennifer says
We got a foot of snow (and more coming as we speak) in N.E. Ohio today. I am SOOO jealous of you guys today! Love your blog though. Keep up the good work.
Karen says
Oh, the green is so lovely to see. We were out in the backyard playing in the snow yesterday. Temps got above 0 fahrenheit.. so we HAD to take advantage of it! We still have snow drifts 2.5ft deep or more. I think temps are getting up to 3-5 degrees fahrenheit next week. It will get slushy n soggy pretty fast – perfect for building snowmen! Yay Saskatchewan! ~Canada
Karen says
I’ve completely confused my temperatures. I just don’t get F-C conversions! Anyway.. it will be above freezing next week, which will be delightful.
Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen says
I cannot wait for spring!! It’s been a long winter in Montana…
SarahR says
OMG! I am litterally freaking out over here….so excited for spring and to be able to get back to the yard. We live in CA and it has been high 60’s consistently lately..so nice. We bought our a house (a foreclosure)last year and had A LOT of prep work (for 15 yrs the previous owner grew nothing…the whole front was river rock and grossness). We put in sprinklers, graded out a nice crown in the front, shaped to-be flower bed, layed sod, and planted three trees. Now we are ready for all the color and texture building to start…but we are going to paint the house first. We truely need more hours in the day for our HUMONGOUS DIY list!!
Lindsay says
It looks amazing there! It still has been a bit cold and rainy here in Indiana, but today the sun is shining and the temp should reach about 50! Can’t complain.
We also just removed some trees from our front yard and backyard. I am so glad we did it. I wouldn’t have been as happy as I am if the trees looked anything like your do though. Ours were old and ugly. The big front one was once someone’s Christmas tree…
keelin says
LOVE ho wit is spring there already!
I have a random question I hope you will answer. How did you marry the white finish/dark wood look in your first home? I like the idea of mixing the two, but am afraid to buy any white pieces for fear of it looking less “classy-contrast” and more “hodge-podge”. help?
YoungHouseLove says
As long as you have a few pieces of each color in the same space it’ll look intentional and not hodge-podge. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Haley says
Camellia. Please don’t kill it. :( They are so pretty and special in the early spring!
Dawn says
Our daffodils are done, but the azalea’s have started. Yea!!!!! The Bradford pears have completely bloomed out but now have their leaves. I am so ready for the rest of our buds to pup. I love living in South Alabama this time of year the high has been in the mid-70’s for a couple of weeks.
Kelly Morley says
That looks like a camellia that has grown into a tree over time. This is the time of year when they bloom. I have several pink camellia bushes that are currently in bloom. They make really pretty cut flowers for inside. Happy “almost” spring!
bridget b. says
i’m glad you mentioned that bit about unifying the exterior. i’ve been seeing a lot of older homes lately in which the back and/or newer sections have siding instead of brick.
i’ve never heard of anyone going back to place brick over the exterior siding of a house in the way that you can put drywall over interior surfaces. do you know if it’s possible?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re really not sure what’s possible yet. Anyone have ideas for Bridget?
xo,
s
Bluenoser says
I know Canada is a great country, but my northern self is jealous. We had a bit more snow last night. :( Another side note – I’m using advice from your archives to pick out living room and dining room curtains this weekend. Thanks for being DIY awesome!
Melissa says
I forget what grass looks like at this point…we still have mounds of snow! However, it rained a lot last week so it did shrink back some- so I have hope.
Dreaming of my flower garden in Nova Scotia :)
bfish says
Others beat me to it, but it’s definitely a Camellia japonica. Very pretty; maybe you can live with it close to the house. Can you show a pic from further back looking straight on at your house?
YoungHouseLove says
Check out our House Tour tab for a few more exterior shots. We definitely need to post more soon (now that the snow is gone). Pics soon!
xo,
s
Carla @ I Run, You Run says
I would think the tree is small enough that you can just move it, no? It’ll take a bit of digging, but better than losing it completely!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the plan. Just hope the roots aren’t all squished up against the foundation (which could make the dig-out slightly more complicated). Fingers crossed…
xo,
s
Lydia says
Can’t you replant it in a better location?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the plan! Fingers crossed the roots aren’t all crazy and squashed against the foundation (which would make it harder).
xo,
s
Deana says
Yep, definitely looks like a camellia. They’re pretty tough. Even if you have to chop the roots, it might survive being moved. My parents had tons of them. The shrubs got some sort of fungus, so they chopped them back to the ground. I mean not a leaf left. By the next winter, they were growing like crazy, fungus-free AND they had a much nicer shape!
Allison says
We are still shoveling snow. It is a cold and dreary world here in Eau Claire, WI. Can’t even wait for green grass, budding trees and flowers!! WOW!
Modern.girl says
I don’t really see signs a of spring around me yet, but I really can’t wait!! This year has been coooooooold!
Kimberly says
It does look like you’ll have to cut the tree down, but you could try taking some cuttings and put them in a better location. You would start them in pots and then plant them in your yard once they get bigger. My husband and I did this with a crape myrtle last year. We had to prune it and just stuck a bunch of the little branches (about finger size around) in dirt and they grew. We gave some away as gifts.
Misty says
You will absolutely love getting the surprises this spring! We moved into our home in January 2010 and little did we know the previous owner was amazing with the landscape! Our flowers and bushes bloomed all year. We had new blooms or something different each week.
The only negative is that most of the stuff was young so we are going to have to prune out some things this spring that have become too much!
I can’t wait to see what fun things you find!
Karen says
It looks like a camellia. My parents have a bunch of them at their house. While it IS very close to the foundation, you may not NEED to move it. It won’t really get much bigger, and if you keep it trimmed back it won’t do anything to the brick.
janie says
Our camellias are vulnerable to deer, so one that’s big enough to be out of their reach is nice. I would try and save it if you can.
I’m about to use your craigslist trick to try and get someone to take away an azalea – wish me luck!
Meredith says
Why do I live in Iowa? We had snow. High today of 37. Spring has yet to poke its face out, but we’re READY.