Saturday, April 24, 2010

Here Comes the Bride

bridal wreath 006 A few years ago, I planted a border of Bridal Wreath Spirea along the natural area in my backyard.  Since childhood, I have loved its arching branches that are covered in mounds of snow white flowers in the spring.

I grew up in a neighborhood of small wood-framed houses in Camden, Arkansas.  Love Addition was built to house the influx of veterans returning from World War II.  My parents, my younger brother and I lived in a two-bedroom on Crestwood Avenue.  After my sister was born, we moved to a three-bedroom two doors down, and we lived there until I was in sixth grade.

scan0002 Landscaping was minimal in most of these yards.  The grass was whatever grew that was green and could be mowed—a combination of Bermuda grass, crab grass, clover and other assorted grasses and weeds.  Shrubbery was minimal, but our yard did have at least one or two bushes of Bridal Wreath in addition to the common junipers that I liked to call "bag worm" bushes.

Most of the time, I loved these bushes, but on the rare occasion when Mother or Daddy decided I needed a spanking, I wished I could cut them all down.  Instead of getting out the belt or hairbrush, Mother and Daddy would send us out to the yard to pick a switch.  Raked clean of leaves, the long thin branches of Bridal Wreath made perfect switches.  They never spanked us hard, but it surely did sting, and it must have made an impression if I still remember after all these years.

bridal wreath 003

In spite of that, I still love Bridal Wreath and have especially enjoyed its beauty this year.  Although we had a cooler than normal early spring, we didn't get a late freeze, so my Bridal Wreath border was covered in flowers.

bridal wreath 002

FAVORITETHINGSBUTTON Now come join me over at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie where everyone is sharing their favorite things.  Hope your Saturday is a good one.  It's thundering, lightening and raining here, but we need the rain for all the beautiful things and especially to get rid of the nasty pollen.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

The spirea is gorgeous, Kathy!

From the Old InkWell said...

WOW! this is beautiful!

GardenOfDaisies said...

I love spirea! The one in my yard has just exploded with blooms! I'm sorry to hear that the branches were used as switches for punishment when you were a little girl. Ouch!

Joyce said...

That is gorgeous...we are late bloomers up here...at least things have finally turned green.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

They are so beautiful.

Donna said...

Very pretty. How well I remember the switches. Mine were from the bushes across the street. Yikes. :) But still, whatever I had done to get a "switching", I never did again. hehehehehe
D

Stella said...

What beautiful bushes! They just take my breathe away. How long does it take for them to grow that big and beautiful? I popped over from Laurie's favorite things Sat.

Debbiedoos said...

It sure did make an impression. Funny if Parents do that today, we would get in trouble, however back in your day that was the norm, and you had to pick your own stick Ouch!!~ Thanks for stopping by.

Kathleen said...

They make a beautiful display! I await my neighbors to bloom. I have planted some, but it will take years!
We got threatened with a cat and nine tails that was supposedly in the attic! Most of the time a smack on the behind sufficed! :)

nanny said...

Those are beautiful....I really need to plant some!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Kathy, that looks absolutely breath taking! I remember having to go out and get a branch from the Mimosa tree. Glad you linked this to Favorite Things. laurie

Glenda/MidSouth said...

The Spirea is beautiful! Yep! I remember having to go get my switch. :-( I got into enough trouble on my own, but had a couple of siblings that would not own up to their misbehavings, so we all got a switching! :( But we grew up to become upstanding/law abiding citizens. :D
Enjoy your weekend.

FrouFrouBritches said...

Beautiful flowers. I grew up in Camden. Small world! So good to find your blog!

Sue said...

OMG I hadn't thought about "getting the switch" forever! I guess I never gave it any thought as to what a "switch" really was. I got the "hose"- a section of an old green garden hose that left welts on the back of little legs! OUCH to the n'th degree, let me tell you!!! I always thought it was child abuse and swore never to crack my future kids.....
I only faltered once, when I cracked Dan with the back of my hand for doing something bad and making me really mad! Then I thought back to my childhood and made sure I never did it again.
Love the flowering spirea- I hope my two small bushes flower profusely this spring.
hugs, Sue

Joyce said...

I'll ask my daughter if she knows your friends daughter...it's a small school so chances are good.

trish said...

Good Morning.
Please drop by for a little give a way on my blog.
It will be fun! :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia

ps. Beautiful pictures.

susan said...

Kathy-I have some spirea too, but mine is not nearly as beautiful! Must be the Southern upbringing--my mom always sent me out to get my switch too :) I knew not to come back with a twig. Our was usually privet hedge. I hate it now :) I wish you had been at the luncheon too! Thanks for stopping by!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Thanks for your sweet visit to my "beach toes" post -- can't wait to sink them into some sand! Your spirea is beautiful! I remember switches -- yikes - such a sting!

xinex said...

Wow! Gorgeous! And what a great story, Kathy....Christine