Why I Oughta...

One of the more interesting early Spring shrubs in our garden is this Lemony Lace Elderberry.  Planted in the Fall of 2022 , it turns out this maroon-and-green lace-like foliage that look like little firework explosions on the limbs.  See below for a few photos of the almost Japanese-Maple-like leaves that sort-of unfurl from center clusters.   Spring bud burst is always a fun time, but right now, this Lemony Lace Elderberry might be the star of the entire show.  

The best 'show' yet has taken place this past weekend on our Saucer Magnolia tree with pink and white blooms all over the tree that was planted in 2017.  It was REALLY SHOWY this year and it doesn't appear that we lost hardly any flower buds at all this Winter - which....was super mild cold-wise.   The tree - in the photo below - really put on some mass the past few growing seasons and now stands out in the front yard and even obscures some of the house from the sidewalk as you walk by in Spring.  This will leaf-out soon, but for a few days (from April 13 --> April 17), this thing was P E A K.  Also...that dark green lawn looks pretty great this time of year, too.