Spring Flower Show

I always think of summer as the time for flowers in the garden. But putting in a little extra work last fall has really paid off. All the nice rain and mild winter we had didn’t hurt either. Either which way, I am really enjoying the flower show in my garden this spring.

Let’s start with these John Scheeper Faith daffodils. Now, these are pretty. But doggone it. Don’t exaggerate the color in the catalog. They were shown as pink as the camellia that follows. And they just aren’t. Also, it might be polite to include that these tulips face downwards, so you don’t really get to see them without bending over… Anyway, they did bloom well, and they are still pretty 🙂

The camellia has never been as full of blooms as this! I’m surprised the bush is still upright. Its a shame they couldn’t spread out their blooms over a longer period of time.

I’m not kidding. Every time I aim my camera at this bush, Sophie wanders over to check it out.

Here’s the Camperdown Elm with its little lime green “blossoms.”

Close-up. I think they’re very pretty. I suppose they’re seed pods. But I think this is a grafted tree, so the seeds probably aren’t useful.

The last cluster of the Angelique tulips. I planted these a few years ago, and it seems to me that tulips don’t usually last too long, so I was very happy to see these make an appearance.

From John Scheepers–Sunset Miami–fringe  tulips.

Close-up–aren’t they pretty?

The tall plant in the foreground is a money plant. They are biennials. So I grew them from seed last year, but this year is when I get to see the blooms. And actually the seed pods are the “money” part of them–purportedly looking like silver dollars. I will have to wait until the end of summer to see that. The flowers seem a little insignificant. But hey! I just looked them up, and it says that the pilgrims brought them with them on the Mayflower! Thomas Jefferson grew them in Monticello!

I love these violets. Over there on the right is some fescue grass. I got it for the patchwork path, but had some extra.

My pot is looking good. The purply flowers in the front are a cross between violets and pansies and are a perennial. And evidently are not as tasty as pansies. Yay!

My favorite flowering almond is just starting to bloom.

MLG built a trellis out of bamboo stakes for the bridal veil bush which was falling all over everything.

These just started blooming–some lily-flowering tulips from costco. Oh, and you can see the black tubing in there–MLG has been working on the drip/irrigation system. I ordered a 4-way timer from Amazon, and so he’s figured out how we can put the entire garden on a watering system. Whee!! More time for me this summer 🙂

Whew! And that’s the end of the garden show for this week. Have a wonderful weekend, and I will think good thoughts for my East Coast friends that they will see some sunshine and flowers!

More Spring!

Every day new things are blooming! We are having a nice warm week, and the plants just can’t seem to grow fast enough. It is supposed to cool down next week, and I am looking forward to that. Maybe the color will last a little bit longer.

The view from the front door:

The bridal veil bush. According to the inter webs, its not meant to be a neat and tidy bush. Performing according to plan!

These daffodils were just buds last week. I think Noah is still beheading the pansies in this bed…

Some hyacinths and frilly daffodils.

Close-up:

The forsythia in full bloom. Remember, this bush languished in deep shade for many years. Finally had to move it when we were doing some construction on the house, so I am very happy that it has survived, and seems to be thriving in its new spot.

New daffodils, that I got from the John Scheepers company.

Each of them has two blooms per stem!

The new violet path is coming along nicely.

And that’s it for the garden report this week. Every day I do a little weeding. I have a box full of one million tiny little pieces for the irrigation system. MLG will be here tomorrow to start that project. And I finally found the fencing I was looking for for my chicken pen and have ordered that. And in the meantime, I work in my studio every day, quilting and stitching. You can check out what I’m doing on my other blog, if you’re interested. 

Signs of Spring

Well, one week ago we had a snow storm. Today it feels like spring, and everywhere there are signs of spring emerging. The violets are the first to show up in the spring. I planted some of them between the stones on the path by the hydrangeas and camellia. Violets can be somewhat invasive. I think I started with just one little violet plant many years ago. They are everywhere. Sometimes I dig them up and move them, and sometimes, I have to admit, I treat them like weeds and just dig them up and toss them in the bucket.

A primrose is starting to bloom.

The Camperdown Elm has big fat buds waiting to pop. There are some funny little lime green “flowers” on this tree before the big green leaves emerge.

The bed of pansies and daffodils that I planted last fall.

I was surprised that the camellia was already blooming.

And look who’s waiting for the blooms. Every year…

Daffodils in the front bed. Most of them are turned facing the road, which is nice for the few neighbors that drive by.

The forsythia is just starting to bloom. A different strain of violets are blooming in the rear.

And right next to the forsythia, I was so happy to see the new honeysuckle putting out lots of new shoots.

A new daffodil and an old hyacinth.

On my way home a week ago, it was a sunny day, so I stopped at one of my favorite nurseries to get a little color for the yard. Brought them home, and they got snowed on the next day. But they seem to have weathered the storm well. You can see in the background that MLG and I are trying out some of that shredded cedar.

 

And that’s how its going in the garden so far. I’m so glad that MLG and I worked last fall, pruning and cleaning up the yard. I think it will look very nice in another month or so. Today I did what could only be called “micro gardening.” Laying on the ground and carefully picking out weeds from between the elfin thyme ground cover that I have so carefully cultivated. Somewhat frustrating, but also something that I have to admit I enjoy. I like tiny things, and I like detail work.

In other garden news, MLG has figured out how to put in an irrigation drip system. I am VERY excited about this. I like watering. But I don’t like watering for hours and hours. And I don’t like it when I forget one plant and it suffers in the heat. AND……drumroll please…. J. the contractor came over last week and poured the cement for the start of my new chicken house. I can hardly wait.