More irises!

Ten varieties opened today. Bloomstalks are on the rise everywhere you look. Here's a few photos.


This purple I acquired at a cemetery in South Dakota. I was driving to IL and stopped for gas. Noticed a cemetery with what looked like irises growing everywhere behind the place, so I took a little wak and sure enough there were thousands of fans covering large areas of the old cemetery. Given the abundance I felt taking a start was hardly an issue, and hopefully this iris will be preserved.


It's very cute, and probably quite old. Only one branch and four buds on the bloomstalk. Perhaps it would do better in richer soil, but I doubt it. Wonderful satin sheen to the petals, and a bright violet tone not usually seen in these early germanica types.


This richly colored little iris is called Death By Chocolate.

More to come...

-M

Whaaaahooo!

Iris season is started, and I could not be more excited. Should be an excellent bloom season, barring any unusual weather events. Here's the first photo of this little variety blooming for me. This is The Bride (Caparne, 1901). Isn't she sweet?


Continuing with spring blooms here are some shots of one of my Brunnerea ('Langtrees', I suspect - not enough silver on the leaves to be 'Jack Frost')



And a lovely spring pansy - Mr. Peter Pansy to be precise - checking out something in the iris beds. He and Gracie have caught alot of rodents lately, which pleases us to no end. And have I mentioned the savings on cat food?



Rodents. Recommended by kittehs everywhere.

Sunny day on Arcadia Point.

What a lovely weekend it has been. We got so much done in the garden, and the bearded irises have started blooming as well. Here are a few photos. Garden named 'supertiny', I believe this is really i. pumila. It is almost always the first bearded iris to bloom each year. So cute. it is joined by Plum Wine, another MDB (miniature dwarf bearded).



(as always, click the photos to see the full size image)

This is for Kellie and Doris - check it out, trees in the ground. It's like a christmas miracle! Could not have done it without you both. =) I discovered that once you get past the top 8-10 inches the soil is considerable less compacted and easier to work with. It give sme hope for getting the rest of these beds done this spring.




And last, what weekend would be complete without a good cat picture, so here's Boo Boo having a nap on Daniels quilt that his grandmother made for him. A winning combination any day.

Happy Easter!

We're off for brunch at the Robin Hood with friends, then hopefully some nice weather to pile up wood and have a bonfire for the evening.

Here's a shot of an epimedium and a lamium blooming together in one of the beds.

Summer looms...

Yes, I know it seems like spring just got here, but I can feel summer breathing down my neck. I want as much of this potted stuff as possible to be in the ground before it gets hot. I am sick of spending hours each evening watering potbound plants. And the solution is - new flowerbeds!



I've been working on getting more terracing done and the soil amended. This weekend was a big finish, with a huge area being planted up and dozens of pots being emptied - including four lilacs and an ozmanthus! Last years emergency dahlia holding bed has been taken apart and its denizens spread out for further evaluation this summer. I tossed three last year as I hated the color. We'll see who can survive this years purge.



These beds below will be amended and planted this week. Hopefully some of the terraces above them as well, but we'll see just how much rock gets hauled over to work on it with.



Dear friends Kellie and Doris were down last weekend for a gardening consult, sleepover and hike the next day. We found this newt while showing them around the property. It is a Taricha granulosa or rough skinned newt. I love how many amphibians we have crawling about.