Everything but irises...

So busy with the irises and garden visitors I've had little time to do anything else. Here's some recent pics. Tumac is slowly getting better. I cannot wait until he is an old experienced dog tho, as this puppy thing is so tiresome.


Daniel set these stairs into the terrace above the driveway and miss Gracie thinks they are the best. She can often be found sitting on them observing her domain.


Nothing but wind and rain lately. Tho today finally had some sun breaks.


We've been working along the drive and this little sparrow is nesting in the area. Here she is keeping a close eye on us as her fledgling is hopping about in th underbrush trying to hide. It's been learning to fly the past several days and it is fun to see them about.


The woodpecker showed up at the burn pit and proceeded to take one of the stumps apart. It had been infested with ants before we burned it so I assume he was making a quick lunch of them.


Iris pics yet to come!

Lights! Camera! Action!

Peak bloom is expected over the next two weekends. Stop by and see the show!

Mother's Day Weekend

Daniel and I had Friday off so we took the opportunity to clean up the northeast corner of the house. This area had long been a dumping spot for bric-a-brac from the garden and hence overgrown with weeds and blackberries. We hauled everything out we wanted to keep and then cleared the sod off. The area against the house became a staging area for the garbage and recycling. Long overdue. The area near the corner of the house became an extension of the shade bed. A rhodie and several small hostas went in there.


The irises area really getting started now, with two or three new varieties a day opening. Still looks sparse across the garden but more color is showing all the time. Here's a few favorites.










The little hyacinth's, sometimes called mountain bells, managed to escape the attentions of the deer (who have been rather scarce since puppy moved in) and are looking lovely in a little pastel clump.


And check out these amazing 'flora plena' welsh poppy seedlings that came up in one of the beds. I love that bright orange-yellow! They look spectacular next to a Japanese maple seedling, also in shades of orange. You can see some of its leaves at the left edge of the photo if you embiggen it.


And finally Mr. Pansy sleeping with his head on his foot. So cute.

A weekend's worth...

A new project has come together finally, and more irises are in the ground. Long term plans for this bed include an espaliered apple tree in the center and two columner apples at each end of the compost bins. Also planted with rosemary and a red yucca, then filled with irises. A start, as it will evolve over the years.




Here's a couple of pics of Miss Gracie and Mr. Pansy enjoying the sunshine we've had lately.


Tumac is a bad puppy, and big as a house.






Last nights sunset.

More to come!