Another week, another slew of irises. This charming little yellow IB (intermediate bearded) opened a few days ago. Was supposed to be Prairie Gold but isn't. Nice tho.


The PCIs (Pacific Coast Iris) are opening now. Had three today. This dark purple beauty might be Night Editor but I can't find a pic to compare. Whatever it is it is covered in blooms. Stunning.


The next came from my Great Aunt Glady's place in Morrisonville, IL. It might be I. kochii but my IK has never bloomed so I can't compare them. Argh.


Last for irises is Chanted. A wonderful little pink with a blue beard. The camera just won't capture the smokiness, making it too pink.


The pansy with the Mexican feather grass in the pot grouping beside the front door is just amazing. We have enjoyed it so much, along with all the succulents planted in the terracotta and 'tufa pots.


And what would spring be without bleeding hearts? Sad, I tell you, just sad. I adore bleeding hearts. Actually, anything in the dicentra family or its relatives is loved here. Corydalis? Love it. Climbing bleeding heart? Love it. Love'em all.




More to come...

Blooms for late April

The first bearded irises opened last monday. This little variety of i. lutescens popped open and surprised me. It hadn't even been showing color the day before. I've been spreading them out the past few years along the edge of the driveway, with the intention of eventually having a large sweep of color. They are spreading nicely. The tip of the bloom is only 5 inches off the ground.


The Fritillaria imperialis bloomed this week. What a neat plant! I was not expecting them, as I had thought I'd planted alliums. These were a nice surprise tho. They are the brightest thing in the garden this week.




And here's a shot of another frittilaria - this one is the checkered lily.


I see a few more SDB's getting ready to bloom. Iris season is under way!

Sunshine and blooms

The pulminaria's are so bright right now. The slugs and deer ignore them so they are always putting on a good show.







Tuck catches some Z's in the late afternoon. Ahn.

Spring has sprung

Warm sunny days - finally! It was up to 70 yesterday and we were out all day in it. So nice, and I got loads of stuff done. Here's the south side of the driveway as you get to the curve. This had been full of weedy fir trees and blackberries, but our wonderful neighbors, the Pearson's, have been working to clear it out for us. We'll be replanting with different trees and shrubs once it is finished. Right now I am working on removing the weeds and making beds out along the drive. I've filled it with irises of two colors, massed, and moved the red hot poker here as well. The hummingbirds that nest in the area will enjoy that.


The cats are enjoying it as well, and all the early daffs are blooming their hearts out.






We had friends over for a bonfire in the evening and watched the sun set. It was a beautiful day. Hope yours was as well.

Keep your fork - there's pie!

Spring is here and the flowers are really coming on now. Here's a few... and a pie!








I really love the daffs. It's not spring for me until they start opening. I have several that need to be relocated that I plan to move to Daddy's grave site in the woods. The low spring sun comes in under the evergreens there and will be enough to allow them to thrive and spread.

February flowers

I've waited years to see one of these little i. danfordiae blooming in the garden. They rotted in previous attempts, but the well drained soil here seems to have done the trick. Such a cute little iris.




Grecian windflowers. Not sure of the proper name. A reliable late winter bloomer in our climate, it disappears by early to mid summer.

Spring has sprung

The Osoberry (Indian Plum), one of our earliest blooming native shrubs, is in full bloom right now. Their light spring-green leaves glow brightly when most other plants are still getting buds set. We discovered this huge, beautiful specimen out in the woods down the hill from the house. After some grooming, clearing and underplanting the area where it is at will be quite the feature for the later woodland garden. A large single-trunk alder stands nearby, along with some ancient, mossy stumps in the background.





This bush is probably 10-12 feet high. The lower parts have been long pruned off by the deer, giving it a great vertical vase shape. It will stand alongside the trail that will circle the property eventually.