A low key Fourth

Daniel and I spent a gloomy day at the beach. The sun never did burn thru the marine layer. We finally got a glimpse of it as we left there and headed inland to a friends place for an evening bonfire. A pleasant day all around.


Cats stayed home. Here's a pic of Miss Gracie drowning in her own floof.


On today's agenda we have laundry and digging irises for the HIPS Sale and for my eBay sales.

Lions at the Gate...

... and at the door. Guarding the family from any rodents or small birds that may wander by. Lol.




The shade border is really filling in beautifully. The Soloman's Seal is just amazing - such structure! The mock orange is about to bloom for the first time. Fantastic fragrance.


I love taking pics of the irises just before the sun sets, when the soft golden light comes in from the side and lights them all up like stained glass windows. Here's a few from last night. Click the photos to see the larger versions.

First iris of 2009

This cute little reticulata opened today. Such a nice bright bit of color. I've seen yellow buds coming out on a couple of i. danfordiae as well.


Miss Gracie has become so hairy she is drowning in her own fluff. Poor baby girl.

Beautiful days

What an unseasonably beautiful November we are having. The last few days have been warm and sunny. We've yet to have a killing frost, tho a few light ones have been thru. I finally (!!!) managed to get my Kleinsorge bed expanded and a new one created next to it. This is going to make a big difference in a few years as the lilacs and the vine maple grow in. And in the meantime all my Kleinsorge irises are in one place together.


Miss Gracie was outside with me all afternoon enjoying the sun. She's brought in a few rodents today (leaving bits of them scattered about the back yard - yuck), but unfortunately no more moles yet. They are tearing up my terraces something awful and making a huge mess and I sure wish she would kill a few more.


Here's Mr. Pansy in his favorite chair again. Paws up!


And finally a raspberry tart I made a few weeks ago. Not the most attractive but it sure was delish.


Friends are coming for Thanksgiving. Hope yours is a happy one!