Blossom

Yesterday this was a hint of a promise..

Today I got a lovely surprise.

So glad I bought new irises, but a little irked that (as usual) I threw out the tags in a fit of house cleaning. I want this one to grow and grow and grow..


My Americauna Walnut had been giving me beautiful blue eggs.. until about a week ago. She's a sneaky one, laying all over the garden in hose pots, garden waste bags and bench cushions. I looked in her previous spots to no avail. But when I looked in the gross lint ridden space under the AC vent- voila:

Ignore the neglected organic playdoh container that rolled under there last summer!

It is now blocked off. Let's see where she decides to lay them now!

And finally I had a small epiphany tonight as I looked at the ENORMOUS brown spot in the middle of the back yard. Why do I spend hours (and risk/incur back muscle spasms) removing grass in some areas and spend time waiting for grass to grow back in others? It makes no sense at all. Luckily I have some half days off next week.. I sense a project in the making. I think I'll put in a curvy rounded berm-ish bed, but it will have to be fairly chicken proof and tolerate afternoon sun and drought/neglect once established. I sense crushed granite, maybe some euphorbia, bamboo muhly (contasts of textures) and... not sure. I may have to leave room for a mud pit for my youngest (see below).

Ideas are welcome!

Garden blooming and buzzing!

I'll admit, I scare off the birds in my yard when I go outside. Cardinals, wrens, chickadees, doves, blue jays and grackles all vanish from my feeders and bushes when I bring out my camera. But the bees are cooperating (a little) better this spring. My wisteria and mountain laurel have settled down but my salvias and coral honeysuckle keep putting on a show that everyone seems to enjoy..

Honeybee holding still. 

I cleared out the oregano and passionflower vines and this red salvia (autumn sage if I remember) has doubled in size. You can't see the buzzing all around it from this far..

Fat bumblebee holding still

This is a Biergarden culinary sage- not native, but that hasn't stopped the honeybees..

I caught the other flowers on their own, but have enjoyed their colors..

Dutch irises coming back faithfully in the front with surrounding volunteer oaklets I need to pull and a chili piquin waking up for the season to the right

Red poppies in the back

A blurred explosion of Old Gay Hill roses in a dry spot in the back

Blackfoot daisies (tasty to the chickens so protected unfortunately)

Allium flowers that pop up in the front

Not big yet, but I'm celebrating my first pomegranate bloom.

Purple sweet peas amid colorful chard (need to get around to eating it soon!)

I hope everyone enjoys their Gardener's Bloom Day hosted by Carol at www.maydreamsgardens.com! I love seeing what is blooming in everyone's yards this time of year.