Shade Bridge Garden

Forget-me-nots are blooming in the shade bridge garden. They are just like the Creeping Jenny this year, growing right across the pathway by the raspberry. The space between and behind the Hosta should be 2 of my red Columbine but no sign yet. The green carpet over the mulch is mostly Forget-me-not seedlings. I really needed to do something about that last year. Oh well, the garden and I are both still here so I guess I haven't run out of time :)

Contrast

No these rocks aren't really purple but somehow I captured this strange contrast in colour. (Maybe that was right after I dropped the camera ;)  This is way back in Kelly's sitting spot.

Tulip 'Lipgloss'

The Tulips are starting to bloom in the bird sanctuary. These 'Lipgloss' are the first. Behind them is the Hosta 'Sun Power'. I need to get to the dandelions in the nursery on the other side of the fence.

Frostie the Hemlock

This is a corner of my front rock garden that you don't often see.  In the front centre is Frostie, a miniature hemlock, that has been there 3 years.  And, yes, it's not even a foot tall!  This is, however, the right colour and it has more new growth this year.  It's only supposed to grow a couple of inches a year so I won't have to worry about space for a while :)

Narcissus

If you can believe it ! They are shooting up all over out there :)

Saxifraga

This is just a little patch of saxifraga that I finally moved out from underneath the phlox and thrift that I planted it too close to. Just little flowers on thin stalks and a nice change from plain white.  These open dark red and fade to pale pink so it looks like there's different colour flowers.

Too Close for Comfort?

You think those tulips might be too close to the rose? Either the rose grew or the tulips drifted underground and I am sticking to that story... there are lots of tulips to move this year and I already have my eye on some new ones. We really need a day of sun to make them all pop though.

Jumbo Beauty

These are called 'Jumbo Beauty' and the blooms are the size of my fist.  They have come back regularly now for 4 years and stand about 2.5' tall.  When they first open, the pink is paler and the white is more creamy.  They've been blooming for 2 weeks and will go a little longer I think.  In the background you can see my Opus One lilies are already over 3' tall!

My Aunt's Garden

I am planting my Aunt's garden for her this year. Of course, this meant a trip to the greenhouse today :) I needed a couple of trailing things for pots and like your idea of Cleome at my roses so I got a Cleome hybrid variety that is deep lavender with dark foliage for here. These are for my Aunt's garden though. Cosmos is her favorite. This one is a 3 color mix. The color not shown is white. The Argyranthemum looked nice with it. The overexposed white are Argyranthemum as well but are all white. I am also taking her some of the 'Mars Midget' from the nursery and something else white that I haven't figured out yet.

Princess Irene

They are not even open all the way and I can already tell they are everything I thought they would be and more ! In the background is some kind of decorative grass that I didn't put on my map because it was supposed to be annual here. Both of them are greening up though so I guess I'll dig through tags and see if I can find it. It's always nice to see the unexpected.

Big Solomon

In the background here... get's about 3 feet tall.

Rainy Days and Tuesdays

...always get Hannah down. She spent the whole day in the window waiting for the rain to stop and I must say, I am on her side. I was happy to see the rain 6 days ago and it did wonders for the tulips which were looking spectacular yesterday but now I am done. Of the last 6 days, every second one has been heavy, heavy rain and it has created a new problem in the basement where we have rainwater coming in. I've been mopping up all day and have taken down 2 sheets of drywall so far. Still haven't found the problem though.

Tiny Solomon

Planted this variegated Solomon's Seal late last year and didn't get much this year.  It's only about a foot tall but apparently they don't get as tall as the common variety.  Just have to imagine what a patch of them will look like!

I mean... Monte Carlo !

I obviously took the photo of the Monte Carlo tulips too early. Look at them now !

taken with Samsung ST550

Glowing hosta

This started as a small sprig from Mom's and now there's 3 this size.  Here the evening sun is making it glow in the woods.  I don't know the name.

Buds and a Bloom

No matter what happens with the tulips, my Iris never disappoint. They are starting today. These and the dwarf dark purple are always the first. I swear I am moving the Knautia that is to the left. No matter how lovely it blooms, the foliage is weedy looking. It needs to be further from the house. Maybe with the daisy.

New garden

Finally got most of our dirt, but still need another load to fill the hole on the left side of the picture.  Mulch next and then I get to fill it.  All my glads are going right in the middle of the picture.

Monte Carlo

They were described in the catalogue as sulfur yellow. They were one of Miles' picks. I really like them and notice..... they are new and taller. You can see what I think is painted daisy just behind the tallest one, self-seeded viola among the dandelion field in the top right and more tulips hopefully coming in the top left.

(taken with Samsung ST550)

From my mother's garden

This came from Mom's and I have it growing in a few spots.  This is by the front steps.  Each of these little blue flowers close up at dusk and is white on the underside.  Some kind of veronica but not exactly like anything I've come across in the garden centres.

The Littlest Lily

taken with Samsung ST550

Lily-of-the-Valley opened today. The closer ones actually get more sun, the farther ones will be about a week later. Yes, it is unlikely you will ever get a weed free photo of my garden... I am just not that diligent.

In a hard spot

This is one of the hardest places to get anything to grow, let alone thrive.  I've moved a lot of plants in and out of this area in the last 5 years.  The bleeding heart and gold lamium have been here since the beginning.  The pale purple phlox is now about 3 feet around.  In the middle of the picture is a sport of lamium with dark leaves that sprouted between the rocks and I gave up the thought of pulling it out long ago.  A couple of purple pulsatilla still blooming in front of the gold lamium.

Maid of Orange

I'm quite impressed with this one!

Short, Shorter, Shortest

All my new tulips are starting to bloom at ground level. These are Banja Luka and they are about 3 inches tall. Most of the weeds are taller than them.

Something Old, Something New

This is what I was talking about. The Zurel are old tulips which are blooming. The new tulips are popping up in the front of the photo. Big difference. You should see the Monte Carlo.... they are full of buds ready to open but they are only about 1 inch tall. I suppose I shouldn't complain since there is supposed to be daylily in there too. At least the tulips are showing up, even if it is half-heartedly.
taken with Samsung ST550

The Gardener Before Me

Although when we moved in, the yard was largely undeveloped, as the years go by and we uncover areas, there is evidence of her everywhere. The gardener at least 20 years before me. The previous owner did not garden but someone here did and their garden was huge. From the sunken cement (possibly) pond near the willow in front that we found one foot down to the pavers mortared in beside the sidewalk and under the gravel at the front. I have yet to erase any of her work. The pavers stayed, just got swept off. I am still thinking about the pond although that will likely have to go because I cannot creatively figure out how to save it. These tulips have been reminding me of her since we moved in. They bloom, all alone, every year, in an area as yet undeveloped by us so they are among trees, weeds and bushes. I keep thinking it is actually a perfect spot for the next bed and although I haven't dug it for that, I haven't moved her tulips either.

taken with Samsung ST550

My phlox like your phlox?

I bought this late last year so this is the first time I'm seeing it bloom.  It's phlox divaricata and likes the shade - and looks suspiciously like the phlox you have in your bird sanctuary.

Deja Vu

You are just going to have to take my word for it that this actually happened today. Except she wasn't wearing a pink collar. Sean took the only working camera that I can find a charger for without a lot of effort. He will be back soon but I am exhausted so I had to settle for finding a deja vu photo that went with the day. Going to sleep now.

Golden Jubilee

I thought I had lost it over the winter but it turns out I had just lost track of it.  It jumped out at me yesterday when I was walking around.

Today Was All About TV

taken with Samsung ST550

So you get a picture of my screen. I said I wanted it to come down to Sandra and Parvati and in the end, it kind of did. Nice Russell was left out. I'm posting his burning hat on Sleepy Hollow.

Space Lilies

Danielle, these are the 2-tone orange ones we got from you a couple of years ago.  We call them space lilies because they are so dark and come up looking so different than our other lilies (which you can see a lot of in the background).

Below Ground Tulips

I stumbled upon this today while walking the dogs this morning. Looks like Wile E. dug a hole last fall where I planted tulips. The tulips decided to come up and they are some of the taller ones so far but I can't yet see them above ground. Oddly enough, the hole is about 10" deep and I didn't plant the tulips down that far. Anyway, I can't fix it until they are done so I guess this year, they will bloom at ground level. Good to know the garden can survive the dogs.

Waiting for Treats

Romeo can be amazingly patient, but he's also very persistant.  He's figured out if he hangs around long enough, he'll eventually get treats.  (And yes, it would have been too funny if the phone had rung!)

Coral Bells 'Key Lime'

taken with Samsung ST550

Yes, my friend, your eyes do not deceive. My Key Lime Coral Bells came back !!! Make that 4 plants out of my zone that are growing in my garden. Pretty soon, I might be a match for Kelly. LOL ! Made my day, that's for sure.

Cool Combo

The blue flowers of the brunnera with the bleeding heart is a new combo this year and I like it!

Blanket of Weeds

taken with Samsung ST550

Was weeding around the front gravel today and when I was done I turned around to find this. Usually when I miss the bucket as I toss the weeds, any dogs move out of the way. Penny was napping though, until I grabbed the camera. That woke her up.

Red Tulips

Ile de France tulips backed by my Rose Glow barberry.  Beautiful sunny day - all the tulips are open!

Worth Another Look

This particular type of gentiana is one of my very favourite flowers - perhaps because it took me 3 years to find it after seeing it in a garden!  Click and look at the large version - you gotta love that blue.

Buried in Winter Kill

I feel a little like this stepping stone I found under the honeysuckle and catmint today. Buried in winter kill. The whole garden looks like this but.... the sun is out.... and what a difference a day makes. All the tarda blooms are open.

taken with Samsung ST550

Alert! Google Alerts

Doodles in the laundry room.  This is where all the BIG IDEAS originate!

Sunny Day Blooms

The tarda have probably been in bloom for days... I just couldn't see them because we have had no sun. As you can see, most of the blooms are closed but a few opened this afternoon which made me go and look. Every patch is full of blooms !

taken with Samsung ST550

New trellis

My new trellis... it is curvy silver stakes tied at the top.  Not bad for $6!

Moving Days

Sean and Nicholas have moved home :)

taken with Samsung ST550

Evidence of Blooms

First evidence of actual blooms ! This is my Bergenia today. Funny that the tarda are up and very green but I am not seeing their buds yet. Looks like the weather isn't stopping these though, I counted 7 when I was out there but couldn't get them all in one photo without including more weeds than I want to think about in the frame.

taken with Samsung ST550

Newest addition

I've got purple aubrieta blooming in all my gardens.  This little bird in the middle was my mother's day gift to myself.

Out in the Cold

taken with Samsung ST550

I can't remember a time when everything that anyone in my family was done with in their garden, didn't make it over to mine :) These two little cherubs were already a tad worse for wear when they showed up here from my Aunt and I haven't helped them this year by leaving them outside all winter to fend off the weather. I think they must have been hidden under the peonies last Fall to get left out alone.

Sharing A View

I came across Jake and Benedict sharing a view while I was taking a photo of the egret for today. This one felt more spontaneous.
taken with Canon Powershot A70

Evening sun

The late afternoon sun hits my west facing garden after it sinks below the treetops.

Surviving the snow

Looks like we made it through. Keeping my fingers crossed that Jack Frost is on his way North for awhile.

taken with Canon Powershot A70

View from the door

Rainy evening here so I stepped as far as the front deck.  It's not the best angle for my garden.

Finally Up

taken with Canon Powershot A70

The first evidence of the tulips planted last fall. Finally. The older tulips have been up for a couple of weeks and are about 7" tall now. These are Plum Pudding and are the first of the new ones. I was starting to worry. Keeping my fingers crossed the rest will follow soon.