04-28-2013 Iris time!

...and poppy time, and roses time! Everything grows so fat in Spring!
from day to day, new things pop up, new blooms, new leaves, new shoots pushing through the still moist dirt. I walk the garden at least twice a day and, every time, I discover new things. AMAZEMENT is the word; you can't help but be impressed by what nature can do and I am the lucky one standing with his mouth open, in wonder!

A couple of weeks ago I was thinking I'd like to have one of those "Van Gogh" irises in my garden. Lo and behold, just a few days late I see an emerging bud in the desired colors(Obviously, I had had the same longing the previous year, done something about it and forgotten) When most irises open overnight, this one played with my patience and took several days of teasing before,finally, opening.          

                                     It was all well worth it!

Two days ago, I was sitting in the front sitting area, enjoying my lunch when a gust of wind totally covered me with thousands of dogwood petals falling into the kind of snow storm we can all appreciate in April in NC.

Work around the yard: spreading more wood chips thanks to Craig, my friendly supplier, weeding still but in more manageable quantities and I transplanted some leeks that had grown from seeds through winter.

Poppies started opening up, some from seeds I had not tried before; I am very happy with the results. The rose pergola is slowly starting to bloom; it should be in full splendor by next week.

What makes you think I really like this guy? It looks like it came straight out of Delft or a Van Gogh painting; may his poor, tortured soul rest in peace!

Red sage. Looks better in real than on a picture. It's one of those that don't translate well but when you see her, she grabs you.

Seen from the corner

Even invaders can look good at the right place and time: Virginia Creeper (With a name like like that, no way it was to become a best seller!)

Shade garden on the side street.

Shade garden seen from the street.

Corn and bush bean cohabitation

Snap peas, or my wife's snack bar in a few weeks.

Red clover

Partial bloom on the arbor. Next week should be their week.

Young lettuce> I can almost taste it just looking at it.

The pond in front of the house with its own variety of bog-loving iris