Irises in May

Wow, my iris have bloomed in all their glory this year!

Garden at beginning of June 2013

I made a "mini" vegetable garden in my front flower bed - it's the only place on the property with full sun. Planted Sun Gold tomatoes, Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, and red, green and yellow bell peppers; and some Orange Talisan marigolds.

The pinks are blooming.

 

 

A curry plant, geraniums and rosemary on the front stoop.

 

My fairy garden with coral bells.

Happy May Day

 One of my tulips, the first year they haven't been eaten by deer.

 The pond is full of water this spring, it has been completely dry for at least a year. We saw a red headed woodpecker this morning! There used to be quite a few down by the river in years past, but for the past couple of years we haven't seen any. Probably displaced by the &*#+ starlings.

 A box turtle on the path, she hid into her shell when we got close.

A bouquet for May Day/Beltane on the deck. I put out the hummingbird feeders awaiting the first arrivals. The weather today was perfect -  80 degrees and sun - a great beginning for the "lusty" month of May.

New Yard Bird (a day in April 2012)

(Another unpublished post - this one from April of 2012. Guess I was waiting for the photo Terry got, if I find it I will add it.)

And it's a good one. Pileated Woodpecker!!!!! Saw it yesterday big as life on a hickory tree in the backyard.

A beautiful couple of days, saw a snake sunning on a rock in the creek.

Finished "The Hunger Games" and started Carole King's memoirs.

Worked in backyard, T helped set up the hammock, the bird bath and the wren house. Weeded yesterday, lots of that darn Japanese honeysuckle. Got some poison ivy too, but I showered with p.ivy soap as soon as I came in house after throwing clothes in the washer. So far, so good.

Visited Dad on Sunday, he's doing so much better than last week.

Carolina Wren Nest

The other day as I was at my sewing machine, a Carolina wren pair were singing loudly right outside the window. I watched as they built this nest in a hanging flower basket. Today, I went out to check the nest because it had been so quiet, and was surprised when the female flew out.

I quickly took photos and went back inside. A few minutes later she returned.
It will be fun watching this new family.

As you can see the deer (or rabbits or both) are munching on my hosta, leaving bare stems sticking up. In the past I've put netting over my plants but birds get caught in it, so that was nixed. We have some repellant spray but apparently that wears off too soon. Next I plan to try fishing line and soap.

Spring Again!

Warm weather is here at last. The iris are blooming, and I found a fountain for the courtyard by the front door.

October

We've had wonderful perfect weather the past few days. So glad the hot heat and horrible mosquitos of this past summer are over. I've been able to get out in my garden and work on it-the weeds got entirely out of hand. (My progress on the herb bed is pictured.) The tomatoes are doing better now, it seems we've gotten more of them this week than we did all summer.

Tomatillas

Someone gave us these as little seedlings last spring. They are now huge (in spite of the bug nibbles and growing in pots) and alien looking! Wonder how big they would be if in the ground. Never grown these before or even seen them growing- the fruits are used to make salsa verde.

Summer Flowers

Rain, rain, rain, every day rain. But the flower bed is going great (so are the weeds).
Balloon flower before opening (why it has its name) and after.
Lilies that I transplanted last fall from the shady north yard where they hadn't bloomed in five years, to the sun in front where they are blooming like crazy.

Plant Surprises

 

 

The lily in the front flower bed has bloomed-a beautiful bright white, I thought it was going to be red! And here is the rabbit foot fern in my kitchen window-it is becoming a "big foot" fern. Before I moved it this window with eastern exposure it had little bitty leaves but now it has popped out with this whopper!

My Flower Bed

The perennials are going great this spring, and I planted a pink shrub rose. The cactus Jenny brought back from Florida last year is growing too.

Spring Flowers

We're having a beautiful spring. Here are some flowers from my window,yard and along the Rock Springs trail.

My crocus are up. Spring is on its way at long last! Tulip leaves are poking through, so I put netting over them to keep the deer out. Last year they left me with only one lonely little tulip bloom.

Happy May Day and (Belated) Earth Day

May Day is cool and rainy, my Bleeding Hearts and Bluebells are blooming. Earth Day was warm and sunny; a nice breeze showed off my flag. To celebrate May Day, I put out the hummingbird feeder and am looking out for my first little guest!

Spring Flowers

 

 

 

Here are my spring bulb flowers in my front flower bed: the grape hyacinths, daffodils, and you will have to imagine the pink tulips. The deer think the tulips are their candy and have left only chewed up leaves. Next year I will have to get them covered with netting as soon as they peek out of the ground!