Blooming in May

After a hard rain a few beauties decided to really go for it...









Cupcake Rhododendron.

Gardening with Jack

I had a really nice visit from my friend Jack today. He has a warm approach, is a natural teacher, and carries a strong intuitive knowledge of working the earth. He taught me some new weeding techniques with the garden hoe and even sharpened my rusty old tool to a sharp silver edge. He brought me a pomegranite shrub for my garden that he grew from seed! Too cool!

It's already planted in a sunny spot in the west garden. Not likely to fruit in this zone, but as Jack says "you never know, nature can surprise". I will tend it with good intentions & just see.
This evening I interplanted the Heirloom tomato starts with Sweet Basil, brussels sprouts, garlic and catmint in the sunny rose garden.



I planted a couple tomatoes in the "shade garden" too, that has turned out to be a rather sunny spot.

Then using the new weeding technique I attacked the front yard once the sun went behind the house, I think I got every single weed, including the strip by the driveway. I feel like celebrating! What an accomplishment. A gardener does indeed benefit from the wisdom of an old friend.

Gorgeousness

General front yard gorgeousness today.











Azaleas in the front drive...hot pink, yesss!

I've discovered this rhody's color now...pretty nice!

These tulips all dropped their heads & revealed lovely white centers.

An inspiring dragonfly was in the lawn this morning. I love the things that make me stop and watch for long periods. This one seemed to be struggling to fly and I resisted interferring. I checked on him this afternoon and he is dead. A good meal for some lucky bird.

The shape of things today.

A look at the evolving garden beds.





The moon bed now holds five Lavenders! It's going to be heavenly in a few years. Bridal wreath spirea, crocosmia diablo and two verbena bonariensis are along for the ride.



Our new dwarf Alberta Spruce tree! We have three planted in the back yard, the repetition does unify the space visually, which is a marked improvement.



The delightful Pink Dogwood.

Red Azalea about to start blooming.

Cottoneaster is now planted in the front yard along the side walk.

My favorite Euphorbia.

Hot pink Saxafraga.

The last of the orange tulips.


Late blooming miniature pink tulips.

Red flowering current tree found it's home near the old mill stone.

Leafing out update on the honeycomb buddlija.

The elegant Iris, cloaked in a shroud for now.

A newly placed bird bath, I look forward to seeing it visited.

A new rose branch...it's red to avoid being burned by the sun.

A light green sempervivum looks yummy next to the amber rock. Jon's pick from Betty's roadside plant sale this past weekend.

My playground. It just screams mud pies & dandilion soup to me in a 5 year old voice.

I like how nature does what it likes...the wildness that the garden gives back for my effort is so much better than oil paint or ink.

This good mess of pacific coast iris foliage is the new home of a green frog!