Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory

The Grandpa Ott's Morning Glories I started so long ago for Will have finally given us it's first bloom. Wow. Now we need to find a home for all the pods we have started!

Shirley Angel's Choir Poppies

Now, I knew I loved poppies, but this particular variety is doubly lovable. Again, like any proud parent, I will remind you I grew these from seed.

They. Are. Amazing.

Each day I wake to a new poppy, a new surprising color, or picotee, my favorite new word.

Plums and flowers.

There is nothing like the attachment of an old plant, let alone an heirloom handed down three generations. One is willing to do anything, including the manly task of wielding a saw and pruning. It had to be done to my grandparent's plum tree, 40 to 50 years old, which precariously leaned from top-heaviness. I removed countless abundant branches, so many lost fruit. Very tragic, but not as tragic as possibly losing this beautiful tree.

Everything is abundant in the orchard, new life springing everywhere. It will be a great season, for we have had much rain. I've always liked rain, but I especially like it now that we're surrounded by plants. Plus, we don't want to water unless we have to!

This particular fig is very mystical indeed! I love it's contorted branches and it's silvery color. I think of Adam's loin cloth when I see these leaves. I grew up on these figs. There is literally no comparison to them anywhere.

 I very much fancy this yarrow. As my friend June and I discussed, yellow flowers make one happy!

These are the beautiful geraniums in from the neighbor's, sneaking into our space and welcomed so eagerly.

Finally, the peas you have been told about are documented. Somehow they disappeared after I took this.

A glorious colony of roses, yarrow, and some white flower, maybe a daisy. It is sweet. You can see my precious Sanguinea Brugmansia wedged in the middle, tiny, but soon to be big.

And finally a sweet smelling rose, as perfect as a catalogue photograph. June was "knocked down" by this. A good sign.

Progress

Allium. The one and only to succeed this season. Maybe a good thing. It smells like an onion! Next time, we'll place the bulbs in the ground.

A big surprise this Calla Lily is.  I never remember having these bulbs, which have reproduced three years consecutively. Again, after living in the city long enough I was scared to put bulbs in the ground. Next time, this will go in the ground.

The first of the Angel's Choir Shirley Poppies that we grew from seed. I am pleased to announce my impatient and reckless planting of these was successful. I dumped the entire packet in this basket! Don't do that!

Again, the most wonderful radishes. Their color is so brilliant. And they're taste so uncannily peppery. We have very much enjoyed growing these. Easy, fun, and beautiful. I would show you all our beautiful peas but they never make it past picking!

All the naughty cows in the vegetable garden. Doodle the pug is caught in the middle of a crime, for which I screamed at him to stop as I captured this moment. The progess of vegetables is slow. We have cantaloupe struggling, a couple butternut squash, beets, more radishes, leeks, multi-colored carrots, tomatoes, and maybe some onions showing life. I have to admit I am most excited about the beets, even though I love melon and squash. Wish us luck!

Dead Peony

If this is what a dead peony looks like I want one all the time!

Will's Rose

Pictures I took today in the garden.

Fuschia. Aren't they unbelievable? But how does one grow them up to be tall?

When these were dormant, I called this plant "hideous". When I removed the weeds that overwhelmed it, I began to appreciate it's cool green color. Once I realized they were yarrow and have since started yellowing, it made me very happy. Whenever I see these yarrow, I think of Oscar Wilde and all the Victorian writers who wrote about it.

Will has convinced me not to pick these, but I'm dying to anyway! I grew these from seed, so you can imagine how proud I must feel. These, coupled with the burgeoning radishes, make me want to eat them even if I'm not hungry!

The first of so many iris bulbs to emerge. I stupidly killed some of Will's bearded iris, so I hope this, plus the other 20, make up for it.

Again, the incredible iceburg roses out front.

We leave you off with this second Fuschia picture. With so many beautiful flowers in the world, it is quite difficult to not indulge in just one. Someday I would like hanging baskets of these, all different varieties. For Fuschias alone, there are hundreds. Aren't they beautiful?