The Repopulation of the Porchyard

Thanks to Christmas and birthday gift cards, these four beautiful irises were free!

An artsy shot.

This is a stock photo of Batik, which was finished blooming by the time I bought it.

And here's a stock photo of Beverly Sills, which hasn't as yet graced us with her presence.

This is what she looks like now, making us wait!

This magnificent specimen is Stairway to Heaven.

And this breathtaking beauty is Circus World.

I got all excited because Las Vegas bloomed!

And so did Princesse Caroline de Monaco. I'm hoping that's Trop Jaloux next to it. (I had to dig everyone up early this year and either replant them further away from the porch or put them in pots. These two are in a pot.)

My new bleeding heart isn't in the ground yet, but isn't it purty?

It doesn't look like much right now, but this baby is a Josée Reblooming Lilac. Wow!

I'm getting dianthus blooms!

Just a few on these.

This double is new and, once again, isn't in the ground yet.

These violets are going CRAZY!

Another shot of the double dianthus with a different viola. :)

I put Circus World and Stairway to Heaven in the ground today, along with replanting some of my Expatriated (And Much Abused) Las Vegas Irises.

The lily of the valley is in bloom and smelling delicious!

So adorable!

Comte de Chambourd has TEN BUDS! I'm so excited! And I didn't get pictures of them, but the Secret Sideyard Roses have, between the three of them, 15, 21, and 27 buds! Woohoo!

My sweet little clematis is growing like crazy up these strings I tied for it!

Look at those fuzzy white buds!

In this one you can see the fuzz better, and how it's just starting to wrap around the string. So cute! Isn't nature amazing?

Look at the curling and all the buds!

Iris Explosion

Shastas!

My rebel irises (the ones on the other side of the porch) have started opening! Like I told Mom on the phone a few days ago, I think I counted about 37 buds on this patch.

See?

My bleeding hearts are soo happy!

Last year's Ginger Ale coralbell is coming up with flowers!

Sweet little violas.

Look at all those Las Vegas!

Princesse Caroline, thinking really really hard about opening.

Trop Jaloux! (Pronounced Troe Jah-LOO, with the "j" sounding like Zsa Zsa Gabor.) Look at those five purty blooms!

They look like little dollops of vanilla icing or something.

So beautiful.

I just think it's so cute when they haven't uncurled yet.

Anna's favorite, Gaillardia.

And Seaside Daisies. Considering that when I bought both of the previous two plants they were completely without blooms, they're looking spectacular.

MY NEW HOSE CADDY!! Isn't Dan wonderful? I worked a double yesterday and he sent me a picture message on my phone of this, saying he was late to see me because "of your new present." So cute!

Anyone know what would cause our little peach tree's leaves to look like this? I told Dan he needs to pinch off a leaf and take it to a nursery and ask. I don't have any idea. :(

The Return of the Indestructible Wisteria!

And this is a little Portland Rose named Comte de Chambord. It's not really much to look at right now, but hopefully I'll have some pretty roses someday. :)

Dan made this woodshed-type thing in the corner of the yard for our firepit.

It IS lily of the valley!

I even got down there and smelled it. It's so precious!

So cute!

My Granny dianthus is blooming!

Tiny Hope is belying its name by having five flowers open at the same time.

My Stellas are thinking about opening. Can you see the buds?

Look at my sweet Ginger! (With Trop Jaloux in the background.)