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.)

The Notorious C.A.T.

Elphie drinks from the faucet. And occasionally gets a drip on her ear or her nose.

I love the slight tilt of her head in this one.

Presenting... Mona Lisa. She looks a lot like a stargazer.

And *squeaky voice* Red Rum is looking beautiful.

I just noticed today that my Twist and Twirl coleus is sending up coleus-like shoots! I'm so very observant... I wonder how long they've been there.

The indestructible wisteria, leafing out like a plant possessed.

I'm gonna get a lot more portulaca next year and put it in all different size pots.

My phlox is looking more like when I bought it last year!

These bell-like blooms on the hostas are just so pretty. :)

Turn on your PHONE!!

Yes, that's right. I want to send you cryptic text messages that won't make sense to anyone else. When Dan and I watch a movie and I think it would be funny to send you a quote I know you would know, I realize it would be silly because 7 days later it would be sent back to me with a message with the general gist of, "Hey doofus, don't you know that she doesn't check her messages? Stop sending them!"

Anyway.


The dianthus is going crazy! I just love it. I bought one for Granny for her birthday, but it isn't this color. I'm thinking I might have to buy one like hers. But I do have seeds I need to sow -- two packets of pinks. :)

Look at my Outbacks! It's a good plant. I'll have to get another one next year. Do annuals in pots last more than a year?

This white petunia pooped out for a little while, but it's back with a vengeance.

Dahlias from tubers coming up very prettily, wisteria going cray-zay, and basil.

Dahlias making a comeback, especially the pink. The highlighter dahlias don't seem to be too excited about an encore.

Fusion Glow exotic impatien. Aren't they pretty? The plant had absolutely zero flowers on it when I bought it. Yay for blooming!

The coleus are both going crazy with their flower stalks.

Look at the buds elongating on the oriental lilies! Hopefully they'll open soon.

My newest iris, Before the Storm, opened up on Monday, the day after the incredible psycho storm. So I told Dan I was going to dub it "Before/After the Storm." We'll see. Anyway, it's so dark purple it's almost black. I got it because I thought it was so unusual. :)

Here's its close-up.

I'm pretty sure those are my glads coming up. Please please please!

This little guy is all alone out in the middle of the yard! I almost stepped on him today and I'm surprised I didn't decapitate him with the hose.

The peaches are getting big!

Elph decided the strap on this handbag looked like a yummy treat.

Much to Ginger's chagrin, Elphie does still seem to have the urge to nurse. Which kind of freaks Ginger out.

So I gave them both a bowl of milk.

Elph also explored the sink in the bathroom.

And the mail cubby as Dan took it apart and shrunk it. (Notice her new collar?)

Hiding. Encouraged by dad.

Ginge was still ticked that I was outside watering plants without her.

And last but not least, Dan decided that the pre-cut, easy-to-assemble picnic table kit at Home Depot was just not a good design, so he made one himself. From scratch. Well, obviously he didn't grow the trees to harvest their wood, but you get the idea. The finished product will be posted tomorrow. :)