Friday Flowers

 My Christmas Cheer Rhodies are spectacular this year.
We have not had snow to weigh them down although we have had rain and winds.
I've never seen them looking this nice for this long - 26 years.

 The Hostas are unfurling.
 I will have to get some slug bait out soon although they always win in the end anyway.

 A look up to the street. Christmas Cheer Rhododendron forefront. With Redbud in middle with Star Magnolia behind.

My neighbors and I have all tried RedBuds with no success. This one, was bought for an embarrassing amount of $$ and has been in place for five years or so. It's stunning in it's blooms.

 The regular rhodies starting to bloom.

 In front of the big front window are my sea of Anemones. They look a bit ravaged from the rain today but they are doing their patriotic duty!

 Over on the left side of the yard, these yellow and orange short tulips that open like a peony.

 My front door and pathway. Rusty is always leaving his toys out.

 My Sasanqua Camellia. My hubby didn't want an espalier or anything attached to the siding. So I created this by training the camellia to stakes with wire so it would be self-supporting. The entire bush can be pulled 'down' for painting.

This year, several birds have taken up residence. I don't know how I'm going to prune it without dislodging them. Another month may see any babies out of the nest when all the new growth goes all over.

 And this is my side yard I look out the kitchen window at.

The curve of Hostas at the front of the bed. With two Christmas Cheer rhodies at left, the redbud towards the right with the Star Magnolia too close by. That Star Magnolia was sheered to the ground when we cut down our leaning fir trees and then had the temerity to come back from the root stock AFTER I planted the redbud.

All that remains of the crocuses/croci

 Haha! My sis in Minnesota just had her first crocus blooms.

 I have plenty of daffodils after living here for over 25 years. Enough to keep me in bouquets anyway.

 I was trying to pose Rusty but he wasn't cooperating.

I managed to catch a hummingbird outside!


I kind of stopped throwing my flower photos on the blog. I'm much more active on Instagram with those. But Rusty wanted to go in, and then go out, then come back in, then go back out, so I took him for a walk around the yard to settle him down.

Glorious Spring

And if you're looking for my SewMamaSew giveaways this week (open until May 16 - friday):
SewMamaSew Giveaway #1 is here.

SewMamaSew Giveaway #2 is here

Iris

Strawberry

Peony

Nootka Wild Rose

Iris

Nora Barlow Columbine

Hostas

Iris

Viburnum

All these columbines were well behaved under the fir trees but when we removed the leaning trees and these beauties saw the light (all the plants, really), they became spectacular.

 And they gave birth to probably a gazillion babies - which is why they get a bad rap in orderly gardens.

Can't you imagine a fairy wearing one as a cap in the Frog & Toad books?

Weigela - variegated leaf

My favorite variegated leaf Iris. Soft blue blooms

This white Bearded Iris came from Aunt Ruby's garden

This rugosa rose came from an estate sale for a buck.
 Man-eating thorns but the smell is divine.
This is a white Rugosa but the buds have peppermint striping.

Simplicity rose started from a cutting from Creative Friend's fenceline.

To be honest, I'm not sure how I acquired a ruffly bearded Iris in the deepest purple. It's my second favorite Iris (at this time of year)

Sun Rose - Helianthemum

Patio pots started.

I spent a good portion of Sunday getting my patio pots and hanging baskets 'together'. Hosing down the patio, cleaning the table, moving pots to & fro. Trimming and tucking the montana clematis on the pergola as its starts growing and twining after blooming.

We just had a couple of near 90' days (May!) and it was delightful to sit out and be dive-bombed by the stinkin' guerrilla hummingbirds who chirped very clearly, "more syrup, or else".

Back to the usual 70' springy weather tomorrow.

My sister gave me the snail and the frog  and miraculously, they have not crashed and burned.