Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: April 2014

hellebore

My garden has unfurled after a sunny week and I feel positively giddy.  April in my garden is filled with white, yellow, and chartreuse blooms with a light smattering of purple.  Just the way I like it.

Even the weeds are cooperating. 

Many of the new plants that I added to the garden last fall are either dead or are late arrivals this spring.  But the Akebia survived My Pirate's power washing attempts to clean it last year and is covered with blooms.  Their sweet fragrance fills my senses whenever I pause under the pergola.  

The epimedium have survived Barnaby's watering and I declare them a dane proof plant.  

And the violets too.

Do you remember this little tyke that helped me photograph last April's bloom day post?  He looks just the same, only 125 pounds bigger.

Don't forget to stop by to visit our lovely hostess, Carol of May Dream Gardens, to see garden blooms from around the world!  Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

Hummingbird Nest

Yesterday, we ran into Shorty’s to pick up some seed potatoes on our way to the orientation party at the Hazel Dell School and Community Garden.  And a truly hideous arborvitae sculpted into a flower caught my eye.  I pulled My Pirate by the hand to go take a look at it and take a picture on my phone when a nursery employee redirected me towards something truly unusual and beautiful in the nursery.  We walked ten feet over and he pointed up into a tree.  And there they were.

Two hummingbird chicks cradled inside a moss and lichen nest!

I ran back out to the truck to grab my real camera.  And while I snapped pictures of the two chicks, My Pirate got excited and picked out $20 worth of seed potatoes. Last summer, I spent five dollars on seed potatoes and we had them coming out of our ears.  I can’t leave that man unsupervised in a nursery now that he has the gardening bug!

We giggled like two conspirators on our way out of the nursery.  I have absolutely no idea where we are going to plant all of those potatoes.  Perhaps we'll squeeze some into The Pirate’s Cove?  But, we are going to feast on fingerlings.  And now I have another excuse to visit Shorty’s Nursery later this week.

Slugs and Weeds

March is the month of slug hunts and weeding in my garden.  I recently played in the Heritage Farm garden with a journalist and photographer from The Columbian.  Come take a look at the interview by Sue Vorenberg, including some wisdom from Dr. Brun, and the fun video we made!    

The photo is from the Columbian article. Credit: Troy Wayrynen.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: March 2014

It's spring. Five days early according to my calendar, but the Indian Plum and Winter Spike Hazel are blooming in concert. So, according to my view out the back window, it's spring. To quote Admiral Adama, "So, say we all!"  

Spike Winter Hazel, Corylopsis spicata

The Spike Winter Hazel is blooming its heart out.  And appears to be unscathed from our cold snaps this winter.

Indian Plum, Osmaronia cerasiformi

The Indian Plum blooms are keeping the hummingbirds happy.  

Japanese Coltsfoot, Petasites japonicus

The Japanese Coltsfoot blooms are keeping the pedestrians curious.  

Daffodil

A single volunteer daffodil is peeking around the poetry post.

Brunnera 'Jack Frost'

The brunnera blooms are starting to launch and have survived Barnaby so far.  

Variegated Daphne

The variegated daphne lost most of its foliage this winter, but it still decided to bloom and fill our front walkway with its sweet perfume.  I'm grateful that spring has arrived.  

What's blooming in your garden right now?

Don't forget to stop by May Dream Gardens to see what's blooming in gardens around the world!

At Last!

It happened.  Finally.  After five years of waiting.   Five long years of watching the Crony Brothers sit in the front of their garage sipping ice-cold beer while I worked hard, sweating in my garden.

The Crony Brothers offered me a beer. 

It took me by surprise.  I simply wanted to let them know about the available garden plot at the local park.

So, while poor sedated Barnaby laid on the floor at home looking like a zombie, I gratefully sipped a Pabst Blue Ribbon and took in some sun with the Crony Brothers.  The older brother tossed peanuts to the tame squirrels, told me stories, and commented on the pedestrians passing by.

“What is he trying to prove?” they muttered at the runner as he repeatedly ran by.  I nodded along in agreement and I felt happy.