I'm joining my blogger pal, Anna at Flutter and Hum, with her Wednesday Vignette meme. I'm enjoying how the serrated leaves of the false hemp, Datisca cannabina, are bringing out the serrated edges of the white masterwork flowers, Astrantia major 'Alba' in my front garden bed.
In early spring, I allow my dandelions to bloom to provide food for the bees in my garden. Then, as the blooms age my garden helper, Barnaby, snacks on them. It's a nice system.
Dandelion bloom
But, sometimes Barnaby gets distracted from his duties. For instance, he likes to steal my garden hat off my head and dance around the garden.
So he missed a few flowers and some seed heads developed. I didn't mind. I pulled out my new macro lens and captured some shots after a rain storm. I was surprised to discover that dandelion seeds look just like arrows. Don't you agree?
Dandelion Arrow
Saxon Holt is hosting his Picture This--Spring Photo Contest at Gardening Gone Wild for garden bloggers. I'm submitting my shot titled, Dandelion Arrow.
The macro lens is opening up a whole new world to me in the garden. I've never thought of dandelion seeds as beautiful before. And now that my garden is in full spring bloom, the dandelions have been weeded out. I strive to keep my beneficial insects happy.
What do you grow to make the bees happy in spring?
Here's a quick peek at what is blooming in my garden right now.
kousa dogwood blooms
The white blooming kousa dogwood tree is lifting up its chartreuse flowers that will slowly turn white over the following weeks. Barnaby loves to stand under this tree; A dog with his favorite dogwood tree.
The purple rue has lifted up to over five feet tall this year. I've noticed pedestrians stopping to enjoy the flowers.
Chive blossoms delight me at home and in The Hazel Dell School and Community Garden. Here's a feature in The Columbian on our school garden and Barbara.
The Pagoda Dogwood is my favorite shrub in my back garden. I love how it grows out in layers. Right now it's frothy with flowers.
A beneficial predatory fly hunts on a hardy geranium blossom.
This is a burnet flower. Burnet is an herb that tastes like cucumber and I grow it in all of my gardens for salads. I normally chop it back to the ground by now for new delicious leaves.
This aphid photo-bombed my bleeding heart shot.
Um, Barnaby, can I have my favorite garden hat back now?
Don't forget to stop by our bloom day hostess, Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Have fun out in your garden!
Twenty-eight days ago, My Pirate returned home looking like a zombie after helping a friend build a new shade structure on his hunting property up in Klickitat, WA. A one sentence text the night before had warned me that he had accidentally rolled a 4 wheel ATV without wearing a helmet and that he was fine. He was not fine.
A quick trip to the ER confirmed what I suspected, a mild concussion. We were reassured that he would be back to work after a week of healing, but that hasn't happened. My Pirate's bruised brain has taken more time to heal. He's been unable to drive and he drives for a living. So, he's been home with me.
dandelion seeds
Now, My Pirate is an awful patient. The first time that I discovered this was when he had a hand surgery. While I was out picking up his pain pills from the pharmacy, he took out a sawzall and cut out a large rectangle out of our living room wall for three new windows. I spent the rest of the day installing windows. So, I've had to keep a close eye on My (concussed) Pirate to keep him out of trouble.
He's on the mend and has found his smile and sense of humor along the way. So, he's no longer a concussed humorless zombie, but he has a ways to go. Caring for him has been like babysitting a five year old that has access to power tools. It has been challenging. I've closed doors, turned off the barbecue, and graciously accepted every thank you for something that he just did, but forgot about.
Barnaby's been helping My Pirate rest and relax.
And somewhere between all the naps, doctor and pt visits, we've grown closer through this injury. And once he's all healed, I'm going to get angry and yell at him, but in the meantime I hold him close and whisper in his ear, "Helmets are sexy."
P.S. I'll share all of my new garden projects and recipes with you soon!
Primula sieboidii 'Lacy Lady'
“Easter is…
Joining in a birdsong,
Eying an early sunrise,
Smelling yellow daffodils,
Unbolting windows and doors,
Skipping through meadows,
Cuddling newborns,
Hoping, believing,
Reviving spent life,
Inhaling fresh air,
Sprinkling seeds along furrows,
Tracking in the mud.
Easter is the soul’s first taste of spring.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich
