Each Little World

A few words on Wednesday

This dandelion was on the sidewalk as Mark and I walked into our favorite restaurant for breakfast last week. I couldn't resist taking a picture. 

I have my first cataract surgery today and am not sure how easy (or impossible) it may be to blog and take pictures. For two weeks I will have a pair of unmatched eyes. I love unmatched pairs when it comes to design and decor; less so with my vision. I will need to get reading glasses to make it through the process.

The second eye will get done in two weeks and them it takes a month or so before I can get updated glasses.  I'm looking forward to improved vision but it is a rather long slow process to make it happen. So don't worry if I don't post or comment as much as usual.

IVOM: End of May arrangements

I made a lot of spring bouquets this year, but never any with my early Peonies. So I clipped a couple of the last ones to put in this rather Asian-feeling container. I put a little "frog" at the end to hold the flowers but it made the basket tilt.

I decided to add a dwarf 'Cherry Garde' Iris to pick up the color in the interior of the Peony. 

Alas, I waited a little too late to cut these. They barely made it through the night.

I spent a couple of years getting rid of Lily of the Valley that had colonized a major area of our property. But it is such a lovely flower and has so many memories for me that I planted them again.

The mercury glass vase is decorated with Dianthus. I planted a few varieties with white flowers this spring and hope to put them in this vase next year.

I planted this variety — Convallaria majalus 'Hardwick Hall' — for its historic association and its decorative foliage.

A garden visitor

There are some garden visitors that you long to see and they rarely stop by. Then early one morning, suddenly there they are.

Alas, it looks like he got a bird and not a rabbit based on the feathers Mark saw after he took this photo from inside the house. Nevertheless there hasn't been a bunny in sight for most of the week. Hope Mr. Fox decides to make us part of his regular route.

Wordless Wednesday

(Double click to see the detail on the bug).

Garden quirks

Over the years I've planted three different Paeonia japonica; each one from a different nursery. They look identical to each other until you look into the flower. No idea if these variations mean they are indeed different types of Peony plants. Despite growing these three for a number of years, this is the first time my attention was captured by these differences, rather than the beauty of the flowers. 

The Moon Garden

Mark went out late Saturday afternoon with his camera after he glanced up the steps into The Moon Garden and was intrigued by what he saw. 

The opposite side of the path in the above photo.

Paeonia japonica 

Malus 'Tina' at the peak of perfection.

The Yin Yang bed and the path to the West Gate on the right.

Looking back to the east side of this upper garden.

Wordless Wednesday

IVOM: GBBD 5.15.2023

I decided to combine the two memes as I've been bringing so many flowers indoors it seemed like a nice way to show what's happening in the garden. These vases have many of the same flowers used in different combinations. 

A bouquet for a friend

Tulip wittalli (left), T. sylvestris (right) and a pair of my favorites, T. acuminata.

Fritillaria pallidiflora on its last legs.

Fritillaria pontica waiting for a vase.

Currently blooming but not pictured: Various Brunnera, Trillium, and Peonies.

The last bulbs

I thought I had rescued all the plants I wanted to save out of my Traffic Island Garden last summer when the road work was postponed. Not quite.

I didn't realize I'd forgotten Muscari paradoxum until it appeared this week. This is a dense, dark and large Muscari that is a favorite of mine. 

I dug out a coupe of nice clumps and pulled out the forgotten orange Tulip as well. This sunny bed, with more gravel than soil, has been the best spot I've ever had for Tulips.

I just dashed out to grab the bulbs when the workmen weren't around and it didn't feel too dangerous to be working out in the construction zone. By the time that workman got back into the trench I was ready to head to the safety of my garden across the street.

I expect this raised planting bed will be a memory next week as they move closer to our house putting in the massive sewer piping. This week they ran the new gas line from the street to our house and hooked it up. I don't think those guys did so much as bend a leaf. No plant was damaged in that project. Pretty amazing crew.

Mood reversal

I clearly posted too early yesterday as it turned out to be a lovely day. It was cool, cloudy and rainy for much of the day. We got .52" which was enough to make the garden sparkle. The rain, coupled with the recent hot days, has the garden on overdrive. I walked around a number of times just marveling at the beauty. 

As much as I like flowers, nothing beats the greens of spring. Up or down there was something lush and fresh to enjoy.

And, yes, there are lots of plants in full bloom like this unknown Peony. Last year I noticed a small stem on a mature species Peony whose leaves were clearly different from the main plant. I separated it and decided to watch it. This spring it shot up with a big bud that is opening into what looks like a gorgeous flower.

In the morning I got together with my garden gal pals to brainstorm some trees and shrubs that one of the members of our little group could add to her garden for winter interest as well as screening views of her neighbor's property. All that garden chat is always a boost.

When I got back home treats had arrived in the mail: The 30th anniversary edition of Gardens Illustrated magazine. 

I've been reading this mag since it hit the newsstands. I used to have the first 50 issues. I still have plenty of back issues, but now I only keep the ones that I really want to look at again — and again. This one is the second issue published. Also in the mail. was a box of plants from Odyssey Perennials. Mostly different Primula varieties.

This is Aquilegia viridiflora var. atropurpurea, one of the mail order plants. This is the nursery website photo as the plant is quite small. I'm going to put it with a group of Geranium phaeum whose flowers are deep violet and whose leaves have splashes of the same color. Despite my cranky start to the day, it turned out to be pretty perfect.