All Things Seem Possible In May

Foamflower, Tiarella 'Pirate's Patch'

A plant that tolerates dry shade.

That makes it a favorite of mine.

Pale pink, fragrant flowers in late spring.

The green leaves have dark center patches.

Fall temperatures turn the leaves to burgundy.

These Mount Hood Trumpet Daffodils were planted last fall. They were very slow to appear this spring and then when they did, they were short and didn't look like they'd have flowers. All of a sudden they shot up and produced these white blooms, which are just now beginning to fade. This particular daffodil is sometimes referred to as "The Second Snow", since it adds white to the landscape after the snow is gone. Mystery astilbe growing in front of them.

I've wanted to add some whimsy to my yard.

Nothing too showy or too colorful, but

I like that in other people's gardens.

This piece seemed perfect for me.

Last Sunday morning, Phillip and I made another visit to Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve. We were looking for frogs by this pond, but didn't see a one. But we did find turtles galore all out sunning themselves on the fallen logs. We did a quick count and came up with about 75 turtles.

I don't know a thing about aquatic plants,

except that they grow in water:)

These were in the pond by the turtles.

I imagine they are some kind of water lily.

I went on a bird walk at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary,

binoculars, bird book & camera in hand.

By the time I figured out what tree the bird was in

and focused the binoculars, the bird was gone.

After two hours, I broke off from the group

and made friends with this goose.

Mr. and Mrs. Robin seem to trust me.

They let me take this photo.

Just to be safe, I wore protective head gear.

Yesterday, I went to a perennial sale here in our neighborhood and bought six plants. Also went to Phillip's flag football game and then to his house to do some container planting. Today will be a day of planting at our house, containers and in the ground. The weather is perfect and I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Thanks for stopping by to see what's new around here.

"The world's favorite season is spring.

All things seem possible in May."

-Edwin Way Teale

Do You Think The Rain Will Hurt The Rhubarb?

When I was a kid, my Uncle Jim would ask the above question as a way to change the conversation topic or when there was a lull in the conversation. Even today, I'm not sure what the question means, but the answer is, "Not if it's in cans." All this to say that we planted a rhubarb plant this week, our first ever. A neighbor dug it out of the garden at a home he has for sale and gave it to us. He doesn't know what kind it is except to say that it makes great pies. That's all my husband needed to know.

Mayapples grow in the wooded natural area between our house and the neighbor's. Some of them have moved closer to the flower beds which is fine with me. They are part of the Berberidaceae (Barberry) plant family and appear in forested areas before the trees have leaves. Sometimes they are referred to as the umbrella plant because it looks like a closed umbrella when first emerging and then opens into an open umbrella shape. Second year plants produce a white flower beneath the leaves and then that bloom turns into the "apple" of the plant.  

Our resident robin is taking good care of her eggs and she's very possessive of the area close to the nest, but she did give me permission to stick my camera in for a quick picture. We're thankful that the nest is in the cedar tree and not on top of the light fixture next to the front door.

Many of the shrubs in our yard give us nice color even before they start to flower. Our yard might look too tidy and manicured for some gardeners, but it works for us and we like it. I find myself attracted to yards and gardens where everything is able to grow freestyle, but it's just not me. Maybe in my next life.

Spring-Blooming Groundcover

Our neighbors have this Sweet woodruff growing as a ground cover under a big shade tree in their front yard. The plants are actually herbs that become invasive with too much moisture. When planted in dry shade, they're easily contained in a certain space and deliver a wonderful sweet aroma. The leaves are often used in sachets and potpourris and it's also a natural insect repellent.

These old-fashioned lilacs

have been growing in my parents'

yard for more than 50 years.

They've never once been pruned

and have never failed to deliver

beautiful flowers for all to enjoy.  

This sign at a local landscape center

caught my attention and made me

think that the world still needs help 

 in the "get along" department.

I can still hear Rodney King

saying these words in 1991. 

   

Phillip planted these flowers

last weekend and will give them to

his mommy tomorrow.

       Have a beautiful Mother's Day.