Russian Rhapsody Daylily

Russian Rhapsody daylily bloomed today. It is
very early compared to it's bloom time
last year which was in the middle of June.
 Navajo Princess daylily is in the background
along with continuous blooming Evolution Salvia.

Winter Sowing update - this is some of the lettuce that was
started in January - Little Gem and Salad Bowl. 

Winter sown beets are coming along as well
as green beans.

My hydrangea was blue last year. So I
guess I will try adding some aluminum sulfate
to the soil. The pink is very
pretty though.

I usually get hosta flowers in June, so I guess everything
is a little early this year.  I transplanted this one
to this spot last summer along with the ferns and purple
oxalis and ajuga.

My new grand-kittie is trying to get the
baby birds out of the round bird house.  

I see you "Buddy" trying to sneak a baby bird.

Waiting

The garden is at a point of "waiting" for the next wave of blooms. The iris finished it's last bloom today. I'm always so sad too see them go and can't believe it will be a whole year until they come again. I do get to view them in the winter (or whenever I'm in the mood) - I have been putting my garden from beginning to end on video since 1997 - it started out as a video journal as to what blooms when, weather cycles and so on. So I view the videos in the winter time when I am longing to be outside. I also receive some insight on where to move things when spring comes. I've already moved some of the iris around according to color (remember I lumped all my iris in one bed when we first moved here in the fall) (you're not suppose to move iris until July-fall, but I've been doing it for years in the spring if I don't like were it was planted). I moved the light purple iris over by the bluish hydrangea. We will see how it likes the new spot by next spring. When the daylilies finally bloom I will be moving them all around the yard also. Dug up another spot for more vegetables and some melons. Planted okra,  melon "Charentais, watermelon "Crimson Sweet" and melon "Muskmelon/Cantaloupe Hale's Best Jumbo". Remember, I'm new to vegetables and fruit - so I may not get anything this year - but I've been reading up like crazy on the subject and learning a lot of what not to do. I am letting two of my grandchildren have their own vegetable/flower plot. The oldest grandchild is 9 and she just picked out the seeds that she wants to put in her space. I just added two new coleus to the flower garden - "Dancing Gypsy" and "Henna". I posted a spring photo of the "Firehouse" Nandina to show how it goes from it's fall color of red to it's current color of a pretty green. The zinnia, red hot poker, lupine, nastursium, columbine, sunflower, coneflower, alyssum, hollyhock, herbs basil, cilantro, and rosemary seeds are all progressing nicely.

"Feature Attraction" iris I moved over by the Nantucket hydrangea

"Dancing Gypsy" coleus

Unknown lily. It came with the property. It really is a striking one.

"Firehouse" Nandina with it's green color

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Added another garden spot for the okra and melons. The grandkids garden spot will be here also.

"Henna" coleus

Lupine seed is coming up

"Mystic Spires" Salvia next to the Shakespeare David Austin rose

"Electric Lime" coleus

Nastursium leaves - I love how they have the white veins running through them - looks like a light shining out of the center.

Friday the 13th

I just added a few photos of whats going on in the garden. Some things I didn't take photos of because they are not quite photogenic yet. All the tomato plants have baby tomatoes growing on them, leeks are still growing along with our purple onions and the corn has silk on it, so I guess we will have some ears of corn. All the daylilies are putting up buds -- so it won't be long before I will have beautiful daylilies.
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This is a new area of the yard that I am digging up to plant shrubs and flowers later on.  The purple thing is a canna that my father-in-law gave to me.

Another new iris called Feature Attraction. I ordered it last summer and this is the first time for it to bloom. I guess I ordered it because it is a late bloomer.

Another shot of Nantucket Hydrangea

I finally decided to put Miss Muffett caladium in the bed with the roses. The purple plant is a new Evolution (Mealy Cup Sage) Salvia. I just love these up next to pink roses.

I know this doesn't look like much but this is the Clematis that I had planted in the front yard earlier this spring. It was not thriving, so I moved it in with the roses also. So we will see if these little guys like this spot better. The purple onions are growing next to them.

Another shot of Miss Muffett and to the right is Abraham Darby English rose. It is starting to take off. Everything in the garden has had a slow start because the weather has been either hot or cold.

Another shot of Evolution Salvia along with Lambs ear and nasturtiums

White Caladiums that I couldn't figure out what to do with in the garden, so for now I put them in a pot along with Southern Wood Fern and a yellow/green coleus. (You can't see the fern or coleus yet, it's small and behind the caladiums)

Well here you can see the tip of the fern and my garden cat

Well I know this doesn't have anything to do with gardening, but I am proud my daughter wants to learn to quilt, so I am helping her make a TeePee quilt, one in which I have no pattern for, so I drew a picture on paper and colored it with crayon and then bought the fabric and made a pattern. 

Here are fabric pieces that are actually starting to be pieced together.

Miss Muffett Caladium

I love caladiums. This Miss Muffett caladium is still in the pot.
I am trying to find the right spot for it. It got  some hail damage
 in our storm, but it will survive. I sometimes move things around
in the garden and view for several days before I decide
 on permanent location (and sometimes permanent isn't always so)

Miss Muffett Caladium with Nantucket Hydrangea in the background  

Another shot in the shade garden

Miss Muffett Caladium

Nantucket Hydrangea

Cherry Blossom Song iris with a little hail damage

Our stalk of corn