04/24/08

This rose named 'Sunbright' is one of my favorites. Of course I say that about ALL my roses! When she is blooming she steals the show. The yellow is truly 'Sunbright.' She also has a strong fruity fragrance that adds to her beauty. In 1984, when she was bred by Jackson and Perkins, she was their 'Hybrid Tea of the Year.' She was one of the very first roses I bought and each year she performs better than the last. On top of it all she rarely if ever gets black spot or mildew. I'm happy to have her in my rose garden.

04/18/08

A few years ago I decided to move some Iris into my Yucca bed. I liked how the foliage of the Iris echoed the sharp foliage of the Yucca. I also knew they would thrive together having the same growing conditions of sun and dry soil. I started with early blooming white Iris but in the past couple of years I've introduced color. The bed also includes other sun loving dry soil plants like Zexmenia hispida, Tetraneuris scaposa more commonly known as Four Nerve Daisy, Calylophus drummondianus, and Helianthus maximiliana also known as Maximilian Sunflower. Some of the Iris I know by name and some are hand me downs. The most recent addition is 'Royal Knight.' It is a wavy dark blue. The peach colored Iris is 'Prissy Miss' and 'Victoria Falls' is a beautiful blue. I look forward to adding more Iris, named or not, as the years go by.

04/15/08

One day I passed one of the dumpsters where I work and saw an organic shape that drew me in. It turned out to be a ceramic sculpture that had been an operating fountain that sat inside one of the buildings. Somebody must have decided it didn't fit their decor. I called a friend with a truck and hauled it home. It now sits in my shade garden amongst the Obedient Plants, Jacob Cline Monarda, and Inland Sea Oats. Often, people visiting my garden wonder what kind of plant it is, and that makes me think it has found the right home.

04/11/08

The Clematis has begun to bloom. My favorite way to grow them is to pair them with other clematis or with roses. This combo includes Clematis 'Ramona,' and 'Sugar Candy.'

04/10/08

Creepy crawly caterpillars! Not in my opinion! I grow Dill each year as a host plant for swallowtails. I'm pleased to find them chewing away again this year!

This swallowtail was flittering around in my yard August of 2006.

04/09/08

"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices
instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable
shrieking into the heart of the night."
- Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

4/03/08

My first rose bloom of the year! Her name is Starina. She's a miniature that produces abundantly. I'm not surprised that she is the first. She'll probably be the last as well.

Iris is my second favorite flower after the Rose. This iris is named 'Color Tart' and is new to my Iris bed this year. I love the subtle color changes.