Sunday, March 22, 2009

Saturday March 21 Was a Glorious Day!

It was sunny. It was balmy (close to 70 degrees F, I think!). The air was still. The birds were beginning to twitter. I had a rake in my hand and a tarp on the ground. I had to take off my jacket. Life is good and God is better! :-)

Most of these photos will enlarge a bit... some more than others.

A little preview of things to come!












Two types of sedum... with bitty crocus









More of these early crocus









And look what I found in the grass while I was raking!!
These photos were taken at 9:34 A.M.









These photos were taken at 9:50 A.M.









Here are some iris reticulata, unnamed ---























except for these: Lady Sheila Ann Germaney reticulata iris
that reside around my sister Barbie's tree. :-)

21 comments:

Randy Emmitt said...

looks like your raking found lots of goodies. It won't be long before the garden comes back to like. I found a peony that we moved last summer and forgot about it today, looking great too.

Anonymous said...

Yes there is life under those leaves. I've been surprised myself. Nice photos.

Anonymous said...

How nice to be out in the warmth of the sun, with the iris and crocus popping up. I like the photo of the yellow and blue bulbs rising up from the leaves.
Happy spring.

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hi Shady,
Wasn't it a great weekend? We too were out with pruning shears, rakes and city compost bags ourselves yesterday and today! Lots of things coming up here too... it's exciting! We filled up 8 huge compost bags (our entire supply) and now need to buy more bags for the side garden and the back yard... the next projects.

What's your secret to those Iris reticulata? We've lost almost all of ours over the years and only had 3 come up this year, but they're the same beauties as your blue and purple ones. Do yours ever spread? We'd love to have a mass of these come up every spring! Oh, and today we uncovered our bearded iris out front (the yellow ones)... they're still small but now with the more sun they'll get I think they'll shoot right up soon!

Let's just hope that the snow is gone for the season and the cold too ... we've got more tulips coming up this year than last and don't want to lose any more!

Nutty Gnome said...

I thought spring had sprung here in the UK, but winter is back with a vengance right now - hard rain, heavy winds and it's gone cold again! I haven't ventured out today to see what's coming up!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Aren't those first warm days magnificent and the first blooms just the most pleasing?!?!?!?

Rosemary said...

Reading your blog just makes me feel better. Seeing all the spring bulbs showing off.......

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

That does sound like a good day. I love your iris--mine are a ways off yet... (I keep saying that about 100 times every time I see something on someone else's blog). You know, speaking of tarps, I had a dream last night that I put down plastic sheets over my veggie beds to increase soil temps, like I'd seen in an Organic Gardening tip!

Gail said...

Shady, I am so glad that spring is happening in your garden! What a glorious day you had! It is thrilling to find the new shoots and your irises are delightful...I can't figure out why I don't grow them! Have a good week...I hope the pleasant weather continues....gail

troutbirder said...

It was glorious here as well. We don't have many little sprouters yet but they are definitely on the way.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I'm glad you were able to get out and enjoy the weather. You know you're working hard when you have to take off your jacket!
I love all your iris, I just have one variety and I think I need some more after seeing yours!

Anonymous said...

What a perfect day Shady Gardener! I love it when there isn't any wind and the sun is warm. We've had so much wind this winter ~ it's blowing a gale as I type. Your little iris are beautiful ~ I don't know why I don't have any either? Another thing to rectify this fall! Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. Oh, how are your amaryllis doing? Any of them close to blooming??

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

It was a fantastic weekend! I just love your Crocus in the grass. I have a couple of Scilla that have found their way to the lawn, but no sign of them yet this year. I would bet that your little yellow Iris is dandiforae. The little Irises are so cute.

Shady Gardener said...

Randy, Do you remember what the peony looks like? What a fun surprise! :-)

Hi Grace, I've been so busy, I've barely had time to blog... much less visit. Hope things are going well!!

Northern Shade, Is it still snowy up there?? I hope you're getting some Spring signs before long! :-)

IVG, Amazing amount of leaves to rake. I am somewhat lazy in the Fall. I rake as many as I can stand and haul them to the ravine. Then I tuck my flower beds cozily with about 4 or so inches of mulch for the winter! ;-) Now I'm raking the top 3" or so off; leaving a little bit for the "in case of snow" yet this Spring. It feels so good to be outdoors, doesn't it?

Do you suppose the extra mulch helps the iris reticulata?

Did you see my menarda is growing?? yea!!

Shady Gardener said...

Nutty Gnome, I had a fun weekend outdoors, but it's been raining now. I think we're in for a bit more (maybe a storm?) tonight. Spring. And we can still get snow, although it wouldn't last long.

I know you'll be out in your garden before long. I'll be watching! :-)

Lisa, Absolutely! I've been so busy that I haven't been visiting anyone very regularly. Hope that changes before long!

Thank you, Rosemary. :-) I'm wondering what you're cooking up these days!

Monica, I always wonder about those tips. Say, these iris aren't the bearded iris (rhizomes). These are little bulbs planted in the Fall.

Hi Gail, Hope your camera is soon fixed!! Yes, it's fun to actually see something outdoors growing instead of seeing it in someone else's yard (on the internet!). ;-)

Anonymous said...

That little white iris is so cool looking. Your pic of the sedum looks like it could be taken in my yard.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi MBT, I really like that little iris reticulata also! :-) I imagine we're seeing much the same thing in our gardens' progress these days! Happy Spring!!

Unknown said...

Such a wonderful celebration of spring! Now here, on the other hand, we were doing okay until today when we had yet another snowstorm come to visit us.

Shady Gardener said...

Jodi, I can understand your frustration, in that it seems as though we've all been waiting for Spring for such a long time! We have forecasts of snow. This morning it is just above freezing at 8:00 AM. So you know it's been cold. Things are still standing outdoors, so they've weathered last nights temps, anyway. Hang in there. You'll be celebrating soon... and posting wonderful Spring activity. :-) I'll be watching!

joey said...

You're blessed to be able to work outside ... it's pouring rain and more expected throughout the weekend ... good for the garden but I'm gettin' itchy to play outside! Love your magenta iris ... I have many but not that beauty!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Joey, I always thought "iris" meant the bearded kind. These are little bulbs. Wasn't that a nice learning experience I had a few years ago? :-) It really has rained a bit this week, but today it has become very nice again. I hope to finish my "major" raking. I'll do the rest later.