June Is Bustin' Out All Oh-Oh-ver!

Happy June!!

 A peak at part of the front gardens...

Background Iris:  Iris Aurovariegata - Variegated Sweet Iris and light yellow, species unknown. Heuchera - coral bells, blooming is 'Ruby Bells' and to the right is Heuchera 'Dolche Key Lime Pie'

Foreground:  Bearded Iris, species unknown

Bearded Iris, species unknown with Heuchera 'Dolche Key Lime Pie' at foreground right and Campanula glomerata 'Supurba' (Clustered Bellflower -ready to bloom soon) at far right.

Geum triflorum - Prairie Smoke - a great grandchild of a true prairie plant!

 

 Sunny Corner Bed:  Siberian Iris 'Ruffled Velvet' in foreground, pink dianthus at left behind hanging planter (species unknown), Salvia 'May Night' in background and yellow bearded iris (species unknown) behind.

Dianthus 'Firewatch' - located in front bed

Clematis - 'Nellie Moser' - located in raised garden beds

Spiderwort - thanks to the birds! - located in the front garden bed

Again!  Happy June 1st!  Enjoy this month... there will be many changes!!  :-)
SG

Flower Chorus

by Ralph Waldo Emerson    

O such a commotion under the ground,

When March called, "Ho, there! ho!"

Such spreading of rootlets far and wide,

Such whisperings to and fro!

 

(Now, before we finish this poem and post, you probably noticed that since we are no longer in March, but in the next "M" month... we'll alter the poem in our minds and substitute "May!")

          :-)          

Jacks-in-the-Pulpit!

This first one is a newbie in my "Way Back" yard!!  I threw out a few seeds last Fall.  :-)
The one on the right is Arisaema sikokianum - Japanese in origin - a gift from former blogger "Iowa Boy."

 "Are you ready?" the Snowdrop asked,

" 'Tis time to start, you know."

"Almost, my dear!" the Scilla replied,

"I'll follow as soon as you go."

 This year's photo of my most interesting trillium.  Follow the link to see last year's post on this anomoly!  This year there are two "buddies" with three leaves and three petals each, and there's a baby on the ground.  :-)

 Then "Ha! ha! ha!" a chorus came

Of laughter sweet and low

From millions of flowers under the ground,

Yes, millions beginning to grow.

 Epimedium 'Lilofee'

 "I'll promise my blossoms," the Crocus said,

"When I hear the blackbird sing,"

And streaight thereafter Narcissus cried,

"My silver and fold I'll bring."

                                                                        Hellebores

 "And ere they are dulled," another spoke,

"The Hyacinth bells shall ring."

But the Violet only murmured, "I'm here,"

And sweet grew the air of spring.

Bleeding Heart

                  White Bleeding Heart                                 Fern Leaf Bleeding Heart

 Then "Ha! ha! ha!" a chorus came

Of laughter sweet and low,

From millions of flowers under the ground,

Yes, millions beginning to grow,

 

(Renegade Allium and hybrid Columbine that have escaped into the walkway 

from their designated spaces!)

And well may they cheerily laugh "Ha! ha!" 

In laughter sweet and low,

The millions of flowers under the ground,

Yes, millions beginning to grow.

Who Knows What Manner of Leaves Lie in the Heart of the Raised Beds?

To see a nice slide show of the photos, click on the first one (after you've read the post, of course!) ;-)

Or in any other sites around the yard, such as next to the house south of the front deck...

And the front of the south side of the front deck...

Or, looking north a bit further, you can see the rest of this front bed that has been unraked, contrasting with the parts that were raked (today!).

It's Spring!  It's Spring!  That Heady time of year, when tons of wicked little leaves (and rakes) suddenly "appear!" 

These  leaves await my rake.  They are along the southeast side of the house...

 


This side of the driveway looks really great!!  Raked the lawn and beds Friday!

So far, I've only raked one tarp-load of leaves today... a few minutes ago, dark clouds and thunder rolled in.  It rained hard (!) for a minute or two...

But now it's stopped, and I'm ready to head back outdoors to rake another load!  The worst thing about raking wet leaves is the fact that, piled on a tarp, the load is much heavier than dry leaves... and harder to pull any distance at all...

Not complaining, much.  It looks so NICE and CLEAN and I am so happy when I get an area raked!

Sunny Corner bed, raked yesterday

Now, with regard to Camelot:  I haven't seen the movie in many, many years.  But we haven't yet reached the month of May, and I have a LOT of raking to do before I can attempt any other thing!  (Except to enjoy the Spring blossoms that appear at this time of year!)

 Hellebore (Royal Heritage)

Siberian Squill

Can you spot a few of the daffodils I planted a couple of years ago... in the "way back?"  (I hope to plant a lot more this coming Fall!!!)

Getting ready for  Virginia Bluebells!

Happy Spring!  Happy Spring Gardening to you, my blogging friends!!
Shady Gardener... though, until the leaves appear on our deciduous Oak trees, I'm really feeling Sunny!  :-)

Is There a Reason to Post Flowers Today

 Other than the fact that the first of my several Amaryllis bulbs began blooming today...?

And two more are "on the way!"

They remind me of Easter Lilies.  Happy Easter to you and yours.  Blessings to you and yours.  :-)
SG

Zippety Doo Dah and Zowies!!

It's getting closer to Spring's arrival, here.  Sunday afternoon's snow was 1/2 gone by yesterday afternoon, when these photos were taken.  Today, the only bits of  snow left is in select, north sides of buildings.

Emerging "kittens" on my brother's weeping pussy willow tree.

Planted last Spring (2013) in his memory.

 Woo-hoo!  Daffodils are emerging!

 Heirloom (tiny!) crocus in the grass... their second season.  :-)

 Another site near the driveway.

 The latest snowfall - receeding!

 

emergent Muscari

 Are you sharing these sentiments?

P.S.  One more item rising in the garden... this time in the backyard (which would seem to make more sense)...  Moles... new tunnels.

Springing Forth with Good Wishes to You!!
SG  :-)

Central Gardens in Clear Lake, Iowa

These are photos I took a few years ago.  These gardens were begun several years ago, with the expert advice from the people of Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa.  I'm not sure this garden fairy resides there any longer, but it was created to celebrate RAGBRAI's ride through town at that time.

Last year, RAGBRAI cruised through our town!  We were encouraged to create items for display around our town square that had something to do with bicycles... Perhaps using bicycle parts.  Say no more, I thought at the time!  I took inspiration from the above garden fairy to create my Garden Praying Mantis!  lol. I will post a photo of my sculpture at the end of this post.

This is a view of the walkway (below) that leads around Central Gardens.

Below is a little recirculating stream.

I do enjoy a pond with Lily pads!

This is a beautiful spot that has become a popular spot for weddings.

Okay.  Here's "my" Garden Praying Mantis.  She stood outdoors downtown all summer last year.  She was the result of my participation in the annual fund-raiser for our local Art Association.  She was purchased by a local citizen and I know she's enjoying her new home!  :-)