Rain. It's just more and more rain. I am reusing a title I first used last March. The deliberate alliteration seems even more apropos this year.
Before I show a few photos, I have a have to tell you what happened yesterday.
I was puttering on the patio, when I heard something on the roof. My first thought was cat, but we don't have any outdoor cats anymore. My second thought was squirrel of which there are many. So I tiptoed over to the edge of the patio for a glimpse. As I looked up, I saw--a heron! And when he saw me, he couldn't have flapped his wings any faster. I'm not sure who was more shocked. I certainly didn't expect to see something that ginormous and I don't think he expected to see me interrupt his pond surveillance. Whew!
Plants are really taking their time breaking dormancy but slowly I'm seeing signs of life. The Star Magnolia is awake and blooming.
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| Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' |
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| Looking up during a brief period of blue sky. |
Little Violas reseed everywhere. This pale-flowered one is blooming below my dwarf palm.
I bought this little dwarf Salix (willow) it an informal plant sale two years ago. I love how fuzzy the leaves are when it leafs out.
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| Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina |
And check out the fuzzy catkins too.
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| Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina |
The purple and yellow Polygala is now blooming beside its partner in crime, the yellow one.
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| Polygala chamaebuxus'Kaminski' |
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| Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski' |
I'm really happy to see this 'Morello Cherry' Lupine come back. Last year I passed up the cheaper four-inch pots for this thickly rooted one gallon. What a difference! Look how happy it is. And yes, I've been diligent with the slug bait.
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| Lupinus x 'Morello Cherry' |
Speaking of slugs and slug bait, um yes. 'Britt-Marie Crawford' Ligularia is also being watched closely.
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| Ligularia dentata'Britt-Marie Crawford' |
This sweet little Korean Violet was a hitchhiker on my Ledbouria cooperi which pretty much died after the unkind winter of 2013-14. Like the aforementioned Viola, it too reseeds all over the place. But I don't mind. Those tiny, variegated leaves are really cute.
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| Viola koreana |
Last summer, I got this cute Lychnis offered by Far Reaches Farm. I was able to propagate it. One plant is in the ground, this one stayed in my little greenhouse where it grew and is blooming!
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| Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petite Jenny' |
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| Chionodoxa |
This cute variegated Sedum is also looking good despite the rain.
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| Sedum ‘Winky’ |
Finally, we noticed a visitor sleeping on the heat mat in the little greenhouse. I'm sure he found some aphids to eat while he was there.
