FIRST FLOWERS OF SPRING!!! May Flowers :)

Gosh, my A hubrichtii is blooming now first time for me!

Some new shots----

1--My blue and white striped iris opened
2--The one right next to it--same colors different pattern.
3--The two of them growing almost together
4--Clematis--"LadyBetty Balfour"--flushing out...Such a fast grower after pruning...
5--My visiting daughter, Benita, and her SO--Mathew

Wow, where to begin drooling? Catmint, that Iris is GORGEOUS!!! I am quickly growing into being a BIG TIME Iris lover... never thought I would, funny enough.. don't know why. I will respectfully decline your very generous offer, thank you.. mainly because I'm not even entirely sure where I'm gonna put these new babies, LOL!! Thank you so much for offering though! ♥

Sally, your Irises are spectacular!!! Love the "peachy pink" one!

Greenthumb, wonderful shots of the Rhodies and Columbines (I do love Columbines!!). Which Rhodie is the second one in from the left, please? Love that gentle pastel colour!

Aspen, that Deutzia is beautiful, so graceful and lush.

That "purple and yellow" Iris I got myself for Mother's Day last year (which, as it turns out, is 'Jurassic Park'), is just about ready to bloom - pics should be ready tomorrow, yippeee!! :)

Gita, they're wonderful!!!!!! (the Irises and the family!!) < =D I love how the blue and white speckle around each other in different patterns on each one, so beautiful!!

Some more--not really plants.....

Need an idea whose poop this is. It was at the base of many of the leaves of a large
clump of DL's. This clomp is massive--not the size of reg, DL's.
If I recall from last year--these were almost 4' tall and looked like extravagant Ditch-Lilies.

First I thought they were some kind of insects--but then decided it was poop (caterpillar??)
What kind??? What can i do? Spray? With what?

1--The clump of leaves
2--The leaf bottoms where this poop was found
3--The poop close up.
4--The back bed after the heavy rain. This happens all the time...one big puddle...

5--on a happier note--my table all set-up last Sunday for the Kids planting for Moms
workshop. I made all the hearts on sticks--103 of them on bamboo skewers.
I think i had about 65 kids come through.....The big sign in the back is one I made last year.

Gita

Sally--would love a pic of your amsonia blooms!! :-)

Gita, those are gorgeous irises--I love the blue and white mixture, and now I'm eagerly waiting to see mine! :-) The one from you stands out--the buds are bulging and blue in my sea of purple iris buds; they should be opening soon!

Looking forward to more iris pics from you, Speedie! :-)

greenthumb and ecnalg, I'm joining the bandwagon of people who are drooling over that huge Rhodendron with pale pink or lavender flowers. What kind is it? Your columbines look wonderful too; the woods make a perfect backdrop for them.

Aspen, I like the look of the mound of Japanese Painted Ferns with rocks in the background and Spiderworts (?) on either side. Very artistic!

Gita, pretty iris and no idea on the poop.

Muddy, yes you are right - spiderworts on either side of the Japanese painted ferns. I really like spiderworts and have been adding and dividing them to try to get them to be a fill in plant all over the hillside shade garden. I figure there will be about a hundred when the plugs grow and the mature ones already there are divided.

My first thought on the poop (Gita, you are tooooo funny) was, mouse... at least it sure looks like it on the lower leaf. I may be waayyy off base here, but I've seen plenty of those critters' leavings at work. < =/

looks more caterpillar ish to me. Mice's are like rice grains. only black --and pointy?

Cute couple, Gita, I know they feel so good on that uber comfortable swing of yours.

I'll ditto others- that pink Rhodie is very pretty, David

Oh Catmint, my Amsonia bloom is about one fifth the size of what you posted..

Gita, since no damage to your plants is evident, I don't see that any action is warranted. Looks more lake worm castings rather than mouse, but worms castings would be on the ground. Possibly from caterpillars that have now moved on. Just a reminder that hundreds of species of critters share "our" gardens day in and out. Relax and enjoy.

People keep referring to the "pink" Rhodo. Depending on the eye of the beholder, there is more than one possibility. Using the photo number would be helpful.

This message was edited May 17, 2014 6:59 AM

Yes, worm castings is even closer. Only fat caterpillar stuff I've seen like that is from beg late summer cats, and those are more uniform like cylinders all the same size.
Apologies David, I mean this one
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=9840226&extraimg=1

Sally, that is R. 'Fantastica'.

Greenthumb, the 'Fantastica' is fantastic!! :-)

Thanks, all---

These poop castings are too large for worms. They are good-size.

I will settle on them being some kind of caterpillar poop. Do slugs leave
poop like this? If you look at the letter "o"--they are about that size-just totally round.

The foliage of things in this area is so dense that it is hard to even see any soil.
And--I am supposed to find areas (in this bed) where to plant all my tall Zinnias???
They are ready to bloom in my small pots..just cannot get to it...

My DD and her SO leave this afternoon. Will miss them--but i can get back to
some kind of routine with my gardening...

#1 on the list is to take count of what i have to share and post it on my "haves".
Sorry to be so late. Will work on it later today.

Gita

Greenthumb, quoting from my query above:

OK, Paeony this morning, and then open this afternoon...

ooh, so pretty, Speedie! I love that pastel color, and the bright yellow center is just perfect! :-)

I don't think we have an ID on that largest of the rhodies. It swallowed up the azalea that was to its right and is now working on the remaining one. Had it for 25+ years and it has really been happy there.

On the thread where you (Speedy) posted the latest pictures from work, the transformation is amazing. What an inviting place, and plants you really want to take home.

Love pink peonies.

DD was filled with aches and pains from kayaking during the 3-day 6th grade field trip, so we ended up missing the tournament and having a quiet day at home instead. Had a great time out in the yard all day weeding, planting, and thinning seedlings. My handyman also came and strung wire along the clothesline in place of the nylon so the wisteria has something sturdier to creep on. It is *so* close to blooming, but not quite yet!

1) My other rose bush has bloomed! It seems awfully early for it but I won't complain. The rose bushes are on either side of the wooden stairs as I come down from my back door, and it smells so heavenly there right now!

2) This is a verbena hybrid I purchased a few weeks ago, 'Enduro White Blush', which I'm really enjoying. Hard to tell from the photo, but it has shades of pale pink and lavender in the blossoms--very nice.

3) Another try for my Salvia greggii's first blooms, and this one is *sort of* in focus! :-) I am waiting for the hummingbirds to discover it--they really loved it last year. Have yet to see a single hummer so far this year... Finally got the feeder filled and up!

4) Another view of my Amsonia hubrichtii, which seems to be filling out so quickly now. I like the pale blue color.

5) Gita, I do believe this is your iris!! :-) Very pretty blue. It's nice to have a color in addition to my purply Indian Chiefs.


This message was edited May 17, 2014 5:52 PM

Pat, thank you! Sorry to hear that Rhodie is eating the other plants.. but that may explain why it's so fat. ;) Thank you also for the compliments, we have been working really hard to make it look nice and inviting. I guess it's working. :) I'm really happy with the Paeony too, can't believe she is coming along as nicely as she is with my first try at it.

Catmint, WOW such gorgeous babies you have! I really love the Verbena and Amsonia!! I wish I could smell your roses from here. :) That Amsonia looks so soft and gentle, what a beauty!

Pat, I was admiring the same rhodie that Speedie linked to.

Catmint, two years ago when we had that super warm spring, my roses bloomed in March. It was nuts!

Thanks, Speedie! :-)

I know SSG it's been such a strange spring--forsythia in April, and now roses in early to mid May!

I also like the pastel Rhodie that Speedie pointed out, Pat.

The Wisteria is just past it's prime but the scent is still wafting all around the yard. A couple of my dwarf iris and a columbine.

The wisteria is gorgeous, Holly--so thick and full. And I love that columbine color!

A few more pics from the front bed.

Wow, Holly. What beautiful colors on the two iris, and I am in love with the look of the wisteria, even without being able to smell it. Looks like someone should be lounging under it. The dark blue columbine against the white azalea is a lovely combo, too.

Holly, I love the contrast that the blue iris makes against the white blossoms!

Holly--

Nice pictures! The blue Columbine (fro me) is called "Winky Purple"

The pink one that looks just like it--but is on taller stems is NOT a "Winky Pink".
It was ID's a couple years ago as "Dorothy Rose" by either "Ibarto" or "Birder"...

I have just one left---My daughter has about 4--all from me....
Tjhey sure look somilar--as far s the blooms go...

1--"Winky Purple" Columbine

2--"Dorothy Rose" Columbine.

Gita I have several columbine, I have a tall very dark purple and then the purple one in the pic in front of the azalea. I have what maybe a winky purple, then there is the shorter pink I have a pic of and a much taller pink that Critter gave me a few years ago.

The pink I have is taller than the purple.

I used to call it my "tall pink Columbine"....G.

a tall purple one is the tallest of my Columbines. I call them tall purple. LOL. Your tall one must be REALLY tall, Gita.

I have two tall purple one is tall purple, one is tall dark purple. I really know how to ID plants. LOL

tried to snap a few pics this morning and burrrr it was cold this morning!!

made up our porch hanging baskets the other day w/ cascading peach begonia, red cascading verbena and pink cascading petunias. The basket shown had the biggest begonia clump in it. Not sure of the ID, my guess is Illumination Golden Picotee.

Baptisia Purple Smoke

my favorite buds!

Black Barlow

holly, ROFL !

Hm I think I have a Black Barlow, or one of his offspring. Those ruffley petals look familiar.

that is a gorgeous begonia wind.

Well, my first spring of watching my perennials open up is so exciting for me -- so grateful I have you all to share it with! (DD thinks it's pretty boring--LOL.)

1) Geranium maculatum from Gita last year
2) My columbine, purchased before I knew I was supposed to keep the id tags--so it is a Yellow Columbine! :-)
3) Trying to be artistic with limited success--LOL
4) My wisteria is just beginning to open up--yay!
5) Foxglove

Pat (ecnalg) had me take some more photos of our large Rhodo so others can get a better idea of its size. About 10 feet tall. Has a low spot in the middle where a tree fell on it a few years ago.

Wow what a huge beautiful rhododendron! I love the color

LOL Holly, love your plant ID'ing skills! :)

Wind, your hanging basket turned out great! What bud is that, please? And Black Barlow - my favourite Columbine!!

Catmint, your Columbine is pretty darned spectacular as well, and I don't think your artistic abilities are lacking at all, it looks wonderful.. Really nice colour combinations!

David (and Pat), thank you for the additional pics, that Rhodie is just unbelievable, and look at the size of those blooms!

Got out there to install the new Irises (gift from Co-worker's Mom), dug up some for her (including a clump of yellow that included that one blue/white sport) and got those potted up, cleaned up a messy bowl of Pansies (and added a little more pizzazz to the mix!).. but the first thing that greeted me on my way out the door was my Precious. (that is what I need to call her from now on.) ;) Her scent made me stop in my tracks, and she was looking so pretty! I'm really pleased with how this pic turned out.

The new Irises in place of the "old" ones. And lastly, the third, different Iris, in place of one of the Jurassic Park clumps that I dug up for Teri's Mom. It has the same purple/yellow combo as JP, but the purple is darker, and it's taller. NOID, but that's ok, it sure is pretty! :)

Aww thanks Speedie you are a sweetie! I keep trying LOL.

Precious is gorgeous-- such a beautiful blossom! The petals are so delicate and perfect and such a lovely color! :-)