Bearded Iris 4-26-23

Our first bearded iris has bloomed. It is in the family Iridaceae. This one was a gift from a friend decades ago. Iris is Greek for rainbow.

The inflorescence are in the shape of a fan and contain multiple six-lobed flowers. In each flower three sepals spread downwards and are called “falls”. They expand from a narrow base (‘claw' or ‘haft') into a broader ‘blade and has ornamental veining. Three smaller petals stand upright behind the sepal bases. In the center of the ‘blade’ at the base of each petal is a row of fuzzy hairs called a beard. Insects use the beard to help them find the pollen.

Irises― from which that rainbow rises Kobayashi Issa 1803

Azalea 4-24-23

Like me the azalea bushes are beginning to fade. It was magnificent but with the cold and warm weather and the massive thunder storms it is looking beaten up. It used to bloom all at once but now its branches bloom when they bloom.

The blossoms themselves are still breath taking.

You can see they are battered.

But like old friends you take them as they are rather than how you remember them.

Virginia Bluebells 4- 21-23

We have a really nice patch of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) beyond the meadow in a woodland area near the main path.

It is a spring ephemeral.

They are quietly comforting.

Spring Beauty 4-19-23

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is a woodland miniature perennial. Always one of the earliest flowers to bloom, it is tiny.

Imagine a whole hillside covered with these flowers. They are still in full bloom.This is from a friends yard.

a young wing flutters warmer nights laved in moon beams spring's new soul takes flight Charlie Smith

Daffodil 4-17-23

After months the daffodils are dwindling. There are early and late blooming daffodils. My favorite is this 

beauty that has come and stayed in abundance. I do not memorize their common names but it is surprising with up to three blooms per stalk. Yes, all these blooms are on the same stalk.

  Sweet aroma floats

  Arriving through the wind and rain

  Daffodils stand true

      Rachel Keil

Red Bud and Dogwood 4-14-23

I am not really into trees but this time of year it is impossible not to love these two flowering favorites. The red buds (Cercis canadensis) are in full bloom.

The blooms come right off the smooth branch, and then the leaves. This image shows it all.

The dogwoods (Cornus) are a little behind in maturation.

Both are beautiful small trees.

Spanish Bluebells 4-12-23

These Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides Hispanica) have been in place by the front walk for fifty years. I have replaced and added but many are original.

They will cover the space until late July when the columbine plants will become more noticeable. Surprisingly one of the columbines is blooming now.

That is the fun of the garden.

Ground Cover 4-10-23

My ground cover stays through the winter. With warmth and water it blooms. I enjoy periwinkle (Vinca minor). It stays green and it doesn’t climb trees. Here are two different colors. This is my mainstay. It becomes a carpet of blue.

And a different variety.

Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is in the gnome garden. Also called moss phlox it is in the family Plemoniaceae. Stolon is Latin for rooting runner. The leaves brown up in the winter but green early on.

Everything that lives about us by Emile Verhaeren Everything that lives about us in the fragile and gentle light, frail grasses, tender branches, hollyhocks, and the shadow that brushes them lightly by, and the wind that knots them, and the singing and hopping birds that swarm riotously in the sun like clusters of jewels,— everything that lives in the fine ruddy garden loves us artlessly, and we—we love everything. We worship the lilies we see growing; and the tall sunflowers, brighter than the Nadir— circles surrounded by petals of flames—burn our souls through their glow. The simplest flowers, the phlox and the lilac, grow along the walls among the feverfew, to be nearer to our footsteps; and the involuntary weeds in the turf over which we have passed open their eyes wet with dew. And we live thus with the flowers and the grass, simple and pure, glowing and exalted, lost in our love, like the sheaves in the gold of the corn, and proudly allowing the imperious summer to pierce our bodies, our hearts and our two wills with its full brightness.

Tulips 4-7-23

Well the tulips have begun to come up sporadically. I’m still awaiting that splendid grouping of a stand of tulips. In the meantime we do have a few beauties.

In a garden all is not coming up roses.

Meadow Miniatures 4-5-23

I love miniature flowers in the meadow. They are magnificent in their simplicity. This is my all-time favorite. Least or Tiny bluet (Houstania pusilla). They form a carpet.

These are a little taller. White ballmustard (Calepina irregularis)

These violets are beautiful but I wish they would stay in the meadow instead of the garden. Common blue violet (Viola soraria)

This Wild pansy violet (Viola bicolor) is exquisite.

The images tell all.

Garden Fun 4-2-23

April has arrived and everything is beginning to come up in and around the Gnome Garden. The boys demanded to come out of the garage. They liked the metal flowers for awhile but they really perked up with the real flowers.

For years I have saturated various areas with daffodils.

But these types of stands of large Prince Leopolds are really much more dramatic.

And here is a contemporary gnome who arrived at Christmas. He loves the freedom of sitting on a cherry stump as he checks out his iPhone in comfort.