Flower for the Day Iris 7 5-27-14

Then how about some multi-colored iris.

Flower for the Day Iris 6 5-23-14

Have a great Memorial day Weekend.

New this year.

 

 

Don't say it. Don't even think it. 

Flower for the Day Allium 5-22-14

These beautiful big balls come in pink and white.

The flowers are produced on a scape which is a botanical term for a long leafless flowering stem arising directly from a bulb.Examples of scapes include amaryllis and surprise lily. Allium is from the Latin garlic.

 

Flower for the Day Iris 5 5-21-14

The iris just keep on coming. It is the best 
blooming iris year ever.

Beetle comment

This comment came through the pike regarding the Catterpillar Hunter Beetle.

 I am very much into beetles, having studied the mating preferences of soldier beetles for a decade or so.  (One interesting discovery, with regard to penis size, was that 'one size fits all.').

One-third of all animal species are beetles.  A famous evolutionist was once asked what he thought about God, and he replied "He has an inordinate fondness for beetles."

The Fiery Searcher is indeed a beautiful beetle. 

Flower for the Day Columbine 5-20-14

This red columbine is my mainstay - delicate and understated. As an example of the classic 

columbine it compares favorably with the larger more complex showy cultivars in the neighborhood.

FFTD Bonus Fiery Searcher 5-19-14

The woods in Warren County were hopping last week with large emerald green beetles. They are quick moving  Catterpillar Hunter Beetles,  Calosoma scrutator, also called Fiery Searcher. They had extremely good hunting as catterpillars and green worms were everywhere including on the back of my neck (the worms not the beetle).

Flower for the Day Iris 4 5-19-14

Fields of Iris in their prime.

 

 

 

Flower for the Day Iris 3 5-16-14

The iris continue to bloom in many colors and forms. 

FFTD Bonus What gardeners do. 5-15-14

This is what gardeners do. I had just set up the front hose system which I use in addition to the inground irrigation system. I heard a loud hisssss from the garage and when I checked I found that the hose from the inside water spigot to the outside was putting out a huge spout which was covering all neighboring structures with cold water. After turning the water off I found that the hose (a veteran of many garden wars) had ruptured spontaneously. There was nothing close by that could have caused this large crack.

"No problem", I say to myself, "I'll just cut out the section, and re-attach the ends." I look at my hose repair shelf and find I do not have the right parts. "This could ruin your day," I think as I head out to the nearbyhardware store. I get the most expensive brass connector and cut off the bad section of hose, insert the connector, using brand new rubber washers, and tighten down the screws - I have done this multiple times. My screw driver does not work well but I have it water tight. 

I turn the water on and voila it sprays worse than before. I take everything apart and start over and there is no improvement. It is getting dark so I quit for the day. The next day I go back to the hardware store and get a new huge 

Phillips head screw driver and some white plumbers tape to get a better seal. The result unfortunately is the same. It holds for about 10 seconds and then explodes apart. I throw in the towel and purchase a new 100 foot garden hose. I hook up the new hose and the only leak is at the spigot which connection I tighten with a wrench. Finally dry and working.

Not done yet I have to thread the hose along the back of the garage wall and then along the side wall and out the door, 

around the corner, under the azalea bush, across the front walk to the front yard. I can use the hose outside but it takes 

me almost a week to move all the accumulated garage treasures from two corners. I am able to partially fill a small

dumpster with stuff I don't really need but was saving for when I did need it. The new hose system is finally back to 

where it was before the "blow".  It didn't really ruin the day - it was more like ten days. That is what gardeners do.