After The Rain . . .

Thought I'd go out after the downpour and get some pictures with water drops on blooms the other day. So I bundled up because warm it was not, grabbed my camera and off I went out to find the perfect bloom with the perfect droplets for me to capture. Then I remembered (Ding) I didn't have any blooms yet. Right! Well I have some tiny Johnny Jump Ups that are probably smaller than the drops and some Crocuses that have by now croaked! Well here's Sedum Vera Jamison but I don't know how good droplets will show on her with such small foliage. Better give it a try bright girl it's all ya have
.
Then I found a variety container I had with some Hens and Chicks and ironically enough there was a small web with drops in front of it. Ok I accept - it might work.

There was the little green leaf with pink trim of my Columbine that actually had some pretty good drops on it. No blooms but some drops - I can work with that.

I do have this bucket of bulbs that has been trying to do something for a month now. And it's still trying, but at least they're getting taller.

Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something. Color? I turned my head and actually jolted a little as I hollered 'holy crap' I don't believe this. There was nothing here the day before - or was that two days? Who cares! I was just happy it was there and really happy we don't live close enough to anyone that might be outside watching me over here acting like a bumbling idiot in my stupor of excitement.

My pretty pink Azalea was starting to open up. I finally had something blooming that was bigger than a nickel or better yet larger than a quarter. Oh happy day!

No, not starting to open - by cracky it is open. And it even has a few droplets on it!
Ahhhhh it's posing for me!

It’s A Bloomin’ What?

I ran into town the other day to get a picture of this hedge hoping it would be putting on it’s yearly show – I knew it was pretty close to time. I figured I could swing by Lowes and get some of their potting soil I like, mulch and chicken poo so it wouldn’t be a trip just for the picture. Oh and some more flowers of course.

About 23 years ago we moved into Longview because it was closer to Mr. Bob’s work. Shortly after moving there I saw this hedge blooming. I didn’t have a clue what it was and started asking around town about it. It doesn’t surprise me that I didn’t know because at that time the extent of my flower knowledge was Roses, Rhodies, Tulips, Daffodils and Red Hot Pokers. I only knew the Pokers because my Mother had given me some when I had my new house built.

I’m sure all of you know what this is because you are such great gardeners and really know your stuff! But I thought I’d post a picture of it anyway because I have never seen one anywhere else and maybe someone else hasn’t.

C’mon humor me – I took this picture driving in heavy traffic! Well, it doesn’t take much to be heavy traffic for me as I live in the middle of nowhere by 2 little towns that don’t even have one stop light between them. Actually, I can’t say that anymore because when we were flooding around here this last winter the road down below washed out on one side and I guess they didn’t trust us stopping for each other and stuck a stop light at each end of the washout! So here you are driving for 5 miles on a country road and there are 2 stoplights!
I didn’t get it in full bloom but it’s close enough that I didn’t have to make another trip to town so as not to miss it! It will be the most brilliant, colorful, dark pink color when completely in full bloom.

I know you already knew it was an Azalea hedge. Pretty though isn’t it?While I was at Lowes I got a Heuchera Palace Purple (no surprise there), although I showed you yellow yesterday in my flowers and I’m working on other colors. 2 varigated Fountain Grass with a pretty mauve colored feathery bloom? Red Sensation Rock Cress, Arabis blepharophylla, 2 Hostas Golden Tiara and a Sedum Spurium ‘Fuldaglut’ to add to my growing Sedum collection.I was very happy to see that they have smaller size pots too.

Now look at all of the work I have to do . . .

Haven't Been Blogging Much - Fertilizer Friday

You haven't seen a lot of me on her lately except for an occasional post. So
much has been happening I just can't seem to do it all. Most recently I had to
go up toward Mt. St. Helens, pick up my daughter and take her into town for
surgery. They removed hardware in her knee from a previous surgery that was
giving her trouble. All day in town then taking her home I decided to take our
favorite 5 year old home with me so she could stay down and not have to chase
him around as he had a couple extra days off from school this week. Just the
whole day in town waiting for her was tiring for me but chasing the 5 year old
around just flat does me in.
Yesterday we went on a camel hunt so he could see the goofy looking camel who lives down
the road and then we came back and he helped me take some flower pictures for
Fertilizer Friday.

The Azalea I showed earlier loaded with buds is blooming now. What a
gorgeous color. Last year this was just opening on April 13th so it is really
early this year.

Helleborus

Pulmonaria Smokey Blue

I absolutely love that this blooms in 2 different colors.

It's Fertilizer Friday so be sure to go over and visit our hostess Tootsie after you leave here andsee what's blooming in everyone's gardens! And while you’re there why not join in on
the fun.