May 25th, 2013

As we approach the end of May the weather continues to vacillate between sweet summer days with blue skies and warm breezes, and cold rainy Lows that circle over the south Okanagan, reluctant to part from this beautiful valley but occasionally making it miserable with its cold, wet attentions.

However, out in the back garden nobody seems to give a hoot and everyone is going right ahead with the party, blooming and blossoming and greening and reaching high for the sky.

The lovely white, single peony that Sharon shared with me

 



 

and the Blaze that has followed me for the last seventy years in all our gardens

 

 

the yellow Iris are slow to bloom, and teasing, but reaching great heights

and high promises

 

the cabbage roses that last year ran rampant over the gate have been tamed

with pruning

the Coral Bells, as tried and true as ever, are scattered through the raised bed

 

and over by the back fence the bag of potatoes are overflowing the top and

preparing to bloom



here is a pot of pansies that sits on the back deck, along with two pots of lilies

that I planted in layers and I am eager to see the results!!

 





 

a nice spot to coffee and rest

some of the pots on the front steps

 



 

and the oriental poppies in the side yard

 

after trying year after year I had almost given up hope of having Foxglove in my garden

 

but here they are in all their beautiful Monet colours!



more of the climbing roses

and a shady corner in the front, where the Hostas grow.

more pots, more peonies, a lovely columbine and the first Mister Lincoln bud.

 



The garden is always a joy, but this year it has been an extra blessing and I am so grateful for all the beauty,  and the days that open time to seeding and planting, throwing gloves aside and feeling the lovely dirt on my hands and the satisfaction in my heart. 

Of course I chat a lot to Charles about what is happening out there and consider what his advice would be about what to snip and where to plant...and so the days pass by....

May 18th, 2013

The middle of May - cooler weather prevails and today, at least, we are in a grey mist, under clouded skies.

Well, it is the first day of the Annual Rodeo, so probably par for the course!  Today it's Bulls and Barrel Racing, and they will manage nicely with cooler weather.

In the meantime, back at the 'Ranch", the garden is flourishing!  I am running out of beds and pots, but this morning, while breakfasting and visiting with Dorothy,  some kind soul who had heard me complaining of the 'lack of' left an array of pots on my steps, and I thank you Carole!

The large one will be perfect for the Impatients I couldn't resist at the grocery store, no less, and I love the little goose pot which I envision with a large mass of Evening Stock and white Nicotiana tail feathers to enchant the night air with its fragrance.

 

The first poppy!

 

A welcome to the side garden.

 

 

My lady statue amongst the windflowers.

 

 

 

A cosy spot in the back yard for anyone who would care to join me for coffee and a chat!

Early days in May and I am enticed back to my garden diary by the wonderful response to April's cool and fickle weather in the little raised bed in the back garden.  Everything is full of vitality.......green, growing and  gratifying as I find solace in the lovely dirt!  Dust to dust, and from whence grows all this beauty!

As of now it is mainly green, - lovely leaping green-fired stalks and buds and leaves, and newly wakened roots reaching deep into the earth to create this photosynthetic magic. 

But down towards the bottom of the bed the Oriental Peonies are rosily pregnant,

bursting with enthusiasm and the promise of lovely fringed blossoms.

and one lone yellow ranunculus - but not for long.

Soon they will be running rampant, anxious to surround each neighbouring plant

and spread their sunny faces throughout the whole bed.

I see they are friendly with the ubiquitous cutch grass and the spreading violet, as well.

The bleeding heart, which I thought we had lost, has started to bloom,  and on the right the small bridal veil shrub I bought to celebrate our anniversary two or three years ago puts forth small fragrant dainty blooms.  It moved quite comfortably from the garden on the hill, and makes itself at home, although soon it will need more room to expand.

I am full of hope that this year there will be a magnificent display of Foxgloves.

The second year plants I bought from the nursery are energetic, and budding out

and even the plants we put in beside the front walk are doing quite nicely.

The little handkerchief lawn at the back is gay with the last of the tulips, and along the side garden

the quince blossoms are beautiful against the tiny white blossoms of the

shrub I don't know the name of!

Outside the fence at the front

and a few forget-me-nots to end tonight's small record.