Wild hyacinth....
Oh, and in front of it is a leaf of the unknown plant...tomorrow I will remember to take a photo of its emerging leaves
I was very unhapy with the choice of annuals at the nursery...Tomorrow its out to Loews....or Menards
I'll bet even Wal mart has better.
I managed to get a few potted, boy, I'm not getting any younger...this was all easier last year.
I'm still looking for a place for Buddha.....next to St. Francis...no...
Oh ha ha..a robin sat right on St. Francis' head and you know what.....and no camera in hand!
Oh the garden..never a dull moment....even had a mouse run past me today!!!!!!!!!!!
And did you know that robins eat wet (it rained a bit) dry cat food? Me neither
I know I know....the mouse did too

  Wild geraniums and sweet woodruff

  Wild hyacinth

  Progress today. It's starting to look like a garden.  Tomorrow I hope to go to the nursery and buy some plants for potting. I hung my windchimes and dodads...I've filled the birdbaths including the new one I bought in Galena and made my husband haul home..hehehe...weighs a ton...hehehe
It has a celtic design on it.  The birds followed me around again and there were baby rabbits fleeing as I got near....it was heaven

The wild columbine... Little nodding heads of spring
I worked most of the afternoon getting ready for my Open Bar of Joy
So much to do...I was naughty in fall....put things away that weren't cleaned! Shame!
Tomorrow I will plant my easter lillies and tulips and I have some Ostrich ferns that need to go in
I hope they grow tall!
I found some Sweet woodruff clear across the yard..where I hadn't planted it along with some bluebells...now how does that happen!
Do you know that the beautiful pink rose that I rescued late fall has a bud on it already!!!!
Oh the wonders and joys of a garden
except for the weed pulling that I'll have to get to tomorrow too :(

  I  love how the woodland violets have taken up residence in my shade garden....perfect.
 Just look at all those happy faces....move in girls...
I have a few that are white and a few that are white with a touch of violet. Cuties ...right next to Solomon's seal and ferns and wild geraniums.....If I could live right there among them I would...
I am a woodland woman.
I have a few errands to run but then I am in the garden all the rest of the day..whoopie! Finally!

Goldenseal and Solomon's Seal

Blogger has changed the way I can load photos..good grief....this was difficult....maybe this is a dream
Anyway....here's just a peek at what I saw this afternoon in the garden.....so much more..but this photo thing has got me crackers!

Cosmos

I was 21 when we moved into our first home. When summer came I dug up a wee spot of soil and planted seeds called Cosmos.
They looked pretty on the package.
Other than four large rose bushes ( I knew nothing about roses..) there was nothing else in this backyard... a small city lot.
I then found another spot of soil near the neighbor's fence and threw in some giant sunflower seeds.
Well, call it beginners luck or God's gift ...the garden seeds sprouted and the Cosmos were the most beautiful stand of airy ferny flowers and the giant sunflowers were indeed as noted on the seed package..reaching over my neighbors 6ft. privacy fence!
A gardener was born.
Oh and the roses...I snipped them back and watered....whallah! I had Peace, Tropicana,Chrysler Imperial and an unknown yellow one...and they bloomed like they had an audience with the Queen! Beginners luck indeed.
My neighbors were in awe of this young fabulous gardener (hee hee) .... beginners luck
But in my mind to this day it is the very best gardening experience I ever had.....the thrill of gardening luck
When I was 23 my daughter was born in August...and 18 months later my son was born.....and the garden was forgotten.
But I still get awestruck remembering that first garden of Cosmos and Sunflowers and Roses......
I still plant them...but it will never be like the first time

I first saw Joe Pye Weed at a garden walk. It stood over 7feet as mine does now. It dies back to the ground and you swear it will not return, but it does, only wider. This plant is smack in the middle of my yard and I love its commanding presence...its wildness.
When I was young we never went on a vacation....no money, I think...but we always went to museums,zoos and my favorite..the woods...I loved the woods. I often ran ahead pretending to be alone on an adventure...and if my brothers and I found a creek....HEAVEN...we turned over rocks...looked for tadpoles..fish...water spiders.....and oh...turtles.
So I guess this is what I think of as heaven in my yard...a bit of wildness...like an adventure everyday....and Joe pye Weed fits right in
I'm a wild garden wench

I knew when I first planted them
that they were a secret in my garden
words unspoken, but ever blooming
and spreading....forget-me -not

Oh my poor irises....choked out by that nasty chocolate mint...I thought I wanted...it does smell so good...but I hate it now..taking over everything....ANd I can't spend any real time in the garden yet...too many family days yet.......but soon..soon...anybody want any?

just kidding

The grapehollies are blooming.....and the robins have taken notice!
I never thought I'd say ...we need a little rain....but I am.

At least the front beds are tidy ..vinca ,sweetwoodruff,tulips,daffodils,Korean Spice Viburnum,grape holly, honeysuckle,and rising tiger lillies,hostas and day lillies... So fine day is it today...a bit chilly, but the beauty of spring is in full force...and I am happy looking at it.
I am a steam engine..fire stoked..ready for the engineer to say ALL ABOARD!...choo choo choo choo
soon soon...it will all settle down and I will get my hands dirty
I've always been a lover of dirt............you?

I sat outside until the robins stopped singing

take a look with me

Jack is back in the Pulpit!!!!

Who doesn't love Bluebells!?!?!

I am so happy my girlfriend helped me drag this trellis home....actually she convinced me that I just had to have it.....
Friends....!!!
Oh the garden was so happy this morning ..the Japanese Maple is showing its leaves and the pines are so green!

I counted 7 Robins at once.....flitting and chasing around the garden this morning....How joyful their songs of mating!

The garden today

Glorious Serviceberry.......ahhh! soon the Cedar Waxwings will be here!

April ugly

See I told you it's ugly..I should have given you more warning....do not let the children see this!

Oh my aching back

I had to dig up a photo of last year's garden to keep me going. My garden in springtime looks awful and bare. Who would believe it. Tomorrow, I will take a photo of what it looks like now...so you can see what I mean...by ..U G L Y
I raked and pruned and raked somemore. Then bagged it all. I don't think I will be able to stand tomorrow.
This old garden wench is aching. Where's my tiger Balm?
I am happy to tell you that I have a mating pair of finches and cardinals and of course sparrows and doves!
And I saw a woodthrush in the bushes....oh I love nature and all it offers....even the mouse that ran in front of me this afternoon....he was so tiny and so scared......or I'll take your coat! Oh that was Peter Rabbit.....
I had a bumblebee stalking me for quite awhile...maybe he liked my perfume....and I had ladybugs and lots of big earthworms....
I am truly sore, but what a wonderful day I had.....I will sleep well tonight
Now if I can only remember to plant my morning glory seeds tomorrow!!!

I know I am not a traditional gardener liking rabbits in my garden
Sure they eat more than they should
but they bring me great joy finding them hiding in the flowerbed
hunkered down hoping I don't see them
I pretend I don't see them and move on

So much better than the poor rabbit in my daughter's neighbor's yard
that was attacked on Easter morning by the neighbor's dog
kids screaming and crying watching the killing

No bunny, there is no dog here
and the gardener looks the other way
even when you sneak on the deck and eat my expensive petunias
Life is joy and you bring me joy
so good morning

Walking the garden this morning I was surprised to see these little mottled leaves sticking up through the earth. I believe they are trout lillies. I did not plant them. I don't remember them here last year.
My the mysteries of a garden when you don't over tend it.
I also discovered a bloodroot plant across the garden from where I planted the others...now how does this happen?
Oh the things that go on when I am not around or are done behind my back in my Open Bar of Joy!

Solomon's seal
looks like a flank emerging
through the earth
waiting their
commander's
orders to proceed

The wild hyacinth
a Cinderella flower
weedlike in its tattered leaves
waiting for heat and sun
like every other flower
in the garden
But when her time comes
she has the dance floor
for the day
filling the air with her
perfume and delicate purple
gown....
as suitors buzz around her
hoping for a chance

You were on the discount table
Aconites, half price
Tiny corms hidden in brown mulch
in a plastic bag
You looked dead to the unknowing eye
but I knew the beauty held tight
in your brown body
waiting
I planted you
on the northeast side of the house
under the honeysuckle
Forgot about you hidden there
But on my daily walk of the garden
I filled with joy finding you
in the dappled shade
finding
your full price blooms

Yes, the Open Bar of Joy is Open!

The sun is out this morning, but last night, Easter evening, we had torrential rainful.....
but the glory of this and a few days of warm weather and bright sun
have awakened the horsechestnut tree...it's tightly held buds..that were set in fall
have opened their fists full of flower buds and leaves....soon the baltimore Oriole will be here
and the bees will be (!) performing their symphony all around the tree
It is a miracle unfolding....
... a day which the Lord has made
I rejoice
and am glad....

Easter Sunday

Everything is bursting open in the garden!
Oh the joy in my open bar of joy!
Bee...today....just bee
Stick your nose in the day
gather up the goodness!
It nutures you!