Finally. Bloomage.

An almost-done iris among the mess....  I got a bunch of iris (irie?) last spring from my aunt.... I wasn't ready for them so they just got plugged in randomly.... and are producing some delight this year.

What is this little blue guy?  Is he a weed?

Look.  Mystery flowers are starting to bloom.  Yellow.  Still a mystery.

This is the "youngling" pair of peonies.... looking kinda leggy and gangly and like maybe the dog had a nap in the shade... might have to support this poor guy before he starts blooming.

Remember the pretty delphinium?  The one I hid behind some chives for deer protection?  Yeah.... epic fail.

Ahhh.... the bleeding heart..... save under net.... I promise you tomorrow I will come back with a picture of the top (above the net) nipped off.  Deer.  Sigh.

The Fairy Garden

The big peony bed

Same section of flower bed from two different angles... the first before weeding.... the second after.  I'm tired.

Epic Fail: The Grass Edition

Stupid grass.

Epic Fail: The Yarrow Edition

Is that YARROW sneaking in there?  I used to think yarrow as cool as long as it was a beautiful color.  Then my gorgeous tera cotta yarrow bred with a white-trash yarrow and turned WHITE... now I agree with Elle... yarrow=weed.

Epic Fail: The Russian Sage Edition

Seriously... wtf?  This was a gorgous russian sage.... had it for several seasons.... suddenly RIP.  I think the nasty weeds at the base (what ARE those?) may have killed it from the roots.

Finally. A flower.

Finally.  I can stop buying daisies at Costco....

Poor picture but.... what the hell is this?  Something from seed?  A weed?

Iris.  Almost there.

The only colorful thing in the flower beds.... a beach ball.

The chives are blooming....

I think this shot is just lovely.  For those of you "in the know" this is the south side of the porch..... right by the flower bed on the east side.

And here it is looking the other direction along the south side towards the road.... How funny is the "straight" line of grass along the edge.... I did that.  Apparently I was drinking....

A quick lilac update

I finally picked up a couple little bitty plants..... a tomato, some cilantro & a lemon balm.  I plugged the tomato and cilantro into the barrel on the decklast year the darn deer came up the front steps, across the porch, down the steps onto the enclosed porch and ate my salad garden.  Sigh.  I have NO IDEA what else is in this barrel..... some seeds got scattered at some point.  Or maybe it is weeds.... wait and see.....

Here's my sad lilac slash whatever-it-is tree......  still not blooming.... t-minus 10 days until July....

Here's a shot from the other side.  Hot got crazy with the chain saw and cleared things out.... makes a great little fort for the kids.  And, yes, that IS my internet cable there at the bottom of the photo.... what?

Project: Yard

Project:  Mint is happening again this summer.  I had to get digging before Hot sprayed all the weeds by the barn. 

This is me, paused, in my monster trek from the bottom barn up to the house.....

Here are all the stupid baby weeds... you have a choice:  weeds, grass or bare dirt.  Someday.... grass.

Envision this.... Project:  Garden.  If we rip out all the wood from the old cattle chute and leave just the upright posts and the gate on the other end.... wrap it in deer fence and rehab the poor soil..... does it scream "adorable tiny garden plot" to you??  I should get to this project in about the year 2018....

Project:  Mint.  Complete.  This corner gets so hot it just fries any "real" plants.... so mint it is.  Also..... yes.... staining the porch is on the agenda for this summer.

Sad porch.  Needs loving.

The south side of the porch. Also in need of much love.  The horse is named Trot.

Sad fairy garden.  Needs less rain.

Also... needs a new deer proof shield.... ideas?

Really sad fairy garden camping outpost (what?  Fairies like to recreate too...)  The teepee actually washed away.... so much rain. 

The Only Things Blooming....

Here are shots of the only things blooming at my house....  so envious of everyone in the southern climates....