The Backyard: 4/14/16

We're headin' out back again today.

So many things change over a few day's time in spring.

It's by far my favorite time of year.

We got quite a bit of rain last week, followed by temps in the 80's the last few days.

Makes the plants grow like crazy, but I'm watering already!

The neighbor's rhody is blooming its little heart out.

I love that it's up high enough over the fence to enjoy.

My dark purple Lilac, that I whacked the heck out of last year, also spit out a few blooms for me.

The beast is gonna bloom again this year.

I need to get up there with the loppers and whack the buds off before they start the mess.

I know there a lot of people who love Windmill Palms, including my husband, but I am not one of them.

Crazy plant.

This Spirea, on the other hand.....

Limey green goodness.

The arbor Clematis is going to explode.

I can't wait.

Lots of perennial babies, still slowly emerging.

Hafta show the Rheum progress.

A few pulled back deck photos.

The Honeysuckle on the post is filling in.

A pretty Hosta.

My two favorite little trees.

These Maples have been in the same pots for yeeeeeears.

I give them new dirt every couple years, trim their roots, then stick them back in.

My wine barrel fountain bit the big one.  :(

I got it all cleaned out, back up and running, only to discover that it leaks.

So sad.

The silver lining is, I have a giant new planter.  :)

I bought a couple annuals for the big deck planter.

Iresine 'Blazin' Lime', which I had never even heard of, let alone grown, and Euphorbia 'White Sparkle', which my mom and girlfriend both rave about, so figured I'd give it a whirl.

These are the Four O'Clock babies that I started in the bathroom.

A hot pink one with limey green leaves - I saved seeds from a nursery plant because I loved it so much.

These are the red ones that I got from Grace last year.

I also bought my Fuchsia 'Gartenmeister' that I put in this pot every year.

Creature of habit.

 Couple shots of the wine bottle path beds.

Another new baby.

I found it at Fred Meyer, of all places.

I may have squealed out loud.

Polygonatum 'Variegatum', aka, Variegated Solomon's Seal.

I haven't committed to a home for him yet, but I'm thinkin' he looks pretty good next to the Rue.

A blue Hosta, up and at 'em.

The Purple Royal Fern, aka, Osmunda Regalis Purpurascens, that I got at the Leach sale last year is up.  I'm anxious to see how it does in its second year.

Another one from the Leach sale last year, Impatiens omeiana.

It didn't do much for me, but I think it's gonna make up for it this year.

It has spread out a ton already.

My little Salal has grown so much.

My mom gave me a teeny tiny baby off her plant several years ago.

He's blooming!

The Lily of The Valley is just starting to bloom.

The slowest growing plant known to man has leafed out.

Climbing Hydrangea.

My dream of it engulfing the ugly shed is still 20 years out at the rate it's going.

One lone Tulip from a bag I got as a housewarming gift, 15 years ago.

Solomon's Seal prettiness.

Buds on a Sage, as well as Clematis 'Belle of Woking.'

Look what those nasty slugs did to one of my runner beans.

They both died.

Maddie girl's Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance', that I bought last spring as a weensy little thing, has flowers and lots of new growth.

A few other things in the same bed are, a Phlox that I can't remember the name of, the Salvia patens 'Cobalt' that overwintered again (yay!), and a baby coming that might be a Guara I bought late last summer.

New growth on the potted Tamarack and a Himalayan Honeysuckle that hitched a ride in with another plant from Joy Creek last spring.

Shade bed progress.

My potted Dogwood, that I love, love, love.

I'm on the cusp of planting him in the ground.

I can't deeeeciiiiide.

Please ignore the train wreck lawn.

Our gas mower wouldn't start and it had been too wet to use the push one.
I was able to get it done over the weekend.

I love it so much, but because I have no clue what kind it is, I'm afraid if I put it in the ground, it will turn into a giant monster that's too big for the yard.
I'm thinkin' I might transfer it into the wine barrel that the fountain was in.

A naughty dog in my flower beds.

And last, more pics of the most beautious Lewisia in the land, even after being beat down by the rain.

I maaaay have hit a couple nurseries this week.
And I maaaay have come home with some new things.
And I maaaaay have spent the last three days completely ignoring the inside of my house, just so I could play in the dirt.
Maybe.

Happy gardening!