It Rained, But We were Ready For it

 Yesterday, Thursday, it finally rained, close to an inch in total, slow and steady most of the day.

But we had been working to be ready for it. In the days prior, Tom did some "logging", getting the very tall, very neglected Oregon Grape along the driveway thinned and cut back. On Tuesday we borrowed our friend's pick up truck to haul it to the yard waste dump.

The Oregon Grape on both sides of the driveway is no longer looming way over our heads.

I helped a little, but not much.

On Wednesday we went shopping for more yard stuff and then Tom got the lawn raked of wind debris, mowed, and fertilized. I got the patio cleaned up and the driveway raked. We both hoped the coming rain would not also come with more heavy wind to undo all of our clean up. It didn't. We enjoyed the rain. We shopped at Costco and I did six miles on my stationary bike. Gotta keep moving. 

Of course I had to get out today, after our Friday breakfast, where Jill was a surprise guest, (she works from home on Fridays) and grocery shopping, to see what's blooming. 

Exotic looking parrot tulips.

Fringe tulips for Tom.

Princess Irene tulips, just because.

The tulip border on the wall is already fading but the unfurling hostas planted in between will soon cover the space. The tulip bilbs in cans will be removed. 

Our one big tree peony bud has bloomed. 

The first columbine. 

Apple blossoms. 

Even in the tulip bulb orders, divergents sneak in. 

The orange tulips here were supposed to be orangier and bloom at the same time as the purple ones, but the purple ones are almost done and much taller. Next year's order will get changed. There are always surprises in gardening. 

I don't pick my own tulips. These are from the grocery store this morning. But no doubt they did come from the Skagit Valley, just as my bulbs did. 

Now the sun is peeking through clouds. Our rain might be over. We have a garden club tour tomorrow. 

I hope your weekend blooms to your liking. 

The Wind Blows, The Grass Grows

 We were supposed to have rain. We didn't. So far this month of April we have had a total of .20 of an inch of rain. Drought this summer is a real possibility. 

After a warm and lovely Saturday morning, the clouds moved in and we had a surprise wind storm. There were even some power outages. We just have more clean up to do as our big fir trees rain down debris. 

We'll enjoy the beauty of spring while we can. Tom will keep the grass mowed while there is still moisture to keep it green. We'll have to water eventually, but sparingly, no doubt.

Blooming continues. Now the Rhododendron King George has burst into bloom with it's huge flower clusters.

It's a beautiful sunshiny day but the wind is still cold. We spent most of the day inside doing housework and laundry, regular Monday chores.

Yesterday I finished my latest quilt square and then put all of my sewing stuff away. The guest bed is no longer a fabric layout and cutting area and the desk top is no longer a sewing station. 

I'll get it back out in the fall. Now I have gardening to do and the outside to enjoy. 

Happy At Home

 It's another beauitful morning here in the PNW. Looking out my kitchen window I see everything glowing in new spring color. There are maple trees with new leaves of bright green and red. The shrubs have new shiny leaves. The grass is bright green, and here and there the scene is punctuated by brightly colored flowers.

I just replanted this sedum garden in the old bird bath. We have visited lots of nurseries in the last week. We have also spent many hours working in the garden. I think I have all of our purchases planted now. 

Apple blossoms are beginning to open on the espaliered trees. 

Overhead, the native dogwwood is in bloom.

My big clump of Trillium in aging into pink.

In the mostly shady front garden, the Trillium lutea, with it's lovely mottled leaves, is in bloom.

Anemone blanda - white wind flower. 

Pulmonaria, with speckled leaves and pink and blue flowers. 

And on my kitchen counter, this. At the Tulip Festival last week, we went to an arts and crafts show. I didn't want to spend much money, so when I saw this little cup with a tulip for $2.00 I bought it, envisioning just such a sweet little bouquet. It has been charming me all week. 

I hope spring is charming you too.

Irene is Nineteen!

 Our granddaughter Irene is away at school in Bellingham for her birthday this year. We will miss her and her party, but birthday surprises have been delivered to her dorm, and we celebrate her even at a distance. Her life adventures continue. 

Tulip Fest at Roozengaarde Part 3

I'll start off today with some of Tom's close ups. Looks like they include me. :-)

Tom likes hairy ones. 

Daffodil and tulip fields in the background, and Mount Baker. 

In the tulip fields.

Divergents.

Mount Baker

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed the tour.