Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?

This time of year you could say I get a little obsessed with flowers. After the l-o-n-g hard winter we had, and especially after seeing all you southern and California girls who have been enjoying and harvesting your gardens for months (#jealous) finally getting a little floral action around here really scratches that itch for Spring.

The fuchsia hanging on the front porch were a Mothers Day gift from youngest daughter, but the rest were  photographed just moments ago as I walked the back yard looking to see what was blooming. The pink crabapple tree has more blossoms than I have ever seen on it, the apple trees are happy and full of bumbles, the lilacs aren't as profuse as usual but it was a hard winter!  My white violets are taking over the back doorway, much to my delight! and the tulips are waving their little heads in the breeze.  How delightful!

This bleeding heart was white when I planted it years ago, it has reverted to pink. I'm ok with that, who can not love bleeding hearts no matter what the color?

A few other things didn't fare quite as well. We lost our ancient pear tree in the bitter cold.  The fruit was never worth a fig but the leaves were beautiful in every season and it bloomed so beautifully. The white peach tree died too. It was so heavily loaded with fruit last fall that one of the major limbs fell off, I think the damage contributed to losing it.  The sweet autumn clematis also died  back much further than it has in the past, but the bottom is still alive and I have confidence that it will recover.

This week we will need to start planting the flowers for Victoria's wedding bouquets and centerpieces. It's summer, why would I pay a fortune for something I can grow?

Anything new in your garden?