Report From Walking Rain

Memorial Day weekend has passed. The reports from spring in my patch of earth are now in and I have highlights to share:

It was a cold and erratic spring, with 3 hailstorms in April and May that shredded my plants. Everything was late leafing out and delayed blooming this year, except the columbines, which were reliable and on schedule. The tulips were a disappointment.

I transplanted two things and did not kill them. The 'Seiryu' Japanese maple made a stunning transition from pot to garden. And the 'Bartzella' peony that I moved last fall by roughly ripping it from the grip of Virginia creeper roots recovered. It lives, although it may take another year to get as full as before. It's flowering a full two weeks later than last year.

There are two more fat buds ready to open.

'Major Wheeler', a red trumpet honeysuckle on the back fence was a timid bloomer this spring, not as flowery as last year. But 'Kintzley's Ghost' honeysuckle vine, oh wow. For the first time since I planted it, it bloomed. It has funny flowers.

'Kintzley's Ghost' blooming for the first time

The 'Oklahoma' redbud made a great recovery after its initial years of struggle. It flowered profusely for the first time, but is still a tiny tree, about half the size it was when I bought it. The leaves only just emerged at Memorial Day, healthy looking but small and very delayed. This tree is a problem child.

It's going to take a while for this redbud to become a real tree.

On the other hand, the 'Vanessa' ironwood tree is getting big and full and shaggy, with no care from me other than watering.

Should I get the pruners out? To shape it maybe?

Even some small 'Perky Sue' plants gave me yellow daisy flowers this year after spending their first couple seasons being sulky. That whole corner by the guest room window is doing well, especially the 'Peggy Martin' rose. 

What's this? Peggy Martin is a pink rose. Where did the white come from?

Chamomile 'Susanna Mitchell' had sweet daisy flowers for a long time all spring and looked nice when the blue 'Royal Candles' veronicas and cute orange geums decided to join it a bit later.

This garden by the kitchen door has a long way to go . . . but it's getting there!

And all spring, far away in California, my baby granddaughter has been blossoming too, into the cutest gray eyed chubby cheeked 4 month old, rolling over, wiggling, smiling and drooling. And waiting for her Grammy to come visit. Soon.

Is that you Grammy? Come see me.