Pea Flowers

My biggest news this post is peas! I am happy to see many blooms on the 'Strike' shelling peas and a couple of days later on the 'Sugar Ann' snap peas. So that means peas to eat soon. It is also interesting that the original Sugar Snap peas I planted at the same time are doing fine, but since they are a tall vine variety they will be 2-3 weeks later.

A couple of pea blossoms.


The farthest along Sugar Snaps.


I couldn't resist a morning dew picture. It's challenging to get this one because the sun was behind me.


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I figured it's also past time to take some shots of some of our garden spots. Not that we have many yet.

Here's a corner by the house. I think it's shaping up to be a dill forest this year (just wait).


Here's a couple of shots by the strawberries including a side angle of that bed.


The formerly all weedy spot by the garage. Do you like our wonderful bird bath?


A bit closer to the corner. I like how the ferns are filling in. We need to add some mulch and rocks there.


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Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple' or coral bells. These two have done well in there spots and have been pretty hardy both to the winter and summer.


Large hostas on the south side. We are trying to decide what to do with the open spots between plants.


The chives have started blooming.


And the Allium 'gladiator'. I may have to move some of these since most have not flowered since the first year.


One last plant picture, I still have to find the tag for this one. (Update: I think this is Ligularia)

Exploring the Garden

I've taken some time to explore the garden this weekend. The result is a number of close-ups and other images. Also, we put up our upside-down hanging tomato rig.

We got rain last night. Not a lot, but enough to overflow a small rain barrel we have. If you look close, you can see reflection of clouds in the lower right.


Those dandelions look like a wonderful planned flower this time of the year in the backyard. It actually helps that in the back we don't have many in the grass, so these stand out. The front yard is a different matter.


Pleasant enough for sky gazing this weekend. These are two views laying down in the back.


I had time to notice the variety of leaf shapes and textures we have. The geranium is being acclimated to the outdoors and has already taken color on in the leaves. The clover variety has interesting bands on the leaves. I like the shape and reddish outline of the nasturtium leaves. (click on any to see the full-size image)


The chives are really getting ready to bloom.


Finally our lettuce is taking off. We should be getting some regular cuttings shortly.


We're still in tulip season here. Red ones on the north side and some white and yellow ones on the east.


Spring flowering bushes are in bloom. I hope this one gets some new growth this year. It seems to have died back some this last winter. This one is close to Dakota's dog path, so she come in the house with flower petals in her fur.


It's now the season for insects and other garden critters. I haven't been able to snap a shot, but we have a few bees around and one that always ends up in the house. I carefully transport her outside every time.

Here's a small "Daddy Long Legs" spider on the side of a half barrel.


A very small red mite or spider of some sort.


The strawberries are blooming strong. I had to take a shot of some of the flowers that look "perfect".


That's it for now. Here are two photos from our Memorial Day planting project. Two buckets with tomato seedlings in the bottom. Never tried this, so it is an experiment this year. The bucket on the left has a gallon pail inside with a wick to use as a reservoir. The one on the right it topless, but we are planting flowers and herbs in it. We might have to cover the tomatoes tomorrow night though ... ugh!