Iris Update

What a difference a day makes. All but the late blooming black iris are showing off their colors now.

I'm putting my hand in there to show just how big these tall bearded iris are. This is the iris with the odd tongue on its beard.

These yellow central petals are a detail I never noticed before. 

The boys still look forward to a chip of hay in the morning. Timmi finally succumbed to my back scratch spell and allows me to scratch him head to tail. He isn't demanding it like the others... yet... but that will come. 

Hattie is disgusted that the boys get this attention. Ball throwing is so much better.

Garden Pictures

Because it's sunny this morning after a day of gentle rain and things are flowering I am posting pictures.

The iris were divided last summer and I gave most of them away to the neighbors so I hope they are all enjoying flowers like this.

So happy to be expanding the rhodies and azaleas in the garden because even though they are still small the flowers make a big impact.

The red peonies are going strong. All the new peony plantings from the last two falls are growing nicely, too. At three years they really start filling out and producing flowers like mad. Peonies are very long lived, like a hundred years, and one of the easiest plants to care for.

This one is waiting its turn to put on a show.

More rhodies. I have to buy varieties that can handle full sun and feed them liberally to compensate for the poor soil. 

Coming back faithfully every year and finally producing a lot of flowers, this poppy was labeled a red, but is definitely orange. I planted a pink one last week so keeping fingers crossed it survives. They can be fussy and who knows what color it will turn out to be.

The "anything goes" area with some of my most spectacular irises forming. 

The second iteration strawberry tower we constructed last year is looking good, not a leaning tower like the first one. We should be eating berries soon.

No pictures of the sheep today. They were hiding someplace in the shade and maybe a little shy about showing off their sleek bodies after shedding. 

An Epiphany

Today I have a new understanding of the sheep. They're aware of me in complex ways and try to communicate in much the same way dogs do.

I was snapping pics of flowers around the yard. It was quiet in the sheep pen so I thought the boys were laying in the shade of the barn. Mocha came round the side, running towards me and bleating. Normally the boys are silent so this vocalization in itself was unusual. When he had my attention he turned toward the barn, then back at me. Timmi was upset and breathing hard but I brushed it off as the two of them battling and totally missed what was happening. 

Some time later, after helping Bob build a gate for the garden, I noticed Gimp, Stomper and Boots were locked in the barn. Mocha had been asking for my help to get them out but I was too dense to understand! Either Mocha or Tim closed the door while rubbing on the side of the barn and locked the others inside. Being separated is the very worst thing that can happen to these guys so they were very upset. I had a good laugh and gave Mocha some extra special scratching under that wool rug on his back once everyone was reunited and happy again. 

Mocha asking me to open the barn door

Chores like weeding, trimming winter plant damage and watering have consumed most of my time when not hunting for a house in Port Angeles. (More on that another time.)  I've been exhausted by days end. Temperatures have been well above normal for this time of year so my plants are dealing with water stress before getting a chance to recover from the hard winter. Our sandy soil is too dry for mid May and the snowpack in the Olympics is melting fast so we are just keeping fingers crossed that we'll have enough irrigation water to make it through the summer. Flowers however are blooming and giving me much pleasure while I work. 

A Busy Time of Year

I am too pooped to peep by the end of most days and don't have the energy to take pictures much less post anything. At some point things will slow down and I will try to write something. But I am thrilled to see my mini-irises thriving and must share them. Have a look at these lovely colors...