June Rain

We've had the wettest May in 10 years, and June might be next! Stormy last night; off and on rain today. Downpour at 6pm. It was in the 60s, but wet, wet, wet.

Seed pods

Read that I should cut the seed pods off of daffodils and tulips, after the blossom has withered. This directs the energy to the bulb, instead of making good seeds.

I didn't realize that these flowers had seed pods! But, here is a daffodil seed pod that met up with my current pruning activity.

Weather was mid-70s, sunny - perfect! Next day it rained.

Columbine Purple

Columbine flowers. From 0 inches around December to 3-4ft high right now.

Something new about the flower, I found: The ‘columbine’ holds yet another significance- in pantomime, a ‘columbine’ refers to the sweetheart of Harlequin. The flower was once called "lion's herb", because it was believed those great felines ate it. As a consequence, people believed that by merely rubbing their hands with it, they became more courageous and daring.

Weather today is mid-60s, sunny. Calm.

Daffodil Orange

A late bloomer - or perhaps this one is actually on time and since the others were so very early? I like the orange, two tone nature of this'n. Seen after a light rain.

Another daffodil experiment are these 2 containers that I planted on New Years Day 2010.

The blooming of these bulbs started about 5 days ago. They are making quite a show. Now I will leave them in the container til next year and see what happens. I might plant something on top, so the container stays in use during the year.

Weather today - light mist am, but this afternoon, sunny and mid 60s. Beautiful!

Squirrely behavior

Finally caught in the act! I have had this squirrel feeder up for months. At first, no action, the peanuts were left undisturbed. The idea is that the squirrel lift up the lid and grab a nut and the blue jays lose out.

I would come home and find, not the lid, but the plastic window on the front lifted up, peanuts raided. I wasn't sure if the birds were the culprits or the squirrels.

Today as I was taking photos of the daffodils from afar, the squirrel thought he was alone, and demonstrated what he knows how to do! After he raised the window,

he grabbed a nut, and ran back up the tree to sit on a limb chewing his snack. Then a blue jay showed up and pecked up a nut and flew away. The lid is being propped up by that clear plastic, raised, window.

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store
Two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole,
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.


Musharish-Ud-Din Sadi
13th century Persian Poet

The Grape Hyacinth flower (Muscari) is part of the Liliaceae (Lily Family); it is native to Greece and the Middle East and can be found around the Mediterranean Sea from Spain all the way round to Morocco.

Weather sunny, mid-60s.

Failure to Success

Last year I bought a Columbine "Leprechaun Gold" (aquilegia vulgaris), which was flowering at the time. Planted it in a container and never saw another blossom. I thought: buy no more.

The foliage took off and I forgot what the plant was. I really liked the marbled leaves and they added great interest and color to the container. Winter comes, plants die back til this week. It has perked back up, spreading the foliage. I got to wondering what it was, and realized - this is the "failed" Columbine. Failure no more. I'll get more just for the leaves!

Researching about the plant, I discovered this: "COLUMBINE comes from the Latin columba, meaning "dove." The scientific name of aquilegia suggests is derived from aquila, an eagle.

An association has been formed to make this the national flower of the United States, as the rose is the flower of England and the lily of France, for its common name sug- gests Columbus and Columbia, its botanical name associates it with the bird of freedom, it can be raised from seed in almost any of our gardens, and it is native to nearly all of our States.

Weather today - sunny - 65 F.