All those days of laying in the dirt with my camera at all sorts of odd angles did not go unnoticed. In the middle of spring or in the summer, sure, you can see why I'd be taking those photos. But now, not so much.
My neighbor finally approached me and asked "What the hell are you taking photos of all the time? Are you like way into dirt and rocks?" Well Mr. Neighbor, that would be a "no". I am looking for any signs of green (sometimes red) growth, signs that indicate a plant survived the winter. You may say "boring" but I say "signs of things to come."
And to prove my point to Nosy Neighbor Guy (who doesn't read this blog but maybe should start now) I give you new growth shots and ... what they will eventually turn into. You feelin me now dawg?
Sedum 'Matrona'
Malus (Crabapple) 'Prairie Fire'
Phlox 'David'
Peony 'Bowl of Beauty'
Summer Snowflake
Weeping Cherry
Asclepias Incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Lobelia 'Siphilitica'
Daylily 'Little Grapette'
How you like me now?
ONG
That phlox David is out-of-this world beautiful. I am so thankful that I have tons of it (it's spread.) The day will come...
ReplyDeleteI have weird neighbors, too. They don't get the whole change-of-seasons thing, and get really annoyed with the leaves that blow into their yard (I just laugh). They would probably be happy with a yard full of arborvitae.
ReplyDeleteha ha! and he things YOU'RE the weird neighbor...
ReplyDeleteI'll be going out tomorrow with my camers, know there's not much but something.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Just beautiful! Toby Keith fits right in there.
ReplyDeleteI'm LOL at the "What the hell are you taking photos of all the time?... ".. tickled my funny bone. I'm actually developing a slump forward look due to the camera around my neck.
ReplyDeleteSuh-weet! I like it! I like it!
ReplyDeleteLOL... your neighbor actually asked you that? Are you absolutely positive Mr. Nosey doesn't read your blog???? HAHAHAHAHA That was too funny..
ReplyDeleteQuite an interesting critter there on your Swamp Milkweed...but hey everybody's got to eat...right? The Sedum "Matrona" is gorgeous...bee included! Great photos of before and after of all! I agree Nosy Neighbor should start reading your blog then he wouldn't have to ask exceedingly annoying questions, using rude language!
ReplyDeleteAmazing pictures. Worth all that time in the dirt. =) They truly show that indeed "life found a way" to continue.
ReplyDeleteBoth of my peonies look like yours right now. I sure hope they bloom this year. The older one is a transplant from our old house. I moved it twice since transplanting it to this house and it hasn't bloomed since the last move. Last fall I raised it up thinking I'd planted it too deep. I hope it blooms. The other is a new purchase from the Flower show. Did you see the vendor there selling Peonies with the X - rated name?
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I got a couple shots yesterday also of my plants, managed to get a post up of the Iris growth. It's so nice to see anything at all right now with snow coming in tonight. But I also have sedum coming up and my Crabapple budding well.
ReplyDeleteCher
Goldenray Yorkies
What a great set of shots with the before and after. There is indeed lots to hope for in the coming season!
ReplyDeleteWe all have one neighbor like that....you should give him your blog address...these are great things to look forward too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your growth is ahead of things here in Michigan. It's been a cold Spring for us. Lovely photos and love the nosy neighbor conversations. This could be a continuing series.
ReplyDeleteLaura - my phlox has spread like mad the past two years and the scent is off the charts!
ReplyDeleteSoapbox - luckily, the yards in my neighborhood are far apart so we have no issues, other than my "odd" photography
Texwis - hell to the "yeah"
Gatsby - I have reached a point where anything new is good, right there with you.
Lois - love the Toby Keith reference!
Di - I think I need to learn more yoga just to be able to get to those odd camera angles
Susan - thanks for reading
Leslie - I'm sure they aren't reading, but if so, I'll blame it on another neighbor
T&B - thanks for the kind words, now if only I could keep the deer off of the sedum
Katy - thanks for stopping by!
Marcia - I didn't see that peony vendor but now I'm bummed that I didn't. Would have loved it.
Sunray - very little iris growth so far and I am watching them like a hawk. Love all my irises.
Marguerite - it is all about patience now, huh?
Darla - I have kept the blog a secret locally, you never know how people will react
Lindalou - hmmm, I like the idea of a series. Thanks for stopping by!
Ok the green, black and white striped fellow in the one photo! He is NOT your gardens friend! Trust me on this! Hey I am a vegetarian of over 25 years, live and let live kinda gal but oh my those fellows can plow down a lot in one nights time! Well if he is what I had that is in my garden last year! Since I don't use chemicals well it was a hunt and search kinda thing daily and the honeyman fed them to the fish in the pond. Yikes I know but well they were eating everything in their path! LOL...
ReplyDeleteTexan - these critters destroyed three of my swamp milkweeds within a week, but I loved it! Was a good education for the kids also. Thanks for stopping by!!
ReplyDeleteSome people just don't understand the excitement that comes with seeing that first teeny, tiny sign of growth! I get it.
ReplyDeleteLove Di ♥
David - I love the now and future shots. It is tough right now to believe that spring will come. From wet and drizzly Delaware.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, I always think the same thing when I'm in my yard with my camera. However, all of our neighbors already think we are a bit weird in that the neighbors always see me watering my plants with my rain water collected from the barrels. http://nycgardening.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-water-garden-with-rain-barrel.html
ReplyDeleteThese are great pics!! Love your writing style too... :)
ReplyDeleteNot sure if it has been posted above, but you know that is the Monarch Butterfly in the photo with the swamp milkweed...Do not stomp on any neon green cocoons, either! I have made that mistake in the past...felt really bad after I had killed some caterpillars on the milkweed and squished some cocoons and THEN found out what I had done
ReplyDeletehttp://www.redbubble.com/people/profaudio/art/3271944-2-swamp-milkweed-and-monarch-butterfly-caterpiller
DO NOT KILL THEM! :)
Holli - thanks for stopping by and for the kind words!
ReplyDeleteConnor - would never dream of killing the monarchs. In fact, I did a post last year about watching the entire process beginning to end - http://www.obsessiveneuroticgardener.com/2010/08/complete-monarch-cycle.html. Thanks for the comments!
Oh NICE! I missed that post!
ReplyDelete