Flowers of Spring

The April showers have brought May flowers (and allergies, sinus infections, and laryngitis) and poison ivy galore. I've never had laryngitis before. It doesn't hurt to talk, it's just that nothing comes out. I think it was just too many days of pollen, dust, and mold with no time to clear out and heal in-between. Oh well, catching up on my reading. And ignoring the phone.

Meanwhile, I am also finally getting caught up on posting and commenting on the pictures from the last few weeks. First, the morning glories. No flowers yet, but they are rapidly climbing the new tunnel structure I got this year.

May 21

May 30

June 3

Most of these have come and gone already. But, the knock out roses will be going strong well into December. Azaleas, pyracantha, chives, sage, Scotch broom, spirea, peonies, irises, and weigela have traded out their spring blooms for summer foliage. The columbines and garden phlox look like they'll keep blooming for a while. Plenty more other flowers are on their way to keep the color coming through the summer.

azalea

pyracantha

chives

columbine

knock out roses

portulaca (moss roses)

peony

garden phlox

sage

Scotch broom

spirea

weigela

alliums

A pretty flower promising blackberries to come... The blackberries and raspberries have taken over the bed completely. While I've had a few strawberries this spring, I think they're going to have to be moved to a home of their own, along with the blueberries. The thorn-covered berry bushes are giving them too much shade. Not to mention making picking them a little painful!

buttercup buds

itises

Missouri primrose

evening primrose

knock out roses

yellow knock out rose

Queen Anne's Lace, roses, and astilbe. The roses were here when I bought the house.

Veggies on the Way

So far, the 2013 garden is in pretty good shape. Peas, radishes, beets, and lettuce were planted in mid-March. I've been eating the lettuce and radishes for a while. The beets sprouted and have nice greens, but, no beets. Perhaps overshadowed by the radishes. Oh well. The peas are now coming in. Had some for dinner tonight!

I will have to thin baby plants soon. I've been practicing on the morning glories, since they are trying to take over the entire yard.

Peas!

Early veggies at the top of the photo, then peppers, carrots, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, broccoli rabe, and green onions. A few marigolds along the front to ward off some pests.

Closer look at the carrots, brussels sprouts, and peppers. (Left to right.)

Closer look at the broccoli rabe, onions, and tomatoes. (Left to right.)

Beans--green and yellow, cow peas, zucchini, and summer squash in the new bed. Beans in back, squashes in front.

Corn. Yes, corn, specially bred for container growing. We'll see...

Spaghetti squash, watermelons, and patty pan squash, top to bottom.