As I was mulching the garden beds on the side of the house, I saw these violets tucked under my spirea. What a lovely surprise! Later, I found a white violet in the garden bed.
I love garden surprises.
Hidden under the hosta: surprise Star of Bethlehem flowers. This plant was already up and running when we had the big freeze/ice, so I didn’t think it was going to bloom this year. There are a couple of other flowers completely hidden under the leaves at the left.
And tucked away in the back of the big garden bed, hidden from view, the first blooms on the catmint.
Since we’re in the midst of what has turned out to be a late spring (no matter what the calendar says) and green is the theme – green shoots, green baby plants, green leaves – encountering these little blooming surprises makes my day.
Mulching is done for the time being. We scattered grass seed on some bare patches in the big corral. I weed whacked.
Today, I’m going to start potting impatiens for the porch. And I’m going to plant some morning glory and zinnia seeds in the Chicken Wire Fence Garden. Rain is on the docket for this afternoon and tomorrow, as well.
And we have to buy a new kitchen trash can. Isn’t that exciting?
Just finished reading The Travelers by Chris Pavone. I’ll review it next week on Just Let Me Finish This Page. I’ve read his other books – boy, can he write a spy novel! Excellent.
Happy Friday.
I enjoy your garden observances because though we live hundreds of miles apart ( I’m in a Minneapolis burb) our gardens always seem to be in sync. I lost my best gardening buddie 20 years ago when she moved to southern California.
And Southern California gardening is completely different! I’ve gardened in SoCal and out East. I guess that I prefer it out here because I can grow lilacs and other plants that need a hard freeze.
I love the little surprise flowers! We had the Star of Bethlehem and violets at my last house and each spring was such a joy. I finally got a few flowers for the front of my apt. Enjoying the cooler mornings before the hotter temps get here. May is turning out to be a beautiful month.
hugs,
Linda
It’s raining here today, but it is a blessing since we just put down some grass seed, Linda. I’m glad you got some flowers for the front of your apartment!
How pretty! The crabapple trees here are in lovely full pink bloom at the moment. The lingering smoke is making things uncomfortable, but we just had to get out for a walk last evening by the river where we ended up sitting for half an hour while we watched the beavers swimming in front of their dam. They reminded me of old paddle steamers slowly chugging along the river.
I love watching beavers but I haven’t had the opportunity to do that for a long time!
Glad you are getting so much done! Everything is looking good around here…but no new annuals yet. Frost is expected tonight and tomorrow night…so my pots will remain empty for now! Also found out this week, that hubby needs a new hip, in a few weeks, so we are Trying to get some things taken care of beforehand. Our plans for the first half of the summer will be changing…and that’s a little disappointing. BUT, hubby will be able to walk better…so that’s a blessing! Happy trash can hunting! ;)
Donnamae, had to jump in here. I had a hip replaced about 9 years ago. It really and truly wasn’t bad. The relief from the pain was amazing. There is some surgical pain, of course, but that only lasted for a couple of weeks. I’m sure he will be SO HAPPY he has it done. Today I still have to try and remember which side I had done. Trips through Security at the airport are a bit of a pain, but completely worth it when you consider the pain of walking previously. I think, from what I hear, hips are much easier in recovery than are knees. Good luck to him ~ and to you!!!!!
He already had this hip replaced. This will be a replacement of a replacement! And that’s a bummer. He will also need to have the other side done as well. We just weren’t expecting this….he just had sore muscles, amd difficulty walking. So we are a little bit shocked. But, I do agree, he will be out of pain….and that is most important! Thanks for your encouragement! ;)
Oh, your poor husband – and poor you! I’m sorry that he has to have surgery. But if it helps to alleviate the pain, then it’s worth it!
A week ago today it was 86* here. Although that is pretty warm for this time of year, tomorrow the high is supposed to be 49*. ugh.
Cleaning today. I am always in wonder as to how 2 adults can create such clutter and dust. Flat surfaces appear to be our downfall…. coffee, end, and dining room tables in the shape of a circle don’t appear to be common no matter how hard I search. Seriously….
I am going to prep my MG seeds to do next weekend. Hopefully it won’t be snowing.
Hope you have success in the trash can quest! Have a great day!!
Flat surfaces – especially our kitchen table – are our downfall as well. It’s ridiculous how many times I say, “We have to sort through all this stuff!” Got the trash can. Rewarded ourself with breakfast at a diner.
It was 82 degrees here yesterday – too hot! We’re going to have a big dip in the temps, as well.
Loved seeing the violets! We had a city house in NY where intrepid little violets grew through the cracks in the pavement every spring, without fail. Missing that minor miracle today.
I love that these guys just appeared! I didn’t plant them. They are so lovely!
I feel that way about forget-me-nots. They always feel like such a lovely bonus!
They are, indeed!
Garden surprises are as exciting as mail surprises, aren’t they, Claudia! I love discovering a flower or a sprout peeking out. We’ve been discovering wee fruits and vegetables sprouting in the raised beds and pots. We broke open a pea pod yesterday after debating whether it was ready to pick or not. We could have given it a few more days, but the peas, though small, were so sweet and fresh tasting. Can hardly wait for “real” harvesting!
I love garden surprises! I bet those peas were delicious, Wendy. Congratulations on your mini harvest!
Violets! Lilacs! Do you have peonies as well? As you know, those are all quite a challenge to grow here. I have lilacs but they struggle. The peonies are one of my big accomplishments. I keep up on the weather where I am from (PA) and when it is super cold there I go out and put chunks of ice on where the peonies are planted. I have peonies every year. They are nothing compared to what my grandmother had, but I love them. Violets…I have not even tried them. Maybe I will get some and put them in a pot on the shaded patio. sigh. They bring back such wonderful memories of the lawn at my parents farm–it was full of them. Thank you for sharing the wonderful flowers in your life.
I didn’t plant the violets – they just appeared. But I did plant the lilacs. And yes, we have two peony bushes down by the road – bushes that have been here for years and years.
Wow! It’s amazing that you have peonies where you live, Teresa. What a good idea to put chunks of ice where the peonies are planted!
Garden surprises are the best! I have a friend who deliberately buys a quantity of “unknowns” at the nursery each Spring – plants whose tags and labels have gone missing, plants she’s never heard of etc. These get planted in what she calls the “mystery corner” of her garden – a little patch of ground that includes her stone birdbath and has been specifically set aside for the unknown plants. And of course, she gets some weird and wonderful surprises every year, once they start to come up in June and July. I’ve always thought it’s such a good idea – just buying a bunch of “unknowns” and seeing what you end up getting!
That’s a great idea, Janet. I’m going to try that!
Violets are such a pretty little flower..I’ve loved them since I was a little girl…I am so happy to hear that you got a new trash can…lol….
I know. There’s a whole saga about our current trash can…I’ll tell it all someday. We’re back and the new can has been put into use!
I saw a huge stand of hollyhocks in somebody’s garden yesterday; thrills me; I love them.
I also spotted more authentic wild poppies on a hillside. After intense drought, and no wildflowers for years, I was so encouraged to see the return of a FEW poppies in my area of Southern California this Spring.
This year, we still have no yield from fruit trees; they’re too young yet. We are currently growing a couple varieties of cukes, squash, a LOT of tomatoes and herbs (my herbs this year are going great…mints, rosemary, basil. That’s on the edible front. As for my pots of flowers, my zinnias are doing poorly and I have no idea WHY. I guess they should be in the ground. The potted geraniums are happy and pretty. We also have glorious glads this year…some that are solid purple, others that are solid lemon yellow, some which are a lovely variegated pink and yellow; and, now, we have fiery red-orange ones appearing which have a pale yellow border. Amazing glads. Roses had early bloom, ‘way before Mother’s Day, so that’s all a bit off and I’m currently rose-less, which seems strange.
Wow, did I have an unnerving experience early yesterday evening. I was driving and my car horn went nuts…came on for no reason and stuck. I was in a situation where no one knew what to do including me and, by the time the emergency road service arrived…a very long wait…the horn finally sputtered and fried. The noise was just piercing/awful…SO loud for SUCH a long time…and embarrassing!!
I am both rose-less…and horn-less!
My hollyhocks have come back this year – wonder of wonders! I can’t wait until they bloom but that will take a while. It sounds like you’re garden is thriving, Vicki!
Oh my goodness! The horn situation would have driven me nuts, too!