This is the first bloom we've seen after I planted this last spring, but I'm impressed. Quite a few velvety, richly hued flowers on a very sturdy stalk. Louisiana iris (sometimes shortened to "LA iris") seems better adapted to our climate than a lot of other irises.
I split the pot into just about as many plants as I could, and they sulked last summer. They're all looking better, this spring, though this is the only one to bloom.
We bought another Louisiana iris this year-- 'Sinfonietta', which is a blue and yellow. I probably won't divide that pot quite so fiercely, and with luck we'll see it bloom next year.
Now for too many photos of 'Jeri'.
Chinese foxglove -- Rehmannia elata.
It's short, but still pretty. I think that if it can get established the bloom will be better.
The pineapple guava is covered in flowers! If most of these turn into fruit, there will be plenty.
I'm not sure what kind of oak this is-- pin oak? It's one we got from a local arbor day seedling giveaway. It's always one of the last trees to leaf out-- maybe the last. I love the shape of the leaves, and if I'm not mistaken, they turn reddish/russet in autumn.
I finally moved some succulents out of the house. They weren't getting enough light, and it's too warm this time of year to keep the blinds open for their sake. Now I need to get them used to brighter sunlight and figure out where they'll be happiest. (Oh, is that all? Wouldn't it be nice if they could just tell us what they need?)
Annual coreopsis is really getting going in one or two places around the garden. I got my start from Granny L., and it seems to be one of those plants that will hang around for years (or forever) if you give it half a chance, reseeding itself effortlessly every year, but not to the point of being invasive. (Plus they're so easy to pull, if they grow where you don't want them.)
The elephant ears are picking up speed, now...
Society garlic.
The indefatigable blanket flowers continue. I need to get out there and deadhead, soon.
Our tomatoes are doing well, so far. We're seeing a few tiny tomatoes on the cherry and grape tomatoes.
And the flats of seedlings are getting pretty full. It's time to deal with some of them, already...
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Last weekend, Donald finished preparing the last bit of path for gravel. Then we worked on removing the ivy from the trellis.
(The English ivy was just too vigorous and the trellis so close to the wall that there was no easy, practical way to keep the ivy off the brick. So we took it out and will plant something else there-- maybe a non-invasive honeysuckle? In the meantime, I'll probably put an annual vine or two in that spot. Some of the ivy is destined for a new home, eventually. I'm keeping it in nursery pots, in the meantime. The rest went to the burn pile.)
(Whew.) Then we started hauling gravel. We need to finish the gravelling and trim a few pieces of landscape fabric, but it's much better than it was:
It feels good to scratch that off the list!
