Bright!

Deb how pretty is that!!!

Great pics, everyone!

Here is Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' with Nepeta 'Walker's Low'

These are a couple NOID iris I got at a round-up a few years ago -- maybe from Springcolor? Down at Lynn's? Any idea of cultivar?



And, Greg, your Seattle Sunset is doing well but has not yet bloomed for me. May need to settle in first. Post a picture when yours blooms so I know what to look for.

Stephanie and Deb, those are all lovely

Deb very pretty! I will post a photo (not home, and the one is finished but a couple more are getting ready to bloom!) I thought maybe I'd moved the plants early enough that ya'll would get blooms this year, looks like I'm probably wrong. Spring said she didn't have any blooms on her's either.
Next year!

Yep Deb, that's my blue one but, No idea of the name. The other one is not mine but oh how lovely. Keep me in mine when it increases!

Greg. I have a bloom stalk on Seattle sunset!!!! Will post picture when it opens.

beautiful irises. I still don't have any bearded---I'm never in the mood to plant in the fall. My siberian and japanese have been so slow to take off and establish--only a few years old now.

I'm going to a private garden tour at Schreiner's (famous iris place) this weekend. Mrs. Schreiner (daughter-in-law of co-owner) just happens to be a teacher at our school. Also her daughter is in my son's class. Nice to have that connection.

Cold wintery-like weather here. I can't believe I complained when we had 3 weeks in the 80's. High of 52 and heavy rain today. No sign of even reaching 70 for at least 10 days. Cold!

Slugs decimated my in-ground sowing this year. I officially have to start everything---even beans, peas, cukes, in the greenhouse for now on. And transplant only when they are big enough to withstand slug munching.

Deer ate through my formal rose garden and also some of my pinot noir vines. Plus starlings have discovered my yard. Voles ate my broccoli by the roots.

Rough year. But my perennial flowers look gorgeous. No new pics b/c of rain.

Stephanie
Sorry to hear of all the damage. If you can would love to see pictures of your Schreiner's tour. So cold here too. Setting up for a little plant sale with all the extra from my greenhouse. Back to winter!

I have had something (slugs?) eat my stevia plant twice now. Both were purchased as 4" plants and were about 6-8" tall with healthy branching. Before I knew it, all I had left was stems with every leaf nibbled to the base. I suppose it must be slugs although I've never seen one on or near either plant. Off I go for another one, my granddaughter would be devastated if I didn't have her 'sweet leaves' in the garden. That and the seed pods of sweet cicely are her favorites.

Stephanie that is terrible! So sorry, it just sounds like one bad thing after another Hang in there, and glad that at least your perennials are doing okay! Best to you! This weather is totally helping my young plants!

Dog sitting today, so took a walk out back and found some pretty color and things I didn't know I had.

The new growth on this pine is almost pink (at the very tips), caught my eye. I'm now trying to ID the pine, we got it as a seedling from a local Christmas tree farm so if I am unable to do so on my own, I can ask them what it is.



Found several of these twinberry bushes, which surprisingly (to me) are in the lonicera family:



Snacked on a couple salmonberries:



The bittersweet is just about to open up, but I thought it was pretty with the purple buds:



Another budding evergreen, Sitka spruce:



A pretty little native tiarella:



Contrasted by my favorite giant thug, Devil's club:

Deb how nice! I love the trees!!

Here is my NOID Iris, I call it "Seattle Sunset" (at least until that great name gets used by an "official" Iris )

Deb, loved your pictures. The PNW really has some beautiful plants.

Greg, I love that Iris!! Mine has 1 bloom stalk, can't wait. Thank you.

Me either, cause I wonder if its going to look different in a different environment and I agree with you, we are lucky to live in the NW, we have so many lovely flowers and plants!

Some pics from this morning:

My kitty 'Rojo' next to broom (non invasive type) in bloom:


Nepeta gone wild:


Columbine gone wild:


Foxgloves + Lupine:


Foxgloves naturalized. When the foxgloves are done in this area, the hydrangeas start their show a few weeks later:


Thalictrum 'Black Stockings'


Bed with: Achillea 'Moonlight' and 'Paprika'. Salvia nemerosa 'May Night', Red Coral Bark Maple Sangu Kaku, and Penstemon 'Husker Red'


Red Valerian aka Jupiter's Beard aka Centranthus


Climbing hydrangea:


Ninebark 'Diablo'


Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' I prefer it in this early bloom stage when it is all red. (turns red + white later)


I purchased these planter kits from Plow and Hearth. They are intended for raised bed vegetable gardening. Instead, I painted them black and am using them as planters. There are 2---one flanking each end of my deck. They are huge---each one is planted with 24 lobelia (started in my greenhouse) plus 6 purchased red designer geraniums. I love them.


Peonies about to bloom:


Veronica 'Crater Lake Blue'. Short bloomer, but lovely when it does.

Beautiful Stephanie! You. Re several weeks ahead of me. Nice to see so many blooms.

Stephanie, your gardens are very beautiful and your kitty is adorable.