This Spring has been a good mix of rain and crazy hot. We have already had a few 80+ degree days and on Wednesday it was over 90. But last week we got buckets of rain and there is more on the way for this weekend. So lots of sun and rain means that the yard is looking fabulous! It is particularly astonishing to remember that all of my flower beds are only a year old and haven’t had time to look mature — It was at least the third or fourth year at the Rex before things starting looking this great.

Under the window gets better every day! The lupin! And then there are all these little surprises every where. Awesome!

I moved the iris from in front of the patio and door to where they would get more sun and I could use their height.

Pink geranium, dusty miller and feverfew making the front corner cute

The transplanted iris are doing great but a big surprise is the foxglove. I didn’t know what they were so told Mom to pull them. She said wait — so glad I did!

All of the moving around and transplants are taking hold. Splash of color with added bedding plants

Poppies and lupin. Poppies add a great splash of color that is dominated by purples.

Back of the house bed still looks pretty sparse but considering it is weeks old, nice start. Only 2 deaths so far — daily lily and some rubeckia.

The best part is that even as some of the first lupin are starting to fade, I can tell that there is a ton of stuff getting close to doing their thing. I have weeks of color and cute ahead — may even last the rest of the summer.

At the Columbian, we have a guy that has been writing a weather column for years. He is all kinds of folksy and readers love him. But after 10 years of editing his stuff, we know, A.) he is a pretty awful writer, and B.) he has his favorite whimsical topics for each time of the year — Frog-stranglers, wholly-footed caterpillars, etc. And he knows that spring is finally here when his magical nasturtiums make an appearance.  Basically he inspires lots of groans and inside jokes, but this year I kind of felt like he had a point.

I am so pleased at how great the front yard was looking, especially considering it was only a few weeks old! And I am happy to report I had a just a handful of causalities among my transplants — The only notable one being the little tree I got from the Columbian’s landscaping that I snapped the tap-root on but was hoping would pull through anyway.

Magical nasturtiums by the front porch with ajuga and english daisies.

The little guy is down by the plum tree, joining the yarrow and alyssum that I planted from seed. So cute

Siberian iris from Mom, dianthus and some other treasures, including the periwinkle I got from friend Dave Kern.

The north corner of the porch is framed by siberian iris and wintered over snap dragons. I love the purple and yellow.