Columbine Time

One of the plants the deer and elk leave alone are the columbine, which spread enthusiastically.  I love their delicate blooms, and the variety of shapes!  I wish they would bloom all season, and not just spring.

The following varieties make me think of full, ruffled skirts with crinoline petticoats

Feeling Ferny

No, I don't get tired of ferns, especially this time of year when they are unfurling.  I love this variety--it is called a deer fern because, yes, the deer and elk eat it.  (Note to self:  do not plant this in the yard).  It is really unusual because it has two different types of fronds.  One is the typical wide frond, tapered at the end, which encircles the plant and flares out, like a skirt.  The frond below grows up from the center, and is the reproductive frond.  It is very delicated and has small leaves.  The difference is striking.  I love the look of the center of these tightly wound fronds.

 This is another variety that grows all.over.the.place.  In the shaded areas of my yard, they are at least 3 1/2 feet tall.  These little whorls are about 1/4".

Drive-by portraits

I was waiting at a stop sign next to their pasture, and they came over to say hello.  Just had to roll down my window and get these guys.  Notice they even smiled? :-D

Bloomers

This delicate little beauty is just something growing in the woods next to my house.  I have no idea what it is, but I love its dainty little shape and the explosion of anthers from the center.

 And this one!!  It was blooming down at the State Park.  I don't know what it is, but sure would like to put one in my yard.  The color is so bright and vivid--a celebration of Spring.

Doing the drops

Still can't help myself

More from my fall off the waterdrop wagon....

                                                                         Which do you prefer?  Vertical or horizontal?



Just can't help myself

My name is Pat.  I am an addict.  I admit it---I just can't stop myself when it comes to waterdrop pictures.  I promised myself that I had taken enough this spring, and enough was enough, but....  We had another band of rain roll through and lo and behold, there were drops on my geranium, and drops on the Japanese maple, and drops on the hosta, all crying out to be photographed.  I couldn't let them down, could I?

I am an addict.  I admit it.  I am proud to be one.

There will be more to come.

I used my trusty Sony point-and-shoot with the conversion lens.  It's a little awkward to use, but I get such great results with it, it's worth the hassle.

Roadside Beauty

Alongside the road that leads back to my neighborhood there is an old apple tree shoulder-to-shoulder with some larch and alders, hiding under the canopy of the Doug Firs.  I don't know if this area used to have an orchard; this is the only old tree I've seen, so it could just be a volunteer from years ago.  I look forward every year to see the brave little blooms come forth.  In the shadows of the trees around them, they glow like little lanterns.  Each fall a few apples manage to appear, much to the delight and delectation of the deer.

Who would've thought that an apple blossom would start out this vivid?  It makes me think of a geranium.

 But then, as it ages and gets ready to open, it softens in color until it is apple-blossom pink....

 And eventually, all that vividness becomes a soft blush and brush of color on the outside of the petals.  Lovely!!

Uncurling...

I love ferns.  Fortunately, we have a great abundance of them around here.  It is so intriguing to watch the different varieties unfold and unfurl and expand.  I love the tight little whorls of possibilities that they present.

Centered

Backlit and Beautiful

THE SUN IS OUT TODAY!!!!!  (Yes, I am shouting, but it's been a loooong time since we've had uninterrupted blue sky and I am celebrating.)

Take one Exbury azalea, add sun, and you have a glowing, stained glass beauty, looking like it has been lit from within.

Now to take advantage of the sun/no rain and get to the 3+ weeks worth of yard work that I haven't been able to do because of the afore-mentioned rain.  It will be good to be outside, in the sun and fresh air, grubbing in the garden and mowing the lawn.  Exercise and therapy, rolled into one.

Drip drop

The wood hyacinths are just about done blooming, and so my wonderful drop-catchers will be gone.  Would that the rain would go, too.  This has been such a long and wet spring...

Lady's Mantle with beading

I have several Lady's Mantle (alchemilla) growing in my garden.  They tend to be prolific spreaders, and I have to ruthlessly eliminate the new volunteers each year, but I always keep a couple of the larger plants because, even though the flowers are weedy-looking, the foliage is wonderful and the perfect raindrop trap.

Whether the drops line up down the folds of the leaf....

 or embellish the edges, clinging to the little hair-like structures...that is why I keep this in my garden.

 The bonus is the color difference at different times of the day.  The above photos were taken in the early evening, when everything looks warmer.  Below, the photos were taken early in the "blue" hours of the morning.  Same plant, just different light qualities.