Gulag Garden Revisted

Ah Spring! The birds are singing, Claire is sneezing and it's time to mess about in the garden again. Yesterday I potted up a hybrid tea rose 'Operetta'. I'm busting with pride. Only bought it two weeks ago. For me that is VERY rapid potting-up.

Pot O' lilies, Pot o' Operetta Rose
I was inspired to plant the rose because yesterday I hit the Capital Nursery yesterday and bought a bunch of flower seedlings. You know - so the rose wouldn't think too much of itself, getting planted in a pot of its own and all.

Lupine Seedlings
Pansies and new Columbine seedlings
Here is my pride and joy - 'Pixie Denia' Lilies, and Nerine Bowdenii (pink lily thingies) that survived from last year. They started popping up in their pots a couple of weeks ago. One day the pots were all dirt, the next, they were bulging with Lilie plants. I can't wait to see them bloom again.

More Denia Pixie Lilies and Nerine Bowdenii

Rocks are in some of the pots - as well as bamboo skewers - to keep Rum-kitty from making the pots into kitty loungers. A few years ago these pots held beautiful Stargazer Lilies until Rum planted his fuzzy arse on them. Kitties will be kitties I suppose.

The only things missing are the lovely Hollyhocks from the bulbs I bought last year at Cost-co. Uh... actually, those are still in the bottom of my fridge, waiting to be planted...

Pretties without Wings

Johnny Jump-ups

Yes, on rare occasion I admire things without fur or feather. I admired these on the drive back from Monterrey. I understand it's going to be a bumper crop year for wildflowers in my neck of the woods too.

Shooting Stars

Lupines

California Poppies

More Kerfluffle at Barb's

Barbara and Oscar
Managed to squeeze in a couple of short visits with Barbara. She was supposed to meet me in Monterey but the near-do-well she'd given her two old mares to called up to report one had an accident with barbed wire. Long story short, Barbara spent a couple of days dealing with vet bills and getting the mares transported back to her house.

Barbara with sons Eric and James

I got to see and visit with James whose birthday it was. He drove down to visit with his brother Eric. Not long after I left, both boys were out from under Barbara's wing, leaving her and Oscar on their own again.

Eggs from Barbara's chickens - yum!