Christmas Notebook

DH and I love to walk the yard. And if we say, “No computer while we’re out,” DD will tag along. 🙂 Not to mention all the kitties.

The peonies are beautiful right now. Most are caged to keep the blossoms up, but those that aren’t have fallen with the rain we had Sunday evening. At least they looked beautiful for the picnic. 🙂 And those that *are* caged still look great.

‘Sorbet’ is my favorite peony.

Of courses, the singles do fine without the extra support. ‘Krinkled White’ is almost done blooming except for the smaller secondary blossoms. This one has a tinge of coral which is very pretty.

And ‘Nymph’ is just gorgeous this year. We transplanted this one to another bed two years ago and it has multiplied like crazy.

These white peonies were in the yard when we bought the house.

The poppies will be done soon. I would like to get more varieties in other colors. They are so pretty.

The irises are still beautiful. These purply-blue ones are from my mother’s sister Jane. They bloom for a long time and are the most beautifully scented iris we have. You can smell them before you get near them. I want to move some of the paler pink peonies next to them. The colors are so pretty together. I may use these for the church bouquet this Sunday.

The dark purple iris ‘Edge of Night’ is in full bloom.

And the yellow flags are, too.

I love this spirea ‘Goldflame.’ In the spring, the leaves are a brighter yellow than this picture shows. A beautiful contrast with the pink flower.

I planted two lavender plants in the fenced garden several years ago, and one has survived and grown well. It’s right next to the bench where the lovely scent can be savored while sitting in the garden.

This beautiful rose gives one lush showing in spring and then lapses, but as Henry Mitchell (love, love, love his garden essays) says, why neglect planting roses that bloom once. No one says we shouldn’t plant lilacs or forsythia because they only bloom once.

I picked one blossom and put it in the little green toothpick holder I bought while on Sisters’ Weekend. It sits on the sink in the kitchen. Lovely.

~~Rhonda