April Showers

April has been super rainy in these parts. Record rainfall last weekend has brought all kinds of havoc with flooding in Corvallis.

My middle daughter and I walked around yesterday to get a glimpse of this historic event. Apparently in 1996, the water rose to about this same level. And apparently they didn't do enough to fix the high water issues. 

The only upside to all this water is that once it recedes it should expose some very pretty rocks.  And I've got some new boots for wading. More on that in a minute. But first, despite the rain, the plants are doing their spring thing.

My favorite Narcissus -- 'Geranium' ... so fragrant!

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Clematis alpina 'Constance' is just starting to bloom

Last fall at the local nursery I picked up the below Clematis for $3.00. The label said C. 'Markham's Pink' which it clearly is not. But that's okay because I already have Markham anyway. (I couldn't pass up a bargain.) But what is the bargain's real identity? Hmm...

Mystery alpina Clematis

The Polygala are late to bloom this year. At least the yellow one is. It's kind of nice to see them bloom at the same time. And the early bumblebees (not pictured) love the flowers too. 

Polygala chamaebuxus and P. c. 'Kaminski' (the purple one)

 

Lathyrus vernus 'Albo Roseus' under a scattering of spent Star Magnolia petals

 And right beside the Lathyrus is the Pulsatilla.

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells'

Pulsatilla vulgaris 

A recent nursery visit and this Anisodontea just flew into my cart. This time I'm going to make a serious effort to winter it over successfully. 

Anisodentea x 'Tara's Pink'

I got this Butterfly Iris last fall from Pat at Secret Garden Growers. I still don't have it planted in the garden but it's blooming anyway.

Butterfly Iris ~ Iris x Nada

In the garden we've got some happy plants too. I'm really thankful for all of the new growth on this Daphne bholua.   

Daphne bholua

The burgundy foliage on the ornamental rhubarb is always so cool.

Rheum palmatum var. tanguiticum

 

Syneilesis palmata

Fritillaria meleagris in a sea of Oxalis oregana

 And now for some wide garden shots--the good and not so good.

If you look closely, you'll see a sapsucker in the neighbor's arborvitae. They seem to be nesting somewhere nearby because they're regular visitors now.

The aforementioned boots, remember? Well, I got an email from Emily at The Original Muck Book Company inviting me to sample a pair of boots of my choice. How cool is that? I thought the Women's Muckster II Clogs would be perfect for working in the garden, especially since the ones I've been using are toast. Aren't these perty?

Yes. I wore them out in the rain before taking these photos. (Wink). They felt great. Kind of springy and cushy and warm!

Emily was apparently feeling very generous because she also included the Women's Muckster II Mid!

I will be using these to wade in the rivers and creeks during my rock hounding adventures.

 

Thank you Emily. If you're looking for footwear, check out The Original Muck Boot Company. They have women's, men's and children's quality footwear.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you're getting spring weather in your neck of the woods.

Flowers and Foliage, Oh My

So much is going on. I've been reworking a lot of the blah spots in the garden this year. It's enjoyable but, being a visual person I have difficulty envisioning full-grown plants when they're still dormant. For instance, the Joe Pye and Canna lilies are still eensy, weensy things but in a few months, they'll tower. So how do I place them? Due to my ambivalence (aka "cramscaping"), I suspect there will be some summer amending. Hopefully there will be a few rainy days to undertake the project. Or maybe everything will be perfect. Ha! 

A few years ago my neighbor rooted this gorgeous pink Clematis for me. We don't know its identity. Is it 'Pink Champagne' or 'Asao' or...? Any ideas?

Clematis .... ?

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells'

Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple'

 The second rose to bloom in my garden is this one:

Rosa mutabilis

And the second blossom, almost ready to pop.
Note the plethora of aphids too.

Lewisia cotyledon in bloom

Lewisia up close...

Gypsophila cerastioides 'Pixie Splash'

Heuchera 'Georgia Peach' (I think) in front of Weigela florida 'My Monet'

And my favorite Weigela, almost in bloom...

Weigela florida 'Variegata'

Tinkerbell Lilac (Syringa meyeri x microphylla 'Bailbelle')

Variegated Comfrey (Symphytum x uplanicum 'Axminster Gold')
among the throng

Impatiens omeana always look so good before the weevils start chewing on them.

Impatiens omeana

Silver Vein Creeper is really filling in this trellis, despite how shady this area is now, thanks to a burgeoning Japanese Maple.

Silver Vein Creeper (Parthenocissus henryana)

This Silene has reseeded all over my garden now. I like it, to a point.

Silene dioica seedling

Allium schubertii almost ready to pop!

While shopping with my friend Vicky recently, I found this simple birdhouse. I'm hoping maybe a bird family will take up residence. 

Finally, it used to be we rarely saw butterflies in our garden. However, in the last few years we're seeing more and more. Yesterday my daughter and I spotted a pair of Red Admiral butterflies twitterpating and nectar-sucking. Such a regal thing!

Red Admiral butterfly resting on the warm fence boards.

Are you amending areas of your garden?

Seeing any butterflies or other interesting visitors?

And The Winner Is...

Every spring I sit back and watch to see which rose bush will be the first to put forth a blossom. This year, the winner is Rosa mutabilis.

Rosa mutabilis, the first rose blossom in my 2015 garden! 

Weigela florida 'Variegata' is about to bloom! One of my favorite shrubs. 

A new Phlox. I've already misplaced the tag, dang it.
Oh, found it. Phlox subulata x stolonifera 'Paparazzi Lindsay' 

My pink lilac... Syringa meyeri x microphylla 'Tinkerbell' 

Delopserma cooperi 'Jewel of Desert Ruby' 

Geranium phaeum 'Samobar' 

Stipa barbata with a volunteer viola

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow' is blooming

Kalmiopsis leachiana is really putting on a show this year. 

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells' is happy. 

Heuchera 'Midnight Rose' is one of the best Heucheras in my garden.
Unlike so many that I've lost over the years, this one seems to be impervious to root weevils (knock on wood). 

Love the Solomon's Seal's crispy, clean foliage.  

A first bloom on Saxifraga x geum 'Dentata' 

Hakonechloa with a few volunteers--Hypericum, Viola and Impatiens. 

I'm very pleased with how my brick terrace experiment is working out. It's much more interesting than a boring old lawn.  

I love how all the different sedums are mingling with the creeping thyme.
I didn't have the heart to pull out the volunteer English daisy. 

The golden 'Angelina' is extremely happy. 

Well that's about it for this week. Actually I've got about fifty more photos I could show you but I'll save those for next week. Happy spring, everybody!