Iris Show (continued)

As promised, a couple more irises have bloomed over the past two days...

Iris 'dazzling gold'

Iris 'harvest of memories'

Iris 'harvest of memories' has become my absolute favorite for it's scent... such a sweet sweet smell.

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Iris Show

If you REALLY know me, you know how much I LOVE irises... so, needless to say I'm in heaven seeing all of my irises, my client's irises, and any other irises I see blooming right now.

Here are my current irises that are blooming:

Iris 'pallida'

Iris 'wench'

Iris 'copatonic'

Iris 'immortality'

Iris 'blue staccato'

Iris 'blue suede shoes'

I'm looking forward to three more irises blooming within the next couple of days; my siberian and ensata irises will then follow.

My peonies are close to blooming, but there will probably be a few more days of waiting.

My tree peony had three beautiful blooms on it this year... It's still quite small at only three years of age, but I should see a lot of growth to it this year.

I start planting annuals in about 10 days... Because of our warmer spring it feels like I'm late planting annuals, and I'm sure it feels that way to my gardening clients, too. I'm very ready to start seeing that splash of annual color in beds and containers!!!

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78:365 IWU Walk

When Laurie and I bought our home, we were very specific in locations we were looking... Near Illinois State University or near Illinois Wesleyan University. Eleven and a half years later we're thrilled that we bought just east of IWU... Because now one of my favorite things to do is walk around IWU's campus with the kids.

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77:365 Go Fly A Kite

Was doing a little cleanup today around my desk and came across a sketch tablet that belonged to my oldest sister... Her name was Caryl Beth. I had borrowed the tablet from my parents back several months ago to scan a few of Caryl's pieces, but my intentions were better than my actions, and I never got the pieces scanned. I remember so vividly sitting and watching her work on her drawings and watercolors... I always wanted to be artistic like her. Silly me... I'd be better off to just go fly a kite.


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Chicago Flower & Garden Show 2012

I ran my iPhone battery completely down to 0% while taking pictures at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show on Tuesday... Below are a few of my favorite pictures I took...































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My Garden Happenings

Here's a peek at what's happening in my gardens right now (and probably yours, too):

Daffodils are in full bloom

Garlic Chives (ornamental, non-edible)

Peony eyes are starting to show

Iris foliage of all types are growing like its the last half of April

My oriental poppies never really died back this winter... I'm hoping for a good show from them this year

I'm taking advantage of our out-of-the-ordinary high temps to start some of my summer bulbs (dahlias, non-hardy anemones, and brodiaea) outside in some nursery containers
Hydrangeas are also really leafing out ... A lot less dead stems this year on all of my hydrangeas.
If you haven't yet, walk through your perennial beds today and see what's happening... And make sure day lily and iris plants are uncovered and free of leaves and other debris.
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76:365 Friday Bloomers

March 16th and there are some beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs blooming here in Central Illinois. I can't remember when it's been this summer-like in mid-March... LOVE IT!!!

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Show Time

75:365 Making the Unnatural Natural

When I run, my natural tendency is to run (say for three miles) the first mile too fast, my second mile slower, and my third mile somewhere between my first and second. I've been trying to create a ladder with my mile splits, starting slower and more relaxed, faster my second mile, and third mile fastest. And although my first mile was slower than I wanted, I accomplished what I wanted. Now... To learn how to do this unnatural running naturally... And figure out what to do with a fourth, fifth, and sixth mile.

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74:365 Anemone Anyone?

Planted a few anemones today at a client's house... Can't remember when I've planted summer bulbs in mid-March and not been concerned about weather.

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Had to Share A Video

My brother-in-law emailed me a link to this YouTube video tonight... I just HAD to share it on my blog because it just cracked me up...

PG-21 Elevator

Sooooo... What would cause an elevator to be rated PG-21??? Or... Do I even want to know???

;-)


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