Hands in the Dirt: Mountain Laurel Blooming

The flowers and gardens are in full swing!  I am taking a better inventory of what is blooming and when this year so I can determine what plants to add to assure something is always in bloom.  It's a fun challenge I've given myself.

The Mountain Laurel, which was only buds last week, is in full bloom now.  These delicate bunches of light pink flowers were a really pleasant surprise when we bought this house.  They remind me of my favorite hikes with the mister.  Lots of good memories there!

I also have a whole patch of these purple flowers... I think they are called Spiderwort (thank you google).  And if they are then I am reading here, that you can even eat them?  The site goes on to say:

"that the stems, leaves and flowers of spiderworts are edible.  The herbage may be eaten raw or added to stews.  The flowers (which may be either pink, blue or rose-purple) make an attractive edible garnish for salads."

Can anyone confirm the are spiderwort?  I might have to try and move some of it... very pretty spring color!

The peonies are still going.  I had one bunch of white blooms and now it's pinks turn.  These are the bunches that seem to be getting lots of sun.  I have a few others that are still a few weeks behind.  Nice to have them staggered like this so they can be enjoyed longer!

Do you see Katie in the background of this one?

I love how the color is such an intense pink!  And they smell. so. good!  I admit I cut a few and put them on my kitchen table.

This little lovely is back now for the second year and I have to say it's doing really well!  I believe it is called Dead Nettle or Lamium. 

It's a hardy plant for sure.  I planted a small bit from my Mother in Love (MIL) in the heat of a drought last summer and it's back and spreading like crazy.  I am encouraging this one to fill in an area of thin soil on a rock outcrop. 

Beats pulling weeds from that tiny patch!  And I'm surprised to say it has bloomed three times already this spring.  I wonder how many more blooms I'm in for?  And aren't those leaves cool!

This lovely red flower is a type of carnation.  Picked it up on a whim.  The color is beautiful, but it's one of those needy plants that needs to be watered.  Not sure if it will make it in my garden.  I planted it close to the water hose and veggie garden to give it a chance... but not sure what will happen with this one.

These stalks are the beginnings of my orange day lily's!  This is also the second year for these in the garden.  Last year they grew really well, multiplied nicely, bloomed even, and then the deer ate them.  So, I now have a few in a fenced area (hopefully won't be eaten) and a few out in the open as a compromise. 

For me, these seem to sound a bell that summer is on when they begin to bloom in June!

This girl isn't so much a flower, but oh how she loves a garden walk as I snap pictures of this and that.  She is currently on the hunt for the chimpmunks living in this center garden.  And you can see some of the Dead Nettle there at her toes.

All creatures great and small seem to take residence in the gardens.  And it's that time of year for caterpillars.  Mohawk anyone?  After a quick look it seems this is a gypsy moth in the making.  I wonder what all those spikes are for?

And there you have it.  Another quick walk through a few of the gardens to check out what's happening. 

How are the pups you ask?  Wonderful!  You'd think these two have been BFF forever... happy tails make for happy mamms!  Doesn't Katie look gigantic lately compared to the wee one?  Now if I could just have a talk with Sammy about not ripping plants out of the gardens... just the weeds ;)

---I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday's with Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and This Week In My Garden with Candy at The Little Round Table---

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan