Garden surprises

My Iris beds have been suffering the ravages of Iris Borers for many years. Last year I was beginning to think I would have to give upon them. Last summer I transplanted some into a new bed, which was long overdue. Last spring and this I spayed with a systemic.  Then with the severe winter, and burning the dead leaves off this spring, my Iris are more prolific and beautiful than they have been for years.  Hooray.  This was just the first surprise blooms.  So I have new energy for transplanting more into the new bed and hoping for a renewal of my favorite garden flower.

Wow how time flies

Wow!  I can't believe it has been five years since I posted to my blog.  I am going to try to get back to posting occasionally.  No promises of every day or even every week.

We recently returned from our winter in the South West and are enjoying spring in Michigan.

Hello all

It has been nearly FOREVER since I have posted. Life seems to go too fast. The gardens are totally neglected this year but my white butterfly bush is huge. We are in a climate where they usually die to the ground but last winter it did not die and and the resultant giant is amazing. Earlier this week it was covered with Tiger swallowtail butterflies, but I did not get the camera into the yard to record that event. Today it was buzzing with all sorts of butterflies and moths and bumble bees. There were at least a dozen Hummingbird moths whizzing around feeding on the blooms.

Donnachaidh

We just returned from a weekend at the Alma Highland Festival, where we helped with the Clan Donnachaidh tent. That is Robertson to all us non Gaelic speakers. We still never get our fill of Bagpipes and the Massed Bands. The President of the Upper Midwest Branch of the Clan always brings an impressive collection of weapons. I could not resist posing Richard with the largest. That dangerous looking thing is darn heavy. I carried a much lighter weight, but almost as long, broadsword in the parade of Tartans at the opening ceremonies.

Medieval life

Here is a video for everyone to enjoy. It is long but worth the viewing.

It starts with scenes of violence and ends with a very tender moment of love, that is the best part so stay to the end.

Edinburgh.com.pl presents: Polish Medieval Tournament in Edinburgh from edinburgh.com.pl on Vimeo.

Rabbits vs. Tulips

I love Tulips, but they are very hard to grow in my bit of rural Michigan. Rabbits are the bane of this gardener's existence. I have some very beautiful tulips.















But were it not for cages . . . . . .









They would look like this sorry group below.

Virginia Blue Bells

I love these. Another reason to look forward to spring as they bloom for so short a time.

Ahhh! April in Michigan

Yes it is spring at last.

Back in the saddle

I finally went back to riding yesterday after a three month hiatus. This is the barn at Tin Girl Farm where my coach is located. I rode a nice Pinto Quarter Horse gelding named Socks. He is a pretty good boy, and do I have a lot of work to do to get back into some sort of shape.