Monday, May 2, 2011

May is for Marching on

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.
 ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke


Shannon carried a clutch of  roses

Tonight I finally sat down to make decisions on photos from Kenny and Shannon's wedding. What to go in the album was easy.  A few minutes to to decide which to give importance by reprinting larger- a shade more thought. Which to have reprinted in giclee for our formal family wall. That, I will sleep on. The most interesting pose isn't always the best in a grouping.
If tomatoes had eyes, this is what the first in the row would see
The sundial, set high in a birdbath planted in succulents is nearly hidden behind the last of the bearded iris, red Valerian at its peak and mounds of day lilies just beginning to shot their blossomed stems out like arrows.   Before the winds of fall set in, a decision needs to be made. Thin the planting or move the sundial.  Crunched reads "clutter" and is easily remedied at the proper time. Which can't all be in May.

After all, May is already taken up with mulching, chasing gophers and catching up on everything that got behind the past season.

The Shed and potting bench are  now in better order.

 
The vining begonia having survived benign neglect and the scurrying feet of a squirrel who uses the trellis as a ladder.



 
Surprise! An amaryllis popped up where it wasn't just last week. Note to self- at the end of the season, there are bare spots needing colorful company more than here. Plant collections need to be curated just like libraries and art shows.  


A brave oriole has decided that since I fill the nyger station with feed, he ought to let me take his photograph):- 

The bare spot beyond  is a neighbor's cleared hillside. The firebreak is welcome- but the bare dirt left behind the blow-and- go landscape crew- it just isn't natural. It isn't healthy.  

I have a plan. It involves wine and either succulents or wildflower seeds. Since it is fire resistant,  stops erosion and will be free if they want to help themselves to the abundance of blessings that need a home or they are going to the compost heap - I expect the plan to get a fair hearing.

3 comments:

  1. Lydia,
    Gosh, my May is consumed with chasing all the weeds that sprouted during and after all our rains. Your garden looks already tidied up and weed-free. Beautiful!

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  2. Goodness! Is that your SHED?
    If you don't mind, I'll admire your centranthus from here. I have the white form. I was warned about its world-domination tendencies and am vigilantly trying to keep it from taking over the neighborhood.

    I'm sure you're enjoying reliving those days on the wedding cruise :-)

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  3. Howdy Joan. They allow weeds in Santa Barbara area????? My operating theory is if you have enough plants, there is no room for weeds):- Unfortunately, lots of weeds have disproven that theory.

    Nikki- Yep. That is my shed. It started with the corner window being pulled from a neighborhood trash can. My husband decided to prove he could build a shed cheaper than we could buy. He was wrong- but sure like how it turned out.

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