.... still around.......

..... moving out (well, not really 'out', but out of the main floor and into the basement..it should be interesting) .... and getting ready for the big renovation...  packing boxes and moving furniture (my body sure feels it today) and searching for the perfect tiles, trying to choose wall colours, cabinets, contertops,  etc....  etc..... takes a lot of time and effort ......

We'll be cooking on the BBQ on good days... and the rest? ...mivrowave...toaster, kettle, electric frying pan and maybe a little toaster oven...if I can find it....now where did I put that thing?  It's a tiny one I bought at a garage sale for $5 one year.  I meant to use it to cook my polymer clay dolls....but, hardly made any and toasted them in my regular oven when I did....tsk, tsk...yeh, yeh...I know..... toxic fumes...... but, I think I only did two or three things in there....

While I was busy and ignoring my yard.... ...this popped up in the driest portion of garden in the whole place ... the other iris are suffering.  I think because we have been having so much rain... they just aren't  doing anything.... even fancy Beverly Sills ... who last year was sooo beeyoootiful.... has no buds .... bummer.

But, I love this pinkish very long legged one....a corm from a neighbour I planted last year.... hahahha.... that sounds funny....as if I planted the neighbour.....but you know what I mean......

Au naturel........

....and..... with a white board behind....

Beverly in the morning light..

I love how the different light conditions affect colours.............. click to biggify and see her close up.......

                                                                            






A few other plants and flowers have appeared now as well.... even though I seem to have almost ignored the garden during all the wet days...and weeks.....

love the drooping bleeding hearts.....

lilacs are 16 feet tall and tower above the patio wall ... beautiful against the blue morning sky....

The diva ...

Finally, ... she makes her appearance.  All the others have bloomed and gone... she's been waiting them out I'm sure.  I thought the buds looked a bit strange and almost thought they were going to rot on the stem... so much rain here and not enough sun.  Nothing was happening ...and the outer covering just seemed to be getting brown... but, out they burst today... well, only one so far, ...  there are 3 other buds .... and, ohhhh...man...  was she worth the wait!

Please meet Beverly Sills... named for the famous coloratura soprano.  She really is an amazon next to any of the other iris in my garden.   She's beautiful, pink, and frilly......  I had seen and heard about this iris, but hadn't seen one in person.  It took me two years to find one.  It was late in the year...she had no flowers when I planted her... ... I was just going by the little picture on the identification tag and hoping for the best.  She is just as lovely as depicted and very near the colour even though I know one should never rely on an artist rendition...but, I was hoping... .... and it didn't disappoint.

Photo a week...

Late again.... I have excuses.... oh, you don't want to know? 'kay....

I'll just post my lovely photos then.... Here are a few beautiful pics of my pastel lilac coloured iris. It is one of two plants...one has no flowers at all this year.......and sadly, this one only has two stems of flowers. But... they are amazing.














...so fragile and delicate looking ... this particular shot looks like a watercolour painting....














Susan mentioned last summer about using a "white board" behind flowers to get some great photos... and I like to try it now. I don't really know what the heck a white board is...but, I use a large white poster paper or my watercolour paper.... whichever is easier on the day. Sometimes it is a bit awkward to balance a larger piece...and sometimes I need a large paper to hide other garden "stuff"....














The first pic was taken on a cloudy bright day...the last 3 in a late part of another day... with rather dim light...... no flash used....














I love the look of all of them....