Tulip Bed in Bloom

The Tulip Bed has bloomed. It's pretty sparce this year with hardly any reds and the blooms are quite small. Still looks pretty but sad compared to last year. You can see all of the Baby Boomer daffys in the front that don't look they are going to bloom. We'll see. I still have hope. I have some late blooming tulips in the bed as well that we'll see if they come up. I'm planning to refill the bed this fall. I think I may add in some yellows too.

Mad Park Update

I really think Madison Square Park might be my favorite park in NYC, next to Central Park. Especially now. It is so beautiful with everything in bloom. I took a few shots this morning before heading into work. Here's a quick tour as I walked around the park.

As you enter, the square has all of its planters looking lovely with daffys, hyacinth and pink tulips. Of course, beautiful cherry trees are all over the park.



They have been restoring the lawn over the winter and it is looking gorgeous. You can see one of the white pear trees in the back and the Empire State Building hovers in the background.

Bleeding Hearts, my favorite! Of course, had to get a pic of them.

And then begins the tulips...

Imperial Fritillarias

This is the center fountain that they have finally turned on after a very long winter. Full planters sit around the edges.

Baby Boomer daffys and muscari. After seeing these in bloom, I'm worried about my own. They haven't bloomed yet...

Such perfect, beautiful Cherries...

I have an edging problem

Currently I have brick pavers that line my garden beds in order to keep the grass out. They are not mortared and fall over all the time. Needless to say, they are a pain in the butt.

But hurray! We are replacing this terribleness with plastic edging. I know, it's not pretty either, but it's easy!

We just have to really pound it into the ground so you can't see it. The hydrangeas and daylillies will hide most of it.

While David was doing that, I planted my first round of pansies.

I didn't go all around the lightpost because it looks like my Niobe clematis made it through the winter! See all the buds? So excited.

New Flower Prints

David found this great set of 25 flower prints from 1948 for us in Brimfield and I am just now getting around to looking through and framing them. The prints are a selection of illustrations from the "Golden Age of Flower Illustration" which extended from the 18th century to the middle of the 19th.

There are so many gorgeous prints in here, I'm not sure which ones to frame.



A few of the rose prints are exceptional and will find a place on our walls... I love this one of a "gallica variegata" rose. You can see all of the little prickles along the stems. Next to each print is a description of the artist. This one is by Henry C. Andrews from his "Rose" volume from 1805.

The below is called "A June Bouquet" by Jean Louis Prevost. I love that I have this very same poppy growing in my garden.

The below print is gorgeous and by the great Pierre Joseph Redoute. You can buy his book of prints on Amazon. I think there are several different books out there but I love "The Complete Book of 169 Redoute Roses". He is known for his work with Empress Josephine and illustrations of her rose garden.

I love the below of "Carolina Pigeons". I'm totally getting into bird photography and soon will have a new lens coming to capture some pretty bird photos. This print is by John James Audubon. OK, I'm very embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize "Audubon" referred to an artist. I have seen the china, flatware and other amazing Audubon designs and didn't make the connection....feeling very dumb.

Love the butterflies in this one!

This one is my favorite I think. Titled "The Provence Rose" by Mary Lawrance. The detailing of the petals and the leaves is amazing. Plus I love that it was Mary Lawrance, a female, who developed the first book of rose drawings in 1799. Now I just have to pick a few to frame....this will be tough!

Finally Home!!

I have never been so excited to get home from a trip! Work in Mexico City went well but I have been gone forever and during my favorite gardening time! I came home to beautiful weather. It's about 65 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky. Here are a few things that I came back to....

My very favorite plant, next to roses.....Bleeding Hearts waking up for Spring. I have them in white and pink. Going to get the new red ones tomorrow when I go to the nursery. You can see the lillies coming up in the background.

A spirea that I can't remember the name of in bloom. My forsythia is still yellow by the way. Everyone else's has almost completely turned green.

Red Twig Variegated Dogwood budding...

Look at the iris bed! I know I've posted a ton of pics about this bed...but I'm so excited to see that it actually worked. This is the worst possible soil next to the barn (I mean, look at the grass in front!) but they seem to be doing great!

I have 2 white peonies in the front garden. They were the very first thing I ever planted and I love to see them coming up every year. You might notice I don't have a lot of mulch in my garden. I've stopped using it. I think it keeps the disease in. I know...that seems silly. But when I don't layer mulch, my garden does better. I can't explain it.

So many new volunteers this year! Last year I planted a huge pink oriental poppy and happy to see that he reseeded this year. Don't know if he will look the same, but waiting to see is half the fun.

Speaking of poppies....I ordered some new poppies online. I absolutely love the huge oriental ones but they are beyond expensive to get here. I wasn't expecting to be gone for work as long as I was so David had to accept my garden deliveries and take care of the new babies for me. He kindly put them in the garage which was very smart since we had a suprise freeze which will kill a poppy in an instant. Three of them are still in trouble. I planted them today. We'll see if they perk up.

I also ordered some daylillies which of course arrived the day after I left. He's so good...he put them in a root pouch for me and set them in the sun!

The David Austen bed is looking so healthy and greened out. If only it would stay so lush. Stay away black-spot!

And....the last thing I came home to. A very scruffy and dirty little girl who was not pleased I was gone so long and ran right up on the couch to tell me so. She's getting a bath today!

Quick post from Mexico City

I'm in Mexico City for work and haven't been able to post for a few days. Lots to do! Hopefully I'll be able to get out and see some of the beautiful sites around here and take more photos. Of course the wonderful bougainvillea is blooming everywhere....

And these great trees that are in Spring bloom with purple flowers. I googled them and I think they are a type of Jacaranda that are native to South America. Wish we had these in the states. They are fantastic! They are blooming all over Mexico.

More to come from Mexico as soon as I have a moment's peace....I've been gone so long traveling, I'm worried about my garden at home!