Clematis Josephine

It's difficult to tell from the photo but each of these flowers is about 8-inches across. I find them otherworldly with their leathery petals and tightly closed, mysterious centers that become flowers in their own right. Years ago when I planted this I thought it was a Nelly Moser. Now I know it's name is Josephine. Read here about it's habit of growing a flower within a flower within a flower.

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Spring in My Garden - Crimson Exbury Azalea

I love walking around my garden in the evening, my camera's flash on, snapping photos that result in a dramatic dark or black background. This is one of my Exbury azaleas. Unlike Rhododendrons, they are deciduous and will often bloom before their leaves appear.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Spring in My Garden - A Bee on Rose

The bee had just emerged from the center of the rose, drenched with pollen dust. Click on photo to see the effect.

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Spring in My Garden - A Birthday Rose

Happy Birthday, Erika!

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Spring in My Garden - Siberian Iris

Iris afficionados will know right away that this is a beardless iris; a Siberian iris, to be exact. I didn't know either of those botanical tidbits until I researched my photo today.

I found the iris plant at a plant sale last fall. It had no blooms, no tag, nothing to tell the interested plant buyer what it was, and it was marked down to - free. Little did I know how lucky I was until it bloomed yesterday. During my research I came across this. I'm fairly sure it is the same as mine. An award-winner no less.

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Native Rhododendron

Rhododendron macrophyllum, Pacific rhododendron, California rhododendron, California Rose Bay. They are all names for this spectacular native rhodie that grows wild along the northern California coast. Encountered while on a recent walk in the woods.

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Spring in My Garden - Reflection in a Drop of Dew

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Spring in My Garden - Soft Blue Columbine

All dressed up in her bonnet of soft blues and greens, this sweet columbine grows in the shade of a Japanese Maple on the west side of the garden. The photos are a bit harder to take, but worth the trouble. She is the sweetest of all my columbines.

Happy Mothers Day!

To all mothers, mothers-to-be, mothers-in-law, aunts, sisters, girlfriends, nieces, grandmothers, ...

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Apricot Double Daffodil

Came upon this rather elegant lady while taking a walk yesterday evening. Pretty, isn't she?

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Spring in My Garden - Purple Columbine

The first photo of what I hope will be a series from my garden. Columbine, or Aquilegia, is easy to grow from starts or seeds and can be found many shapes, colors and sizes.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved