Roses, Roses, Roses

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The roses in my friend Erika's
Sacramento Valley garden
are spectacular this time of year.
I wish I could name them all. I do know
that the one above is called "Brandy".
Maybe E will share the names with us?
Click on photos to enlarge.









Offerings from Bill's garden
graced the dining room table.

A Dragonfly Up Close and Personal

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This lovely critter was waiting for the sun to warm it up
so it could get on with its day. Taken early in the morning
in Erika's garden, it stayed in this position long enough for
me to take many photos, then as soon as the sun hit the
rose it was hanging on, it took off in what I assume was a huff.
I myself felt very lucky.


To me, shots like this are simply fascinating.
This is, of course, an iris. Taken from about 2-inches
away, I hope it gives you an idea of just how many colors
it takes to make apricot-pink.

A Teaser From Erika's Garden

Pin It I'm back from three days in the blessedly warm Sacramento Valley where I stayed with my friend Erika and not only enjoyed her fully blooming garden, I got to take photos which she has graciously permitted me to post. So, the next couple of days here will be filled with photos of the irises and roses that are blooming in Erika's garden - along with a critter or two. Here's the first one to give you an idea of what's coming. E had cut this stem and put it in "my" bedroom because she's so thoughtful that way. I woke up early in the morning with the sun just beginning to come through the window, casting shadows on the wall, and practically fell over myself jumping out of bed to grab my camera. I took a number of shots over the next several hours and days. More to come. As always, click on the photo to enlarge.

Tiny Mighty Roses

Pin It With the exception of the pink Brody, not one of these roses
gets over 1 1/2 inches across fully bloomed. The Banksia double
yellow and the white Brody barely reach 1 inch. All are climbers.
Photos taken Friday, May 5, 2006. Double click to enlarge photos.


Top, Cecile Bruner. Bottom, Lady Banksia double yellow.


Top, unidentified single climber I call "Apple Blossom".
Bottom, White Brodie, an arching floribunda.


Pink Brody. A prolific climber.

Apple Blossoms

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Golden Delicious apple blossoms.
Taken early morning, May 4, 2006.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Passionately Purple

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Passiflora purpurea or Passion Flower.
Taken May 3, 2006 at my front door.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Bugs N Things

Pin It Life in the garden can be both beautiful and harsh.
I watched for two days while one of the "chameleon"
spiders on the Gertrude Jekyll rose ate another. As they
grew, did their quest for food make their rose-world that
much smaller and less tolerable?


The victor


More Bugs N Things...
For best effect, click on the photos to enlarge.

Photos taken May 2nd & 3rd, 2006.

Pretty Pansies

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Taken on 4/2/06, this lovely little viola is called "Etienne" and is one of the few "pansies" that has a scent. It measures about 1-inch across. Click on photos to enlarge.

Tulip Angelique

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This photo was taken on April 12, 2006 on a foggy, drippy morning. The water droplets weren't apparent until I saw them in PhotoShop. Incredible.

The Blooming of a Rhododendron

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Is that a pistil in your pocket
or are you just happy to see me?

Happy May Day!

Scroll down to see the blooming of
Rhododendron "Furnival's Daughter"
from 4/13/06 to 4/30/06
(Click on photos to enlarge)