Ok, the glads have officially gone nuts..... they are flowering and toppling over themselves faster than I can churn out vases to hold them!

So, I am cutting and bringing them in and putting them in every possible vase that can hold them. Last week, I took just about 10 of brilliant yellows and whites to office for the front desk. Office mates loved them to death (er.... no one really died, but they loved them). Early on, I was harvesting mostly whites and yellows, and now it is mostly pinks and really deep reds...

    

Two indoor plants have finally made it! The violet (below) started as a leaf! No kidding, it started as a leaf cutting and two years later.... the first of the flowers. Weird that the color is actually violet, not blue, but in the picture came out blue!

A flimsy orchid that I purchased last year summer, after almost dying down into sad twigs over the winter, it surprisingly has blossomed with baby leaves and three lovely lavender colored flowers.

All these are from the yard! Next week, I should have another 20-30 stems! I should start a florist business!

Now for some close ups!

Last year I planted 50 blubs and they blossomed just fine. So, this year, I planted some more in the backyard. I had not expected the 50 odd blubs planted last year should bloom again this year. Somewhere in end May, I was very surprised to see the little sprouts. Perhaps, these will not bloom, is what I though! But the little sprouts kept growing and growing and growing.... and past week they have just decide to bloom into these riotous colors! Another thing, that retaining wall is just about 2.5/4 feet tall! Blimey!

 

 

I simply love lavenders, the whole family, from Lavandula Augustifolia... to... Lavandula Vera. If it is classified as a Lavandula the chances are that I simply love them. If it was left to me, I would line every nook and crany of our streets with all sorts of lavandula varietals. Lavandula family is close to me as much as Paeoniaceae (Peony).

So, quite naturally, last year, I purchased and planted six little ones in my front yard. When I planted them, they were tiny little things.
The pic on the left, are the tinnnnnny little ones that have grown into these giant flowering bushes! Woohoo!

May 2009, Tinny little plants! I wonder if they would survive	July 2009, Survive! This is incredible! Giant bushes, fragrant blossoms

Not a leaf in sight! Lovely pink azalea in perfect early summer bloom

Most folks already know about my obsession with Peonies, and this year, it has been another incredible year, with each plant producing several dozen blossoms. Each stalk produced not just one but 2-3 more blossoms. But that is old news.... the really new in the paeoniaceae family are two woody peonies, that are 2-year olds. These are not supposed to bloom for another 2 years or so. But, one of them is an eager beaver! and I love it! This little baby had eight blooming flowers and each just about six inches wide.

Perhaps it is time I understood different varitals of Narcissus. Well, this year, I have at my disposal 20 blubs of Narcissus Ziva, considered one of the most fragrant of the all the varietals (again, thanks for the gift!). Something I have noticed about these heady white, passionate, very flirty flowers are that they pack a power punch of fragrance. I thought of taking some of these in office, and then thought against it. I myself perfer them growing in another room and I keep a distance from these mesmerizing exotic little trouble makers. Anyways, I am going to edit this post over period of time from its 'planting' to its 'flowering'.

Week 1: Planted in the baking dish... er... which is no longer used for baking! A week later already the shoots are ready and shooting up.

I have lovely orchids on my desk and the collection has kept growing simply because folks in my office just don't have the patience when these lovely being stop flowering. I know, though, with a little care these will rebloom under my care. But this post is not about orchids that may or may not re-bloom, but of the lovely new acquistion to my collection. Thanks to the office rotation, it is my turn to get this drop dead gorgeous stunner.

You can see I sit just past the huge label of "Engineering" that labels my work and contribution to healtcare industry.

And talking about orchids, quite a few of these 'abandoned' orchids now have taken permanent residence with me on my dining table. There others around the house and with friends (that I take care), but that is a story for another blog.

The picture shows the center carnations sans the lilies (lilies were moved away) four orchids share the four cornors around the carnations. Two of them are stemming to bloom. I expect their blooms by march (Whoopee! :) ) This is huge, because both these were abandoned and rescued and it has taken me more than 2 years of patiently watering, watching and fertilzing them sans flowers. I am being rewarded by nature! I have never felt so much love back as much as I feel watching these back to life. Duh! Of course stay tuned, I will post pictures when these bloom. I know one of them is pure white, but have no idea what the other one is, it is going to be a surprise! So cool! I love this reward, when it right under my nose, but not there yet. :)

Very very very nice, thanks to the kindly souls who sought out the colorful bunch to brighten my day. When I was down with cold and cough and what-nots, I received this bouquet it did great to lift my spirits. Thanks guys!

{Updated: 1/25/2009} Long after the Asiatic Lilies buds bloomed, reached their peak and then faded into nothingness, the carnations continue to bring joy to otherswise simple dinning room. I love these carnations with its deep peach color and streaks and stripes of blood red stains that make it simply pop.

I know I should shut about them peonies, but I cannot. Mainly because these precious ones grace our planet for such a short duration of time, that it is almost sacrilegious that they don't get all the attention they deserve. I promise (not really!) that this will be last of the peony series (er... intoxicating madness)

But, but, what starts as a simple prize winning peony in buds..... simply takes your breath away when it decides to bloom! I love it, how about you?

(Photo taken Jun 3rd)

Getting close on the buds!

(Photo taken Jun 7th) Upclose and really getting personal with these gorgeous babies!

I just cannot resists! These babies are certainly getting more air time than anyone I know! I love them dearly!

They are here! They are here! I must have done something right in my life! I don't deserve all this sheer happiness and joy! All afternoon, I have been dashing out to take more pictures and also bury my nose in these flowers. They are exquisite! They are enchanting! They are lovely! This is ridiculous that I am hopelessly in love with these fantastic gifts of nature.

I have tried sorting through fifty odd really ridiculously fantastic pictures of peonies blooming in my yard. My selection is just a fleeting glimpse of their true beauty. If you find yourself in my neck of the woods, stop by, bury your nose in these blooms, sit by them and share the brief time these wondorous gifts.

Above & right below: Bowl of Beauty; Right top: Peony Sorbet;
Bowl of Beauty with the Peony Sorbet just past the black railings.
Getting very up close and personal with the Peony Sorbet.

Couple of weeks ago, I asked if I was spoilt! I think I am! The earlier post should the early blooming lilacs blooming over my deck from the neighboring yard (lucky me). But my very own Miss Canada (pink) and Miss USA (lavender-periwinkle) are blooming. These are right under the porch windows, so it is really a treat to sit in the porch enjoying the heady summers breath of lilacs.

 

Could not decide what to have as a center piece for tonights dinner guests! I have always got flowers, usually roses, peonies, and early in the season, daffodils et al. Sometimes, it has been lovely smokeless, dripless candles. But, neither of the two were as appealing as what I finally decided to get!

Ever since I have known about this store and also known about its local branch in town, I have been gifting with grand success with all the recipients. However, with the online pictures one really does not get a sense of the size. Well! Now I know. When I picked this up, it looked grand and looks grander when unveilled! Oh! right! This from Edible Arrangements! Try it, it does not fail to impress or I am just very easily pleased! This one is called Orange Blossom.

Three months and still going strong! This one made it from Whole Foods and really florishing!

I transported some of the orchids from work to home, simply because I was running out of space at work. Yeah! I prefer my desk at home rather than work, but then doesn't everyone. :)

Anyways, other orchid saved from a careless co-worker doing just fabulously at home. (Er! Sorry dear co-worker, you don't get this one back). As I write this, another orchid, that was 'abandoned' is on the brink of blooming. If I remember correctly, it has beautiful white-cream flowers.

 

Lilacs rate pretty high on my scale. They are right along Peonies and Lavender.  Last year, I planted six Miss Kim's, one Miss Canada, and two Miss USA. They are all progressing very well, and are late spring bloomers. The late blooming was intentional, as my neighbor has all the early-mid spring bloomers. :) So, to enjoy and compliment both the houses, I have the late bloomers. The picture is from my deck. My house/deck enjoys the flowers and right now they have gone completely insane in their blooms, which I totally endorse, enjoy and love. Since the fence is south facing, I get to really enjoy the blooms sans the care.

Now really! Can you argue with such an idlyic deck with deck furniture, lilac abound, a sparkling Cava in hand! This is what I call a good Saturday afternoon!

My excitement, pride and happiness knows no bounds, when each and every little plants not just survives but blossoms under my care. It is my way to know that I done right with nature!

Here are some gifts of nature in my own yard.  I have thought to write more, but the sheer happiness, love and contentment overrides (and falls short) any words that may be put together. So, without further fuss, here is my pride, my love, my joy, and sheer happiness.

The Azalea "Crimson Tide" (as I like to call it)

The Azalea "Pink Florosence" (as I like to call it) s ready to just pop into fantastic dazzling display of color.

	Gosh! With all the courage I can muster I await impatiently the blossoming of perhaps my favorite flowering plant of all all time... The Peonies. These little (or not so little) plants, move me to tears. They touch me as no other living thing can ever make me feel, save the orchids.  So, yeah! I love them. If you ever want anything from me, just get me a bouquet of a collection of peonies or just a gorgeous orchid and I am yours for eternity. I will post when these bloom. I cannot wait! This premature image inclusion is simply a testament of my impatience for these to bloom.
Finally, a little less exciting, than all the above flowers is my very own little red-onion farm!

Here is a toast to the most precious, caring, courageous, loving and fantastic person I have ever known... my mum! Here is to you mum! A toast with the one of finest champagnes in the world from Moet Chandon (Grand Vintage), enjoyed on my deck in the company of heady lilac blooms!

Yard work is in full swing for the past week or so. The Pink Dogwood is simply bursting at its seams with flowers. Last year, when I bought the tree (it was well past it flowering time) and planted it with loads of faith that it was the one I truly wanted. These trees can be quite tricky, when they don't carry their full botanical name. So, really it is quite uncertain whether you are getting exactly what you want. I just wish the nursuries around get into better habits of carrying the botanical names, rather than only local. But that is another story. For now, this dogwood delivers.

I should have posted these a while ago! But, slowly I am sure all my orchid blooms will feature up here!

	Dtps. Minho Princess "S.J." White with purple edging, transplanted 11th July 2007
	Dtps. Jiuhbao Red Rose Dark pink, transplanted 16th March 2007

My April 2007 orchid has bloomed again! Last year the flowers were in bloom from mid-March 2007 till end-August! Incredibly, this year, the blooms started mid-January and it is right at its peak at six weeks+

Last year April brought on my first orchid (See Orchid on my desk). Over the past year, I have become the orchid-collector and caretaker of the office. I have now five orchids on my desk that leaves very little space for anything else and I am happy about that. The one above is the latest acquisition. :) There are two others next to it that are budding! How exciting! I cannot wait for them to flower again. I have never had them re-flower.... well... this is the first time that I have really studied and taken care of them. The first orchid I bought was 10-years ago and I killed the poor thing in one week. I guess 10 years later I am older and wiser about orchids!

My desk and the three orchids!

You keep play-doh in front of me; the little child in me is going to insist I play with it. I must admit, I have plenty of play-doh at home and I use it. :) I use it to stimulate the creative side (if it exists!) of the brain, to do a temporary join of pieces of stained glass to see if they (glass color) go together, to use my fingers other than clicking on a keyboard, and mostly for just plain ole' FUN.

So, on this grand Friday, I find myself presented with bunch of play-doh lumps and I go to 'work'. After an hour or two, all I had done was kneed the different lumps into some thing resembling round balls. It wasn't very creative, nothing stimulating and fingers getting plenty of non-clicking workout. I started to make long earthworms from then on. But they were long spindles and still incredibly boring. But, what if, I arranged the 'earthworms' (which by the way happened to be green in color), like stalks. Hmm, how about stalks of lavender.... oh! oh! How about French lavender. I can almost smell them. Before I know it, we had stalks of lavender. The table next to mine had red and orange color lumps, which I rescued from their imminent boredom. While I was not looking some art patron walking left me yellow. Wow! Now we are in business. Flowers and buds just kept uncontrollably popping up. Arrgggghh.... no stopping this spring fever anymore...... 

Before you can sneeze ... bless you!

I love lilies, especially if they are growing in my yard.

 

Narcissus: Paperwhites

Paperwhites and have the most heady sweet smell in all of the daffodil family. Incidently all Daffodils belong to Narcissus genus. I like the small white flowers and the beautiful green delicate stems. According to a study in Cornell University, I should have given them a New Years drink to keep them straight but then I would not have gotten the above picture which so closely depicts the Greek legend*. Also, they say (whoever they are) if you force Paper White blooms on New Years day, then it brings good luck and prosperity for the next twelve months. (So you are saying I am all set because of these flowers for this year!)

*Narcissus in Greek legend fell in love with his own reflection in a stream. He stayed transfixed by the stream and the gods thought he would die of starvation so they changed him into the flower to stay there forever.

The Pink Velour Crape Myrtle bloomed! I planted a small shrub, about 8in tall, which is supposed to grow to about 10 feet. The plant is just about a foot, but it is blooming! I have two other Crape Myrtles, another Pink Velour and one Red Dynamite. So, far they are growing but they are not as ambitious as the first to be flowering. But I am not going to force it. I had planted three other small shrubs, all three Lilacs (Miss Kim), they were in their temporary planting location. They don't appear to be growing (or dying) where I planted them, so, they have been transplanted to new locations. Lets see how they do there. But, I am encouraged to plant blubs this fall, and then some serious planting in spring 2007. Oh, finally the yard work with the retaining walls is complete. One huge to do item checked off from the list. Now, I have to keep up with weeding, and that will keep me busy for the next two months.

   
For me spring all about Lilacs and Cherry Trees. As you walk around in the neighborhood, these blossoms cannot fail to grab your attention, either with their fragrance or their color.

To celebrate, lilacs, I knitted two scarves using Fun Fur (from Lion Brand), they are so quick to knit with #11 needles and one ball of 60 yards, gets knitted into a lovely, furry scarf in no time. Tell me they don't look lovely. Look at it wrapped around the lilac vase.

       

Need I say more...