Mountain laurel, Wildflower island

otherwise known as Kalmia latifolia, to either those in the know or to snoots and geeks who get their kicks by speaking in dead languages and botanical terms. No matter the name you call it, it's pretty fabulous and was one of the goodies in bloom at wildflower island this weekend. The bark is sweet too. Though it's native to the east coast and maybe even the state plant for Pennsylvania or Connecticut, it's the first time I've seen it growing wild.

Monday harvest

some of it at least...the strawberries are everbearing so they will produce throughout the season and were leftovers from my plot's former gardener and from a neighbor. I can't believe how much they are producing this year and I can't take any credit for it. I've pretty much left them alone to do their thing, except for cutting out some runners and making room for some newer plants by thinning out the older ones.

The best part of visiting wildflower island

was seeing the chickens at Paul's house just down the road from Teatown Reservation before our wildflower tour. First time I've ever collected fresh eggs. And since chickens aren't botanical, although this one is quite beautiful, here's a photo of a red japanese maple growing in Paul's yard. It doesn't produce any brown eggs, but does have beautiful leaves.

Fresh flowers, Brooklyn grown

The nicest perk about having a garden, even one where we mostly grow vegetables is the bouquets Joe makes from whatever is flowering. Here is Joe's columbine in the window and chive and lavender flowers from my garden. It's nice just to look at them and be reminded of time spent at Floyd Bennett. Plus we have fresh flowers dirt cheap.

Beauty where you find it

the storm may have taken out the bike lane at plumb beach, but not these roses. Stopped to admire them on my way to Floyd Bennett tonight.

Stealing moments

Two weeks ago, some stolen moments at work. I thought of them today while weeding and mulching in the rose garden, which is now dripping in petals. It was only two weeks ago that I was so dazzled by the buds alone.

Going to my own garden

to see what's growing, maybe harvest some spinach and plant some zuchinni seeds I have soaking.

fireworks

In may.

Crimson Clover, over and over

Grown as green manure or cover crop in the new Herb garden at BBG.

Potatoes up

Hopefully they will be ready to harvest when my nephew visits.

Columbine

grown by Joe

First Strawberries

Of the 2010 season. 5/22.

Podophyllum peltatum

Growing near the "dump"....
and in a lunchroom arrangement while blooming.

5/14 Smilacina racemosa

In native flora

Alchemellia mollis 5/26

Classic cottage garden plant. (Lady's Mantle)

My asiatic lilies in the children's garden box are blooming already.

Inspired by Susan

I will start a blog of this year of delights. I'll start with a photo of salvaged tulips in the window. They were pulled out of the tulip bed at BBG on a sloppy day in late April, dunked in the lily pond and delighted me at home for days.