Last Day of May

Just a quick post to put some photos up from Seattle and Honolulu.

Interesting Hibiscus near our friend Dean’s condo building. The flowers don’t seem to open all the way–and yet they have their own charm and showiness.

Close-up of one flower.

I didn’t get to the beach much on this trip, but here is Diamondhead–always so nice to see.

And interesting Hibiscus bloom near Fort Derussy. It must have taken eons to breed these delicate pastels in the blue-purple/smoky brown shades.

Upon my return, the iris in my garden were all up and blooming. The hardy purple clone that always survives and thrives dominate this bed. They look good and smell great, too.

Huge Hippeastrum flower in the greenhouse. I was surprised to see this monster open already. It was just a tight bud eight days before when I flew away.

I hope I don’t miss this orchid cactus when the flower opens. They only last a day, I think, so it is easy to miss them, especially since I have to work away from home much of this coming weekend.

The Hesperis are blooming in the Doug Fir bed. More and more lavender ones are creeping in among the white, but the effect is pleasing and the fragrance wonderfully sweet.

Another view with Leon’s Miracle Grow Sculpture rising behind/above.

This Rhododendron is really shining outside our bedroom window. My plans to rip and shred the current foundation shrubs lose out to these amazing blooms!

More foundation Rhodies–there are two of these along the living room window with a dwarf lilac in-between. The flowers are maybe a bit more purple/blue than the photo shows.

Geranium phaeum blooming in the driveway bed. This cranesbill rises above the Big Root Cranesbills surrounding it. The color is a nice purple, showier than many I’ve seen.

Another view.

A poppy popping open in the driveway bed. This is one of the Pizzicato strain that I grew from seed probably 20 years ago. I am growing them again this year and there are at least 50 seedlings, so I should get a nice variety of colors.

The Dianthus that overwintered in the patio pots in front are blooming nicely–an electric pink.

The wild arboretum rose plant grown from seed 15+ years ago is blooming. It is a pain most of the year, literally and figuratively, due to thorns and robust habit (and stupid placement), but the flowers are some of my favorites. They are simple, wild-looking, and sweet-smelling.

The shrub roses have open flowers in the orchard bed. The vindictive bindweeds have taken over again in my absence. I need to find time to snip them back again this week/weekend.