narcissus painting 8″x24″

I’m not entirely sure these really are narcissus. The people who lived in my house before me planted very few flowers, but these are some that came up this spring. They were mixed in with traditional yellow daffodils, so I thought they might be a variation, with bulbs possibly all purchased at the same time.

iris note

I bought this kind of iris bulbs through a fancy mail order catalog fifteen years ago. I loved them, each bulb produced a single flower perfect for cutting. In the catalog, it was called a “Japanese Iris,” and I thought maybe it was special since it has a bulb rather than a rhizome. Perhaps not a

wordless wednesday

                           

Valentine bloom

Our Christmas amaryllis bloomed just in time for Valentine’s Day. It has all four trumpet flowers showing now, but the light’s not good for an extra photo. Still, you can see how pretty it is. Sorry I didn’t get this up in time for the day. I hope yours was lovely. 🙂

mspt: lavender wreath

For those who haven’t been reading forever, “mspt” is “make something pretty today.” I used a wreath frame from the floral section in the dollar store, and ribbon and fresh lavender. You have to gather the lavender on just the right day–too soon, and it’s not fragrant, too late and it’s gone to seed. I

in the garden, end of September

peonies abloom

I’ve been setting my paintings aside for the show, and then after that I will start filling my etsy shop again. So be assured more paintings are on their way! Meanwhile, the first peony opened up in the garden. Such a vibrant color. The white irises have come and gone, replaced by these pretty variegated

the journey to Spring 01/09/15

I did not chronicle Spring last year, and now I’m sorry I missed it. I’ve been saying since the beginning of January that there’s been flocks of robins all over, so Spring is going to be early. I know Puxatawney Phil did not agree, but maybe since I’m west coast things are different. Most years

wild flower mix

I buy those packs of assorted “spring flower” or “wild flower” seed mix, so what comes up is a surprise. By the time the flowers have bloomed the packages are long thrown away, so I can’t refer back to figure out what the flowers are. Next year I will save the package, because I like

in the garden: ranunculus

Ranunculus is one of those flowers I try to grow every year, with zero luck. I buy those little 4-inch garden pots with the flowers already in bloom, and I transplant them, and they wither away surprisingly fast. Year after year. And they don’t come back the next year. So this year I spotted a