Some of the Hydrangeas are in bloom now, like "Annabell" and my "Quick Fire" is well budded and beginning to open. There are others. Physocarpus 'Diablo Ninebark' finished blooming about 10 days ago, but now has beautiful deep red 'berries'. Itea virginica 'Little Henry' has been in bloom for about 2 weeks. Hypericum are blooming now Many of the Spirea are early in their blooming phase at this tme. For perennials: Daylillies..the early bloomers are getting underway Shasta Daisy..began to open about a week ago Aisiatic Lillies.. are at peak now Asclepia incarnata.. a pink butterfly weed in bloom now Liatris kobold..just beginning to open Echinaceas Heliopsis 'Lorraine Sunshine' Nepetas.. have been in bloom for nearly a month, still look good Stachys Hummelo and Satchys Big Betony..lambs ears with very pretty bloom are opening now. For ground cover, I love the creeping thymes in bloom now.

I think I got the turtle at www.simplysucculents.com. (Actually, what I did was e-mail my mom the link with a note: "This would be a great present for me." Heh heh.) I brought it inside for the winter and I replanted with some new sedums this spring. Click on the "Our Garden Art" button. The geranium is "Alan Bloom." It starts blooming in Mid-May and blooms into the fall with deadheading. The peonies and irises in the spring are amazing. Later on in the season, the phlox david, butterfly bush, St. Johns Wort shrubs, salvia, sedum autumn joy, and purple dome asters bloom. I just put in a pink double knockout, too. And the bed is anchored at the end with an annabelle hydrangea. I also put in a few dahlias this year for the first time. And I planted climbing sweet peas and climbing nasturtium at the base of the colored spiral stakes. Last year I grew gourds on the spiral stakes, so I am trying something new--we'll see how it goes.

I guess there is not much that I can't live without because most of my indulgences/must haves are not in my current home for one reason or another. I love and require lots of privacy and space-- from neighbors, the world and my own stuff. I need large rooms and large yard/acreage. I gave up both when I moved back to my hometown when a family member got sick. I love fresh cut flowers through the house-- an indulgence I gave up in the last few years. It is one of those things that has just slipped through the cracks as my schedule has become more hectic. I am hoping that I will be motivated to bring them back when I have my rooms completed. A large kitchen that is functional and homey--a place for creating, conversing and just hanging. This was a known concession when I moved to this house. I did believe that I could work with it ... but the reality is that it is very limiting. A library/quiet room - an indulgence in my last house. I did attempt to create an office in this house with the same vibe but I havent achieved what I had in my last house. I really think the difference is the view-- I look out onto my neighbor's trampoline here. In the old house, I looked out over a wide field and grazing sheep. A foyer or entry-- yeah, I dont have one of those either.

Nice photos! Your peonies look particularly great and I love the way the Veronica weaves around the rose. There are two ways I know of getting your photos right side up in GW. One is to figure out what way you have to position the camera or phone in order that the photo is upright. For instance, with my phone, the button I push to take the photo has to be on the right with the phone held in landscape mode. Mostly though, I just pop photos into image processing software and rotate it and then save it. My image processing software is iPhoto, but I did a search and there are free online programs as well that will do rotation for you.