What's Blooming in Patricia's Garden?

Well, it looks like spring is finally here, save for the late March freeze we always have. I thought I'd post a few pictures of the pretties I'm finding in my garden this week.

Mom's Christmas gift bloomed very prettily for me. Everybody got either an amaryllis or paperwhites this year. She thought they were kind of cheesy, but I thought they were a perfect gift.

I'm happier with the pink iceberg this year. I think it just needed some time to develop... and maybe a little rain.


The lantana is bent on world domination once again. I forgot to prune it back in February.



Here's Sebastian. He's not quite sure about that thing I'm holding in front of my face.

The yellow half of my Lady Banks is making an appearance. Hopefully the white half will start blooming soon, as well.

The lavender continues to bloom its little heart out. Hopefully it will continue through the summer this year.

Selkie's found his favorite napping spot.

This Mexican Petunia is coming up in a sheltered spot. It somehow survived the whole winter and is blooming early.

Say "Hello" to Oreo.

The daffodil bucket hasn't produced any flowers yet this year. I'm still hopeful, though. Maybe later in March.

Hmm. Well. Yes, I waited too long for the broccoli. At least it's pretty. It also gives Chupacabra something to hide under. (How did such a pretty cat get that name? He earned it.)

Nocturnal Visitations

Look who came to visit late last night - or was it early this morning? Either way, a sphinx moth popped in through the open window and bounced around the living room until I turned off the light and he found his way back out to the porch. Some one else who has done much more research than I has a wonderful post on sphinx moths, here.

We had another visit last night as well from a katydid. Selkie had a great time stalking him all over the living room. Don't worry, the katydid was never in danger. This first picture is the closest Selkie got. The katydid is up on the window sill.

Camera!

My new camera has arrived. It's a Canon PowerShot SD750 with 7.1 megapixels, which my daughter tells me is fine for what I want. Now, I can start showing more photos with my posts, as soon as I figure out how to use the thing. Here are a few beginners' shots.

Here's the fairy statue peeking out from among the oregano, verbena and evening primrose.

Sweet alyssum is growing around the rosemary at the foot of the steps.

English Thyme growing along the walkway, with it's little tag. The tags are ceramic and were made by one of the Fine Arts majors at the University. She sells them at the ceramics booth that they sponser several times a semester as a fund-raiser.

And finally, a potted Diascia sitting on the porch.

Those are all the photos I have for now. I'm going to have to wait until it's a little cooler this evening to take a few more.

On another note, my Suzy Q is back! My pretty calico kitty disappeared just before the last freeze and I was very worried about her. I'd given up hope of seeing her again and was only hoping that someone had taken her in. That's apparently what happened, because she showed up this morning, looking a bit thin and hungry, but with a pink collar that was a couple of sizes too small around her neck! I popped the collar off and she seems much happier now. She's cuddled up with one of the other cats right now.