Fairies and spiders and cat pee and whatnot

The serious business first: I have placed my order for spring bulbs, and a couple perennials to plant this fall. It did not come cheap, but these plants are, one and all, long-term investments for the front yard. I am not doing anything more to the back because with both walls falling down, this winter we will be plotting major renovations.

The hydrangea and peony are to fill some good-sized spaced in the front - probably on the back on the right side of the sidewalk as you're facing the house. Both are mid-sized plants with pink flowers that will offer some nice greenery even when not blooming, and they will not bloom at same time, so they can be close if needed. When I walked out there, though, there is a lot of open space. Might even put one of them on the left side.

The tulips are a small hardy variety that will hopefully be perennial.

Now for the more frivolous stuff: first, Emma and I made fairy houses for the back yard. Mine was sticks that I tried to weave together with vines and it was a good idea, but I needed more vines. Emma's was stones and things and she was not all bothered by the idea that it wasn't actually providing any shelter. I was very pleased with her imagination in this respect. She seemed pretty confident the fairies would figure it out.

How about this large creepy spider that made an enormous web over my back plot?

And my final PEEce (get it?) of news: some rude neighborhood cat sauntered around our patio and then PEED IN MY BACK PLOT. Pee just gushed out of this cat onto my begonias. I leapt to the solarium door and the interloPEEer was frightened away. It was traumatizing. For me, anyway. I don't know about the cat.

Quite a lot of migratory bird action in the bush today. I saw two Carolina wrens (together) and a Confusing Fall Warbler.

Garden happenings

Some time ago I pulled up a straggling piece with roots of one of the mystery shrubs in front with red blooms, and stuck it in this pot. For a long time, it looked to be dead. But now it seems fine. Maybe next year I'll stick some other red plants in there with it, though that pot is a magnet for the squirrels. Also: I did some research and think the mystery shrubs are crepe myrtles.

Crazy story: I was actually trying to identify some of the plants in front, and thinking dark thoughts about Birch Hill Landscaping since they hadn't replaced the missing anenome after I alerted them on May 9, when I heard a noise: they were out replacing the plant. And they helped me identify some of the ones I didn't know (purple coneflower, catmint).

The Carolina Wren was back yesterday and I got a characteristically excellent photo of it.

Here we have the state of play in the back plot: I have had a crazy misunderstanding that this Allium Ampeloprasum was going to bloom in the spring with the Allium Globemaster, but guess what? Mixed reports on the internet suggest it may (or may not be right on schedule). I am gobsmacked. And pleased!

The one foxglove is blooming nicely and the other plants look healthy but no sign of blooms.

Coming up to the front door. Basil is thriving. Portulaca doing well. I trimmed the vibernums the other day.

Catmint

Hydrangea has started to bloom 

Salvia and lavender

The darned parsely looks scarcely better than when I planted the little seedlings. Not a good spot for them, I guess.

Purple coneflower, one thinks. This is the one that had a bloom eaten off it a week or so ago. I have been spraying it with anti-deer spray.

Shasta daisy. Lovely.

Blurry bird photos, hooray

I know, I know, these are terrible pictures. But I think I have finally satisfied myself as to the identity of that wretched brown bird that shows up occasionally, jerks around like it's experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and then flies away before I can get a good look at it: I am pretty sure it is a Carolina Wren. That bird has been my Moby Dick for quite some time.

And I believe these are Tufted, um, Titmice? Titmouses? Best name ever, either way?