Spring Catch-Up, Part 3 of 10: Dahlia or Daffodil?

While not an event, or even an actual arrangement, this mammoth daffodil is too cool not to share. Earlier this year I think I said we had about 10 varieties of narcissus, but I've since counted about twice that many. This latecomer was so big and ruffled he looked like a dahlia! Wish I knew the name!

Spring's Zucchinis

Over the years, we've planted hundreds of daffodils bulbs on the hill behind our house. It's beautiful to look out over all their smiling faces, but part of me feels a little a kitchen gardener must feel at the peak of zucchini season; no matter how many I pick, more buds keep coming. Before I got sick of them, I resorted to zucchini tactics and gathered many vases full to send out into the world. Hope you all enjoy them as much as I do!

That Wild Plum Is At It Again. . .

 . . . pulling out the flashy antics and looking all awesome against her dramatic backdrop. Guess she'll stay another year.

 

Local Color

We haven't had much rain yet this year, so the subdued greyish greens, blues, and umbers I usually associate with fall are still prevalent in the landscape and garden. Hopefully soon we'll have some real rain to bring on the green grass and wildflowers, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the calming colors as I tidy my annual financial reports and prepare for the coming season. I am getting increasingly excited for spring and summer weddings to come!

News Flash: Scorpion Attack!!!

This morning, as I was making coffee (so read, before coffee), a scorpion finally went and stung me on the big toe. I looked down in time to see that is was a just little one, which for a while had me worried (I learned as a kid that over-enthusiastic baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult ones . . . mightn't the same be true for arachnids?). But here I am, apparently having escaped with just a rude wake-up call and the foiling of my plan to post about the Napa Farmer's Market before attending it.
Instead, I'm here now sharing a montage of recent markets past and reporting that The Monkey Flower Group will be at next Saturday's market again. Hope to see you there!

Old News

 Two bits of old news from way back on Easter weekend: 1) Grandma's garden is looking awesome and 2) the man I have long referred to as my brother-in-law (for ease and accuracy of describing the relationship) proposed to my sister (shown below looking out over the Napa River during our reconnaissance of some studio space). Our families have been like family for years, but I'm still pretty friggin' excited to make it official. Congratulations again, L&C! I can't wait to start planning the flowers, so pick a date already! : )

News Flash

We interrupt our normal "Fate of the Lilac" coverage for this breaking news: Mom's tree peony, which this year set an unprecedented TWO BUDS, is now in full bloom. That's a combined diameter of 17 inches of fluffy pink goodness, folks.