The other half of my weekend (not described yesterday) was spent cleaning house and trying to get some of our gardens into shape.  I was so excited to find this on the counter from Mr. Fix-It…

I’m not much of a gardener, but it’s starting to come together.  This lovely is from a brand new plant this year.  The 10 days of rain recently has really helped it along.

Eventually I’m hoping beautiful, deep violet Clematis completely cover that boring, unattractive, unimaginative, but functional wire fencing.  (I do love having a yard for our dogs much more than I dislike that fence.  I actually sort of pestered the heck out of Mr. Fix-It until we got that fence installed.)  My vines from last year are doing pretty well.

I’ve also got high hopes for all the lavender I’ve been planting around the yard.  (Mr. Fix-It isn’t so sure…) This year’s brand new plants are not exactly awe-inspiring…

But last year’s plants are doing a little better, thankfully…

There’s a few little purple blooms in there if you look close.  But here’s the best part of gardening–hope springs new each year.  I’ve been a little sad to watch my gorgeous purple and white Irises fade.  But who could be sad for long?  Meet my 3rd year lavender…

It was so worth the wait!  The bees and butterflies think so too.

And as a gardener who loves flowers but is not much of a green thumb, I was tickled to see all the daylillies starting to bud.  These flowers are both gorgeous and indestructible–I couldn’t ask for more in a plant.  My gardens would be hopeless without them.

I can’t wait to see them burst out!

I wish I was a better photographer, but, well, I’m not.  I subscribe to the “zoom and crop” philosophy of picture taking, right now.  Zoom as close as the camera can handle and crop out all the weeds in the background.  Hang in there with me, I’m sure time for taking up another hobby is right around the corner…

Meanwhile, I promise to zoom, crop, and post these daylillies just as soon as they unfurl…I don’t even remember what variety they are so we’ll all get to be surprised when they open!