Last Week in Review

This past week was a busy one.

Sunday afternoon Tad helped me bring in a load of dirt and I "finished" the new garden bed behind the bedrooms that I started last Monday.   I planted a red twig dogwood in what I hope will be it's third and final spot.  I really liked it at the back of the chicken compound but the chickens were liking the taste of the leaves a little too much so I rescued it. I also put in the unknown bush from Janet. The bed also includes several dahlias, a lavender called Platinum Blonde, some foxglove seedlings, a native columbine, a cardinal plant, and some annuals as well as two small blueberry bushes that will be moved out after this season.  It felt good just to get it put in.  Everything's pretty small now but I hope that the dahlias will really take up a lot of the space this summer.

New garden bed. Doesn't look like much YET.

Everything is filling in at the back edge of the yard.

 Monday morning I took off for eastern Oregon.  I stopped in Portland to visit The Grotto because I had recently read about the garden.  I enjoyed it though there weren't as many flowers there as I had imagined. Here are my 2 favorite photos from my visit.  I would like to visit when all that astilbe leading up to the chapel is in bloom. 

Between Pendleton and LaGrande there were meadows of yellow flowers blooming along the freeway.  I finally stopped so I could get a photo.  There was also a lot of yellow lupine along the way.  Signe served up some fresh picked mushrooms that she, Dad & Steve picked earlier in the day.  They were quite tasty!

Deadman Pass near I-84 between Pendleton & LaGrande

Tuesday my nephew, Keenan, graduated from Imbler High School in a class of 31 students.  His was the 100th graduating class from IHS.  It was neat to be able to see many of the students receive recognition and scholarships and a slide show with 5-6 slides of each student's life.  They didn't do that last year when Cole graduated in a class of over 350 students. 

Wednesday found me on the road again as I headed back home.  I was greeted by some new blooms in the garden.  It always amazes me what can happen in such a short time.

Adonis - my pink peony in the front yard.

The first dahlia has popped up! Planted it on Sunday.

A visitor to the raspberry patch.

Thursday I helped a friend in her garden for a couple hours.  Actually I got a tour first and then helped trim back some ground cover in preparation of the Eugene Symphony Guild's annual garden tour. I brought home a plant for my new garden bed in the backyard, Linaria purpurea 'Canon J Went'. 

Friday I did a lot of watering and planted some sunflower seeds, probably should have done that a long time ago!  I also got out and filled the bird feeder for the first time in a couple years.

Sparkler petunias.

I just love those leopard spots inside the foxglove.

Saturday the four of us were off to Bend for a memorial service to honor the life of Kieth Kaber, my sister's father-in-law.  It was a beautiful service and I am so glad we went over for it.

I'll leave you with this calla lily photo.  Earlier this spring I thought I would probably move my calla lilies because I don't usually get a lot of blooms but then this year I have the most I've ever had! I love them!  Maybe I'll just get more to put elsewhere in the garden and leave these be.

Thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment so I know you were here.