Very Blue

My first Iris reticulata "Harmony" has opened.  A couple others are aboveground; the rest seem to be biding their time.  With the warm temperatures we are having (highs around 80 F/26 C), I have worried the flowers would not last very long; but this bloom has opened slowly, deliberately, and is a thing of beauty.

I selected a couple of very blue irises last fall, having been inspired by some of Jane's (at Hoe Hoe Grow).  What could be better in the hot, dry desert than the cool blue of an iris?  I'm not disappointed in the result so far; it's wonderful.

Iris reticulata, one of the summer-dry species, seemed like a candidate for the dry garden.  With no significant freezing weather last winter, however, it may not prove permanent here.  I hope it is, as the tiny flower is spectacular.

Here is a photographic journal of the opening of a single iris bloom...

February 8

February 9

February 10

Monday Vase: Not to Miss Anything...

Monday again; therefore time for another vase for the Monday Vase meme with Cathy.  Today's is a bit different, in that it reuses material from the past two weeks.  Since the last two vases have each contained woody and dried material, the ingredients were there and waiting to be combined.

In each vase there was one stem that had flowered in the meantime.  From two weeks ago, one of the dry, woody apricot stems recently opened a white blossom...

...while last Monday's sprig of Eremophila "Outback Sunrise", then loaded with tight buds, has bloomed also.

The combination consisted simply in removing the faded rose from last week's arrangement - the Muhlenbergia stems and the rosemary sprigs are in perfectly good condition - and adding some of the apricot stems in place of the rose.  Not quite so spectacular, but a reasonable solution on a busy morning - and I didn't want to lose the apricot flower or the eremophila blooms.

I wasn't able to photograph this in the nicho (as they are known in this region) that I used last week so today I used the breakfast table.  Here is the result of the combination.

Happy Monday!

Tiny Things

Here is a glimpse of the garden through my new lens... 

Above, the marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) with a bee...

Below, newly planted Armeria...

The new lens arrived a few days ago.  Of course, I have been wandering around the garden in spare moments, trying it out...

Eremophila "Valentine", an open trumpet with its dark stamens...

The smoky white of another newly planted specimen: Echeveria "Lila"...

For those who are interested in the camera side of things, this is an 85mm, f/3.5 Nikkor lens with vibration reduction.  My goal was to have something that would allow macro (which it does at 1:1), and would still be lightweight enough to carry while hiking.  This lens definitely fulfills both requirements.  The vibration reduction feature is important since much of my photography is handheld; unfortunately, while it stabilizes my end of the picture, it does not stop the wind blowing!

I want to add a "thank you" to Julie at Peonies and Posies for thoughtfully answering my questions about her new lens.  Her reply encouraged me to make what is proving a good decision: a lightweight lens with vibration control and a little macro.

There has been a bit of a learning curve; for instance, point of focus is much more critical.  But I am thoroughly enjoying the results...

The growing tip of a just-planted rose, "The Generous Gardener" (David Austin, 2002)...

Smaller still, trying to capture rosemary flowers...

Russelia equisetiformis, coming back into full bloom, shows off its brilliance, even in shade...

...and sunlight through petals, one more look at the Armeria...

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Vase: Muted Colours

Today's vase is partly a case of tidying up.  It began with trimmings fom Pink Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris "Regal Mist"), which I am cutting back now for the coming season.

 The "Sterling Silver" rosebud certainly did not have to be cut, but it was irresistable.

Then the base is surrounded by more trimmings - these from the new rosemary hedge, which is very much in need of a good clip!  And as I had finally purchased some foam for Monday Vase projects, I was able to put the various materials in a low dish, a simple stoneware dish I made years ago.  Grass stems first, then the rose, then the bits of rosemary...

while to accent the side opposite the rose, I added a branch of the low, spreading Eremophila "Outback Sunrise".  While cutting it, I spotted flower buds on it for the first time.

And the Eremophila completed the effect.  

The last several days have been so hectic that I wondered whether I would have a chance at getting anything together for the meme today; but here it is, after all!  Now I must go over and check the other vases at Cathy's Rambling in the Garden!

Happy Monday!