Friend Carolyn was visiting for a few days and we headed over to Skylands with our cameras to see what was blooming.

Not sure what this is (maybe Mountain Laurel?) but I liked the intricate flowers.

Pretty peonies!

Spiky purple things of which I recognize but don’t know the names of. *duh*

And quite a few iris.

And one iris three ways!

By the way, Rick made it home safely last night. This past six weeks has been pretty hectic. We’ve either been away (both together and separately) or we’ve had company. More company coming for the weekend and then blissfully nothing is planned so I hope to get back to blogging about our trip to France next week. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and reading!

So pretty! Iris are my favorite spring flower… They bloomed earlier this year in Oklahoma.

Pretty pretty flowers!

I guess I hadn’t realized that they came in so many colors…irises, not flowers in general.  I’m still waiting for my irises to open, it’s a race to see if it will happen before the slugs devour the whole plant.  Ugh.

Yes… mountain laurel… they have some beautiful ones there.  The spikey thing = allium… something I keep saying I’m going to put in my garden but never get around to it.  Some day I’m going to get myself a flouncy victorian gown and “stroll” pretending I’m a lady of leisure!

Jess, you’re way ahead of us then!

Susie, ugh.

Maggie, right: allium. What’s the other purple spikey thing? Any ideas? You’re always going to have dirt under your fingernails—even in a flouncy gown I am thinking ...

Both purple ball shaped flowers are varieties of allium.  Asking me to identify exactly which is like asking me if the glass of red wine in front of me is cab or merlot.  There are sooooo many different varieties, sizes and color gradiations.  As far as the dirty fingernails - yeah - guilty.  Even as I’m picturing myself in the flouncy dress, I’m reaching for whatever weeds I see, or squishing tent caterpillars as I go along.  Gardener is just part of who I am! 

Maggie,
Ok, both are forms of allium. Cool.  I didn’t know that
So is after knowing you for not very long I could predict that you would have dirty fingernails. Hey, I usually do> I have NEVER yet had a manicure in my entire life. The dogs, things I do on a daily basis just don’t factor into nice nails.

Now squishing tent caterpillars are a bit of a stretch. Even for this “new” jersey girl!

lovely to have Rick home I’m sure

that top flower is extraordinary!  and the iris…. so beautiful.  I have a couple of other kinds of iris, but none of the flags - MUST get some.