What Valley?

The lily of the valley is putting out buds.  I took a picture which looks like a doctored photo.  It's not.  That (single) set of buds is the real deal.  

  

Showing up

Another plant I've recently started to see popping out of the dirt in the front is the lily of the valley.  There are little red horns coming up in the place I would expect to find it, based on pictures from last year.  

There are some horns which are less red, and I wonder if they belong to the wayward calla lily or if it's another stage of the lily of the valley.  

Either way, I am glad to see these making their way up and I look forward to finding out what they are.

What News from the Front?

The front yard is in dreadful shape (still) and maybe next weekend I'll find time to attack it.  I think it will take a full couple of days.  

However, the lily of the valley is still obligingly in flower.  There is a shady garden between my house and my work which is completely awash in lily of the valley.  Every year when it flowers, I think "OH! I should do that at home" but I couldn't even pick that garden out of a lineup the rest of the year.  I think I am more in favour of a progression of sparse blooms than one outrageous carpet and 50 weeks of drab.  

We have astilbe in the front.  One was already there when we moved in, and the other was a cutting from our lovely neighbour two doors down.  The astilbe is looking like it might bloom (in as much as it does) soon.   

Miracles front and centre

Last fall, I attacked the bad stuff about the front in a small way.  I pulled up lots and lots of weeds and got rid of lots and lots of leaf litter.  I can't remember, but I think I did a little bit of pruning on the rhododendron.  Whatever it was that I did, it worked out a treat!!  This is the first year that I can remember that the rhododendron has actually flowered nicely. 

Better yet, there is new growth on most of its branches.  Another first for that poor bush!

And to round out the miracles of the front yard, there is a pretty little spray of lily-of-the-valley for me to admire, as well.