SPRING FIRSTS.....

 "Why, who makes much of a miracle?As to me I know of nothing else but miracles...."    ( Walt Whitman 1819-1892).
      Mourning Doves. They've  been here all year. Now it seems like there is only one. But I think the mated pair are switching back and forth on their next, since they continually incubate their eggs.  One of them comes every day to sit and feed in the seed pan. The wings make a strange whistle- whistle sound as it takes off, and can fly up to 88km per hour.

( Brunnera macrophylla)  Siberian Bugloss shows new in mid to late spring. Once the flowerets disappear the silver streaked leaves remain. Most of the summer. They look beautiful with cut flowers in a vase.

 In 2012, the Bugloss was selected as  the perennial of the year by the Perennial Plant Association.

 Easy to grow. Never seems to have any blights or problems.  Likes partial sun, or full shade. Seems to do great no matter what.

 "Joy in the touch of the wind and the sunlight. Joy! With the vigorous earth I am one." ( Amy Lowell 1874-1925)

 And my favourite of all first spring perennials. The one that  just makes me feel spring:
  Pasque flower. Also  known as Wind flower, Prairie Crocus, or Easter Flower...

 It shows in early spring, which is why it got its name "Pasque" since it refers to the Easter Passover.   The Wind flower is the provincial flower of Manitoba, Canada, and the state flower of South Dakota.

 Pasque flower is highly toxic to humans, though the Native Americans have used it as a medicine for centuries. Not good as a cut flower. Best to leave it to grow wild in partial shade.

 "Every child should know a hill, and the clean joy of running down its long slope."    (Edna Casler Joll, poem from 1948)

 "Time has no flight, tis we who sped along. The days and nights are but the same as when the earth awoke with the first rush of song, and felt the swiftly passing feet of men. " 
                                 (Thomas S. Collier 1842-1893)

 "Give me beauty in the inward soul..." (Socrates  399 B.C.)

 "Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things...."                    (Sara Teasdale  1884-1933)

  Camellias bloomed for only the second time  since we've been living here. They're salmon  infused  petal poofs. Orginally from the Himalayas,there are  up to 300 types of Camellias.

 It's said that some cultures make tea out of the leaves.  Not sure if that is something I would want to try. Famous through Asia and  known as the "tea flower".   I'm just happy that half the bush bloomed. Maybe next year the other half will bloom.

 "We are living in a world of beauty but how few of us open our eyes to see it!" (Lorado Taft  1860-1936, sculptor)

 Bleeding Hearts in the garden, like faithful friends, they show up  every year. The pink cousin, to the white Dicentra, is pretty sturdy. 

 The white bleeding heart seems a little forlorn every year, but it shows up early alongside the Siberian bugloss. They seem to bolster each other.  Though I'm thinking I will have to get another white bleeding heart next year. Good in shade. Their heart shaped blossoms make really wonderful  pressed flowers.

 "My heart is a like a singing bird whose nest is in a watered shoot; My heart is like an apple tree whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit..." (C. G Rossetti 1830-1894)

 Hyacinth. Named by Homer. Bulbs of the Hyacinth are highly toxic, and if you handle them you should use gloves. To be honest one of my least favourite flowers , but it is pretty hardy .

 (Pulmonaria)  Lungwort...beautiful little flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. In times gone by,  witch doctors used the leaves to treat lung conditions, because they thought the leaves resembled diseased lungs. Hence the name lungwort. In Russian it is known as Medunitza, and in german Lungenkraut. Loves shade. The leaves are rather speckled and stay nice a long time.

 "In all ranks of life the human heart yearns for the beautiful; and the beautiful things that God makes are HIS gift to all alike."                                       (Harriet Beecher Stowe 1811-1896)

Focus on the Bees....

 I've been thinking about  this year's upcoming garden. A lot. I've been thinking about Bees.I love the bees. Every year I  look forwards to their return. Like old friends , they are there.

 This year, I've decided to focus on  bringing more bees into the garden. More than usual.Short of having a hive .

 Bees are the most important pollinators we have. They thrive in backyard gardens, community, patio gardens. All of us depend on pollinators, like the bees. They should not be swatted away, or sprayed with poison, or squished.

 Many gardeners will make happy little  homes for them, out of milk cartons, or boxes. I've foun that growing massive  Verbascum works really well. They sleep in the flowers or the leaves and drink water from the crevices.
 Even a small place like a flower pot, or  patch, or window boxes, provides suitable habitat.

 This year, it's all about the bee.

 It's been advertised over and over about how bees, especially honeybees, are declining.

Hundreds of bee species live in Canada. Some even below the earth, and all are necessary for our continuation. Blue Orchard Bees (Mason bees)  can be released  into your own garden. Just like Ladybugs. Check your local greenhouses for  supplies of either.

 A "house" for bees can consist of a simple milk carton , with the spout cut away. Or a box  layered with nesting tubes.

 If this seems a bit much, just plant flowers. They will be very attractive to them.

 Remember that bees like to eat. Not just pollinate. I've even seen them drinking at the hummingbird dish.

 They also drink at dew in the morning, gathered on leaves.

 Bees love flowers that are showy and blingy. So plant in shades of  blue, purple, violet, white and yellow. Try to stay away from double bloom, like double impatiens, or double petunias.

 It's also important to create water bowls for the bees. Yes, they love to drink a lot of water.

 Don't use buckets or pitchers, but shallow plates with water , in which you can place a few rocks. The bees will land on the rocks  to drink. And it will be shallow enough for them to crawl out.

 If you have plants or flowers that have aphids, put the plate of water near them, and the bees will come and drink. The insects that like to guzzle on aphids will come along as well.

 Don't worry about being stung by bees. I've worked near them for ages, and they never bother me. Sometimes, I get a bit too industrious and they warn me off. They are very smart. Very focused on their tasks.

You'll end up being able to read them as you work side by side.

If you're planning on planting sweet pea seeds now, then it's a good time to do it. By the time the flowers are up , bees will be buzzing away.

  Go for more native plants like Rudbekia and Yarrow,Salvia, Lavender, Gloriosa Daisy, Coneflower, Bee Balm, Borage, Lion's Tail, Oregano, Penstemon, Red Hot Poker, Alstromeria.......

 And Sunflowers. Lots of sunflowers.

 The season has just begun. Bees are on the decline because of habitat loss. They are very easy to please. Start planning  now. Bees love to live around us. The key is plant variety. They need us to be aware and help  rise in numbers.