140102 - Toe

Yesterday, I took a break at the top of the steps in the backyard, and Toe sat down beside me.

I was surprised she let me take her photograph, since she usually runs in terror the second I hold up the camera.

140101 - Cabbage Poppies

A cabbage poppy has bloomed among the sweet peas now flowering beside the garage doors.

Each flower is about as big as your hands cupped together to catch water.

140101 - Sweet Peas

Our mild, sunny fall encouraged sweet peas to grow alongside the garage doors. The plants are about six feet tall and covered in very fragrant blooms.

This is the earliest these flowers have bloomed since we moved into this house seven years ago.

1312 - Vertical Gardens

I recently created these vertical gardens out of suet bird feeders about nine by seven by two inches big.

All of the succulents came from the gardens.

1311 - Rose

One of the great successes of this year was a rose we moved from the back of the house to the first level of the terraces. It immediately doubled in size to three feet tall and produced more and more blooms.

This is the first time five flowers bloomed in unison.

The nursery where I bought it says it will grow to eight feet tall.

1311 - Hollyhock

Here's another photograph of the hollyhocks that did so well this summer and fall.

1310 - Larkspur

Only a few larkspurs thrived during our long, foggy summer to bloom this year.

1310 - Dahlias

Our very dry spring meant the dahlias sent up smaller-than-average flowers, which were beautiful, nonetheless.

1310 - Butterfly and Camomile

This butterfly waited long enough for me to take its photograph as he sunbathed next to camomile in bloom.

1309 - Amaryllis

I suspect our very dry winter and spring led to the best display of amaryllis in the gardens since we moved into the house.