Let's see who is coming back.

The sun made an appearance in between my daughter's sporting events, so of course I had to take some time to see what was happening outside.  I decided I'd check on some of the things I planted late last summer.   I didn't plant as much as I usually do last summer.  I was pretty busy with our then one year old.

Last summer I finally convinced my husband to take down a diseased and dying crabapple.  It would bloom for a week, then all the leaves would turn brown and fall off, leaving us with an eyesore for the rest of the year.

We decide to plant a couple of pear trees around that area.  We found two semi dwarf pear trees.   Both are supposed to be good in the northwest and will be able to cross pollinate.  Hopefully maybe even a few pears will be produced this year, although I'm doubtful since it will be their first year.  They both have lots of leaf buds showing.  My daughters each claimed one.  This is an Orcas, and it really isn't leaning like it looks in this picture.

This is a Comice Pear.

I thought it would be fun to make a stepping stone with one of each of their feet.  Then we could always look back at how small they were when the trees first went in.

Nearby I planted monarda 'Jacob Cline', it was a 4" pot. It's showing signs it will be very large this summer.  Glad I planted it in a place with room to spread.  The hummingbirds loved it and hopefully it'll attract bees to pollinate the pear trees.

I decided we needed more evergreen shrubs in the front, so I planted this Mexican Orange (choisya).  It has come through really well considering all the snow it had been under.  It should have fragrant white flowers this spring.  I love its shiny green leaves.

This clematis Piilu looks like it's got a lot of new growth.  It didn't bloom last year, so I'm anxious to see how it looks.  The flowers on the tag are light pink with a darker center.  It only gets about 6' and will grow up a post with a birdhouse on it.  On the other side of the post should be clematis Miss. Bateman, but no sign of her yet.  Hope she will make it.  I thought the two would look pretty intertwined together.  

These iris were given to me by my sister.  They did some major landscaping and removed all the iris.  My other sister and I were glad to take them.  I put three separate clumps in, and they all look good.

Penstemon Husker Red looks pretty good.   I'm looking forward to it growing and seeing the reddish foliage.  

This Honey Perfume rose looked terrible at first, until I looked up close.  Lots of new growth showing.  It's next to the walkway to our front door.  I wanted lots of yummy smelling plants to greet anyone coming to our door.  There is lavender, other roses, lilies and nicotiana will go there again too.