If I hadn’t been benignly neglecting my planter boxes, I’d have butternut squashes or snow 
peas growing on the trellis, and zucchini as well. As it is, volunteer sweet peas have flourished, because those boxes are irrigated on a timer that gives them a little water every day. This week I pulled out all the burr clover and aphid-infested collards and Swiss chard, to make room for the flowers, and to plant more seeds.
We cut the snowball bush viburnum down to stumps, because it needs to be given a fresh start. I promise I will give it water during dry spells as well. In former days we put the hose on it in summer, and I don’t know why I stopped.
Bursts of purples meet the eye all over the back garden, from the lobelia…
…to the penstemon…
…to the Blue-Eyed Grass hiding behind a pomegranate bush:
I know that when I go on my trip next week, I won’t be thinking of my garden. But right now, I am reluctant to say good-bye, and I’m thinking of all the changes that will happen without me seeing them. Probably by the time I return the sweet peas will be a little crisp.
But more blossoms might have emerged on the lemon tree.
You know I’ll be sure to let you know.
Gladsome Lights 
One of my readers recently was in your part of California, and he created a beautiful photo of your blue-eyed grass. I was surprised by the color (so different from ours) and by the prominent lines on the petals. Lovely!
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Thank you for sharing his great photos from up this-a-way! It is a very welcome flower when it blooms so sweetly in the spring.
Someone showed me pictures last week of the salsify that they had taken near here, wondering what it was, and I was pleased to know. As with many plants, I can remember the moment when someone else taught me, long ago. My husband was the first person to tell me the names of wildflowers. When he was a boy his extended family with carloads of grandmas, aunts, uncles and cousins would go on a Mother’s Day afternoon outing every year to see the wildflowers on Mount Hamilton in Santa Clara County. I bet they saw blue-eyed grass and maybe salsify, too!
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Back when we would head out in our camper van I always wished that we would postpone trips of more than a few days until the Autumn when most of my flowers were finished blooming. Even so, as soon as we came home I’d be out looking how my garden had fared. I hope your Snowball bush comes back lush and full after its drastic pruning.
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I enjoy seeing pictures of your garden.
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Beautiful sweet peas.
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Hello! I share your reluctance to leave my garden, even though I do love to travel. Such joy in returning to view all the changes lies ahead for you!
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Things change quickly here in the Spring and we returned to some lovely changes amongst ALL THE WEEDs! 🙂 Hope you have a lovely trip!
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BLue and purple flowers just captivate me. It’s almost like they are unreal! My sweet peas are volunteering like crazy in spots I don’t want them to. Boy, those roots are deep! Pretty impossible to remove so I hack them down periodically. If only they’d stay where I put them!
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