end of school walkabout

We're singing "School's out for summer" in our house today since yesterday was my daughter's last day.  Yippee!!  Every year, we wait anxiously for this date because we both love summer so much (and I like having her home with me) ~ now we're trying to figure out what we're going to do with ourselves! 
Last night I did a LOT of weeding.  Not very celebratory but a necessary task.  I think I emptied four buckets into my yard waste container!  Enough of that! 
A lot less taxing and fun were the few minutes I spent with my camera checking for new blooms.  Thermopsis (I need to find the tag for you) is blooming for the first time in this garden:

I love any "lupine-like" plant which is why this one ended up finding a home here.  It's a bit scraggly, having only three small bloom stalks but each year should get better. 

In the back "berm garden" some of my $1.00 clearance bulbs are making a late appearance.  Muscari "white magic" being one of those:

These should be long over by now but I thought they needed 8 to 12 weeks of chilling before I planted them?  That meant they just went into the ground about the end of April.  I'm not sure if that was the right decision or not because by the time I planted the bulbs, half of them were dried up.  :-(

Around the pond, Primula japonica 'Miller's Crimson' has turned out NOT to be 'Miller's Crimson' ~ I think it's a mixed variety??

Even tho it's not the rich red color I was going for, I guess I'll let it stay.  What do you think?  There are four of these blooming right now and none of them are red!  darn it.

Exceeding expectations are the Anemone 'coronaria's' brought home from the clearance section of Lowes:

They are sporting all sorts of new growth with blooms/buds galore ~  making me very glad I saved them. 
I think the examples in this post go to show, you never know with gardening.  The surprises are half the fun and far outweigh the disappointments.  At least that's been the case for me.

Now I need to fulfill another promise ~ that of whipping up a batch of chocolate waffles to celebrate the first full day off of school!  Happy Friday everyone!

Comments

[marnie]

Love your Anemone. Beautiful pink and those black centers really are striking. I'll give them two thumbs up!

I vote to keep the "Not Miller's Crimson". It isn't red but it's pretty. I noticed our HD had blooming primula on sale. I like to buy plants I can see blooming.
Marnie

[Racquel]

That Anemone is gorgeous. I just love when a bargain plant turns out to be a showpiece of the garden. :)

[Sweet Bay]

Chocolate waffles -- your daughter is very lucky!

Is the Thermopsis Carolina Bush Pea (villosa)?

I love Anemone coronaria too. I got some in a trade and only expected it to last one year. It came back this year and seemed to bloom forever, even through hot spells.

The white Muscari is lovely.

[RobinL]

Oh my, that anemone is gorgeous! I don't have any anemones and now that picture makes me want one. I've been out in the heat and sunshine all day, and despite my aching back, it's just how I'd choose to spend my day. Ahhhh.

[Kala]

Love the Muscari 'White Magic' - they look like white grape hyacinths.

[RainGardener]

I think the pink tint looks good even though they didn't turn out to be the rich red you were going for. And the Anemone 'coronaria's' are breathtaking. So bright and showy. They would definitely be a favorite of mine.
I always did Swedish pancakes for my daughters special times and slumber parties. I've since had her friends tell me they still remember them - that makes it worth it.

[Noelle / azplantlady]

I hope your daughter has a wonderful summer vacation. I do love the white muscari...I had only seen the purple before. Maybe next year more will grow?

[Catherine]

I bet you and your daughter are happy! My oldest is counting down the days, next year she starts junior high so she's especially happy.
I vote to let the Primula stay, it is pink after all.