Looks who's blooming!

I have to start with this.

I was sitting inside, working, peering longingly through my blinds at the gorgeous afternoon, and decided I had had enough.  I needed to be in my garden!!
I went out and took some pictures, which of course inspired me to put up another update.  Well, that and the fact that I have not put up anything new in a week!!
But, alas, that meant going back inside to the computer *sigh*
Wait!! I have an idea.  Why on earth should I go inside to write about my garden.  Would it not be a better idea to sit among my gorgeous flowers as I write about them? *Lightbulb*
And so, I gathered up the essentials and headed outside, to sit among my pride and joy and draw inspiration from them as I type out the updates I am sure you are on the edge of your seat waiting for :)

So whats going on? I'll tell ya!! There are so so so many wonderful, exciting things happening.

Fist, my first lily has made an appearance!! I am so excited!! I love lilies, and have been holding my breath waiting for them to bloom!
here is the first peek she made the other day:

coyly poking her beautiful face out, deciding its the right time to show.  Today they are both in their full glory, proudly opened up to the sun soaking in its warmth while sharing their gorgeous colors with us

That is just one of many.  I dont know how many lilies I have, but there are many, and this is just the beginning of the beauty they will bestow upon us.

Sunflowers!!

They are starting to show!! These are two of the tallest variety.  You can see, the one on the left will be yellow, and the one on the right will be reddish/rusty colored.

I have 4 varieties of sunflower, I think, but these two are the only ones suggesting they might open up soon. These were a couple of days ago,

And here the red one is today

Its a little hard to get the coloring quite right, the sun was behind them.  Tomorrow morning will be better.  You can see though that it is going to be a fiery flower!!

The other day I had a bunch of "buds with ambition" that were my up-and-comers.  Well, now many of them have opened up to show us what they've got :)

We have here my be-au-ti-ful red rose, with many buds fully opened.  It is such a happy rose bush.  It makes my heart smile when I see it, so beautiful, happily blooming away.  

 There is a gorgeous collection of poppies springing out of the white alyssum.  They are so pretty.  After the first couple bloomed a month ago, I was not sure if any more would show.  There were not any more visible buds. But I think they were hiding in the alyssum, because each day a new bud will pop up out of the white, and within a few days its another gorgeous flower.  I love these poppies, so bright and colorful, with tissue-paper petals.

My mom's begonia is in full bloom, merrily opening up beside my own begonia (hers is on the L, mine on R)

And here is the Dahlia that was covered in buds before.  Those little buds have begun to pop out all over, producing pretty pink petals :)

I thought this was fun, I took a series of pictures of the buds in different stages, and thought it would be neat to have them strung along, to show the progression of the flower's opening.  These are all taken in one day, from the above plant.

The beginning.  The two buds on the left were very accommodating, huddling together so I could get the bud stage and the beginning of the blossoming in one shot :)
I love the pink sticking out of the end, almost looks to me like it has its lips puckered for a kiss XXXX

On the right, above, slowly peeling back the green leaves to allow the pink petals to breathe.

I love in the picture on the right, below, how the petals look like little tubes.  Or maybe trumpets, announcing their arrival :)

On the left, nearly there, demurely covering the center with a few last petals. and on the right, proudly opened up, displaying itself in full splendor.

This is on my coral rose.  I couldn't help myself, I love how there is just the tiniest peek of color.  A subtle tease of whats to come. 

And now, for some general glamor shots!!

All along the S side of the house, W---->E

Every time I see these I cant get over the gorgeous saturation of color!! They are in the pic above, on the R, under the bushes.

A little closer on the snapdragons.  

My passion flowers are really climbing away!!

Another angle down sunflower row, and a shot of me behind the sunflowers, so show how tall they are!!

I think this is called a flamingo orchid.  Doesnt really matter, its very graceful.

More of the red rose :)

and moss roses

My "sunset" dahlia

 

a little row of color.  Pink snapdragon, fuscia sweet pea, purple foxglove (or something like it) and the sunflower towers above.

 Snapdragons in front of the poppies and alyssum.

Ok ok. I could go on and on.  I think I may go a little overboard with the pictures I take, but I just cant help myself. I feel like each day there are so many changes, and I want to capture them all :)