Busy busy busy!

I'm checking the iris daily for new blooms, keeping track and taking pics of those I need for the web site. They are loaded with buds and I'm sure if it ever STAYS warm for more than one day they will burst open by the dozens.

Stop by and check it out, orders are coming in and counts are going down on the most popular.

www.sunshineannie.com

Here are a few of the early bloomers so far this year

I'm busy busy on my Etsy page also, cutting lots of orders for black circles....... for.....Snowman hats! Yes, I said snowmen. Heh, hey, you have to plan ahead right? :p

Knitting scarves for the iris buds!

I feel like I should be taking out little blankets for all the buds peeking above the leaves. We had 90 last tuesday, 80's wed. and thurs., and now it's 50's and COLD!  Not funny Mother Nature.

A few more of the earlies are opening. I expect they won't be doing much more until the weather straightens out. Two nights this week are calling for frost! A few years ago it did this, and the buds kept growing, but when they opened the spot where the stem was when it frosted was weak and they hung over. In bloom! odd looking for sure. And very hard to get good pictures then. 

I did put out the shiny streamer sticks today to keep the blackbirds from trying to perch on the buds. I learned this a few years ago. Couldn't figure out who/what was breaking off so many buds right at the top of the stem. Until I saw a blackbird or robin (I forget which it was- fat bird anyway!) try to land on one and it broke.

Sooo, shiny streamers on wooden stakes it was and no more problem. You have to look closely to see them in this picture. Yea, windy.From the north. :(

Warm weather and Dandelions!

I've decided to look at all those dandelions as wild flowers. Wild flowers everywhere!  In the grass, in the flower beds, in between the blocks on our paths, in the cracks of the deck, EVERYWHERE!  But soon they will poof! and start a few million more for next year. How sweet  *sigh

Here is a picture of my first buds and soon to be first 2010 Iris blomer, Tingle. I expect it will open tomorrow or the next day. We are expecting 80's, and the iris are loving the warmer weather, finally.

Running a close second is Pink Frosting.
                                        

Ok, this is a first try, but I hope it works (crossing fingers). This is my kitty Charlie, he's my garden buddy now that Maddie is gone.They were brother/sister and best friends. They used to lay on the floor and perfectly mirror each other. I need to find that pic now.... wait for it.....
Check this out, so cute.

So anyway, that's Charlie on the right.
 He does this thing, only outside, when we walk he has to walk along between our feet!

So here he is on the way back from taking a picture of the Tingle buds. (it was windy so all you'll hear is that, and me laugh)

Work work work!

Today I had to clean off a big old flower bed that is getting too full of grass, and wild strawberries? I'm not sure how I'll deal with the grass yet, but the dead stuff is off. It's MUCH bigger than it looks in the picture. I'm not good at guessing measurements but... 40' long?  Took two hours to rake it off and now I'm shot!

Oh yea, on the left you can see the sad remains of my favorite bench. I hope we can use the pieces to build a new one, I just love it in this bed when the flowers are all blooming. It did last over 10 years, but wish it would have lasted 10 more.

Here are a couple shots from around our yard. We have 3 acres total, and lots of trees! Not the prettiest time of year to take pictures. Most of the trees are still very bare. Our yard is outlined by pine trees, wayyyy down there!

 The back of our house. My hideaway deck , where the neighbors can't see us!

Here is my "play house" - greenhouse. Door is shut because I started seeds yesterday and it's not exactly hot outside. I have a chicken waterer, maybe some day I can have some chickens!

And here are some views of the iris beds. They are growing well, even with the hail storms and cold wet weather!

Sign up to win free iris this summer!

Annie says-

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Be sure to sign up with your email for updates, and to be included in my drawing for FREE iris in August!
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Getting there....

I'm almost thru the website updates. Still have some pictures to change, and some prices that need corrected (mostly lower) , but I'm getting there! A few orders have come in , thank you thank you! Do remember that the iris don't start to ship until Mid to Late July.

It's been cold rain and wind so not much working outside. I see the oats are very happy growing among the iris ....*sigh. Time to get out the hoe. I wish the rabbits would just eat them already!!

Here are a few more pics from my gardens to help us ignore the dreary rainy weather.

          My big orange poppies. I wish they would last longer.

    This is a volunteer that comes up in a new place(s) every year around my yard!

                                                 Florentine Silk putting on a show.

 My lupine maddness! I love it when the colors start mixing. last year I had one that was pink top to bottom on one side, and purple top to bottom on the other!

Did I miss summer? ???

This weather is crazy cold, and too too wet. I sure hope it straightens out soon so the iris can dry out and get growing buds.
Since there isn't any new news in the iris beds right now, I'll share a few more pictures of my family. Well my fur family, they like their pics taken. First I want to start with my dearest garden buddy ever, my sweet Maddie Maye. She died in July '09 because the neighbors sprayed their yard for dandelions, and Maddie got it on her feet. She died a long and horrible suffering of strokes. I hoped she would make it, but I lost my sweetheart and It still breaks my heart. Please don't use those chemicals on your yards. What's a few dandelions, they don't last that long. I know what a pain they are in the flower beds, but I'd rather weed than bury my best friends. She was only 6 years old.

 The last picture of Maddie I took. If I'd only known, I would never have let her outside that day.

 She loved to climb. If she coudln't see me she would sing a funny meeeoowwwowowow song. :)

 Her favorite flowers, here she's wishing they would grow faster so we couldn't see her. Funny thing is, there is still a bare spot in the center where she used to sleep.

                                           She loved frogs, this one she patted!

                                          Her last gift to me, she was a great hunter.
                         And that's why she was in the neighbors yard, they had a lot of mice & voles.
                                                                I miss you sweetie. :*(

Akkk what happened to spring?!!

The kitties know what to do on a day like this...

                                              Addie and Maggie say  Take a Nap!!

One of my favorites! Genetic Artist

A few pictures from 2010 while we wait for this year's blooms

Order questions.

I've had a couple questions about ordering the iris.

Yes, if you order you will be first in line for that Iris. If too many are sold, they will be filled by date of order.

Shipping- It's hard to determine actual cost until the iris are dug and packed. Some are naturally smaller, some are huge... If you overpay by more than $2 I will refund the difference when they are shipped.

If you have any more questions feel free to send me a note.

Spring is here!

FINALLY the weather is warmer and the frost is gone! The iris are growing,and of course so are the weeds.
I'm working on my website, stop by and see the progress daily as I go alphabetically from a-z and update the missing pictures and descriptions.

www.sunshineannie.com   (click on link at top right -> )

You can also follow the link there to my etsy shops. This time of year most of the activity is in my diecut shop and the iris. In the fall I get to work sewing loads of  fun stuff for the Elizabeth craft show in October.

You can place iris orders now if you like, however rhizomes will not be shipped before mid to late July when they are ready. But if there are some you really like, don't wait as they might sell out and you would have to try again next year. :(   Nothing worse than not getting the one you want!  (There are several I've been trying to add to my gardens for years and I always miss out).

Think spring! Warm weather and sunshine will bring blooms galore.