The Promise of Blooms to Come

 My garden beds are in that stage of offering lots of promises of blooms and growth to come.

I got out early today, Wednesday, 6:30 am, to beat the heat. I had lots of new plants to get into the ground as a result of the $13 I spent at the Garden Club Potluck and Silent Auction.  I took lettuce starts, dahlia tubers, and amaryllis for the auction.  I came home with pansies, forget me nots, three containers of lily of the valley, a hosta, and a stella d'oro day lily. What was nice was that the lily of the valley could be divided so I had 6 plants, and so could the hosta so I had two.  All of these except the day lily and pansies went into the new bed along our driveway.  Pictures will have to wait until after mulching happens and the plans show some growth.

Rock Garden

Once I got all that planting done I tackled the Rock Garden and then Maple Garden (its named because its between two maple trees).  Weeding had to be done.  In the Rock Garden I was surprised how the grass grew right through a weed barrier fabric that the landscaper who mulched for me in 2025 put down.  I decided to let one weed grow.  Must be the little blue flowers that persuaded me.  Some people call it creeping charley.

Maple Garden

The Maple Garden is the original garden that was here.  I've tamed it and reduced its size.  Once upon a time there was a huge fence dividing it lengthwise.  Fence long gone.  It has these lovely Star of Bethlehem blooming. Nice to have them spread even more this year.

I still have lots of weeding to do.  I did what I could today.  Stamina is not what it was when we lived in Maryland at The Lodge.  Look back at spring and summer posts before 2016 to see those gardens.

But here's what is promising:

Hosta unfurling.

False Indigo too.

This was in the yard when we moved here.  When it first starting showing in the spring I thought it was asparagus. 

Columbine has buds that will open soon.

Iris too have swelling buds.

Bleeding heart in two locations, Rock Garden and Deck Garden have opened first flowers.

Chives too promise lots of flowers.

And look how large this lupine bud is!

The last daffodil variety is just now flowering.

And look what I found next to the trash can!  It seeded itself.

Grass is really green and needs another cutting before the weekend.

Now I need a nap!

Greece Trip and 1st Island

I've labeled this map so you can see where we traveled. 

1. Athens - Parthenon

2. Lavrion - Temple of Poseidon 

3. Syros - Ermoupoli, Capital city of the Cyclades.

4. Kos - Sanctuary of Asclepius, the God of Medicine 

5. Kusadasi, Turkey to see Ephesus

6. Santorini - Akrotiri, the Pompeii of Greece

7. Milos - Venus de Milo fame

As I said in the previous post on this trip, Syros was our first island.  The trip itinerary had to be juggled when we lost a sailing day because of rough seas.  Syros was to be later in the week because it is was fully settled in the 1800s as a leading port and shipyard.

 We had a walking tour of the main part of town and then time to explore on our own.  We opted with two other couples to seek out a quaint restaurant for lunch.

Here are some scenes from that walking tour.

Narrow streets.

Notice how the trunks of the trees seem to grow out of the marble.

Thankfully it wasn't wet or these walkways would be slippery.

Did you notice how the streets are paved in marble?

We started out in the flat part of the city but look how it climbs the hill.

The Catholic Church is at the highest point on the right.  We visited two Greek Orthodox Church in two very different neighborhoods.

The grand square early on a Sunday morning.

Miaoulis, a Revolutionary commander.

Inside the government building on the square I was taken by the patterns on the floor and ceiling.

From the square we walked on to the first church.  This building in distress caught my eye.

Inside the church was an overwhelming assortment of icons.

Another view of the church we just left.

Looking up to the top of the hill and the Catholic Church.

Where does this walkway go?  Not our route to the next church.

The next church was non descript outside but inside had this treasure - an early painting by El Greco.

After the visit to the church six of us tried to retrace our steps to where we had caught a glimpse of some charming restaurants.  It was just after noon time so they were opening.

We found this one and I asked what they were known for and he said Moussaka.  I was sold and so was the rest of the party.

We each ordered something different and sent round plates to share.  It was a lot of fun.

Later that evening before dinner a troop of dancers came on board.

It was a very good day.

The restaurant had black and white photos of scenes from the town so I converted this one to b&w. What do you think?

Next stop Kos.