where's summer ?

photo copyright z m evensen

This is what I woke up to this morning! This is a few days before the official start of summer!  What the ... ?To top it all, I just planted munstead lavender last week. Hope they survive.  The grape hyacinths , alliums, and  tulips are just about to bloom. The daffodils are really showing off their bloom.  Will they survive the storm? I also see a lot of pine seeds germinating. Maybe I will try to save some and see it they survive.

Our house furnace is not working -- so I will have to bundle up and rely on space heaters today.

To think I watered the lawn yesterday because the sandy soil was dry. Am waiting to see whether the wildflower seeds I planted last fall will come out. I noticed that yarrow, lupine, and  echinacea have started to pop their leaves through the soil. The catrmint, russian sage and lilacs are alive and well. Planted another lilac -- california rose- last week. Hope it survives this surprise later spring storm.

wild ramps !

wild ramps --- photo copyright z m evensen

Wow! What a find!  I found these near a stream under aspen and pine trees. We actually went fishing in the high Sierras -- hoping to have enough catch for dinner. The fish was not biting -- not at the lakes nor the streams. So, we went off road to follow the small streams still with batches of snow here and there. That's where I spotted several bunches of beautiful wild ramps! What a find!  I knew about wild ramps before but I did not know they grow in the western United States. To make sure, I checked out pictures on the 'Net before I started cooking them. I tasted the fresh ramps which had a delightful peppery garlicky oniony flavor.

As soon as I got home, I braised  chopped ramps in butter, added king trumpet mushrooms and red and yellow chard ( chiffonade). No salt, no pepper. (see king trumpet mushrooms below). A perfect lunch!

z m evensen

15 may 2010

daffodils in the snow

daffodilas in the snow photo by z m evensen

Arrived in the Eastern Sierras just before a fast moving blizzard dumps five inches of snow . Was hoping I'd see more bulbs in bloom. My daffs were battered by the  pummeling winds and the blossoms barely survived the storm.  If the weather cooperates, I hope to see more plants wake up. This is my first garden venture in the high country. I scattered  red poppy seeds, packets of wild flower seeds, anemonies and ranunculus bulbs. Hope these were not eaten by deer or gophers.

colors!

photo z m evensen

spring

comes

without warning

unfurling hues

of willow celadon

and shamrock jade

flutters

on soft wings

at dawnlight

airbrushing the valley

with apple pink

hyacinth amethyst

and heady white

orange blossoms

mists

new leaf with dew

caressing rain

carefully undoing

winter's cover

wakening

sleeping passions

bows

earth's heartstrings

softly playing

hummingbird minuets

and  moves on

z m evensen

10 march 1993  rev 5-9-2010

 this is turn around month into summer in southern california.

the daffs, freesias and grape hyacinth have since stopped blooming. i planted different bulbs which  flower at different times.

the rock garden does provide warmth for the early bulbs. now the calla lilies are taking over. in the garden trug are flowers from my garden -- sweet peas and roses.

the roses are hot cocoa, mom's rose, scentimental, and betty boop.on the background are volunteer calendulas as well as key lime, cancan orange trees.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

blue iris

PLUM BLOSSOMS

plum blossom   hurry

before rain showers dilute

watercolors of a kurosawa spring !

z m evensen

14 march 1998 rev 2 may 2010