"Miss Mystery", on the far end of the pergola she shares with the wisteria and 'Archduke Joseph'. MM, which I got as a cutting, isn't a satisfactory rose: she dies back too much, and can't make up her mind whether she's a shrub or a climber: too lanky and tall for the one; too short for the other. All the same, she does produce some stupendous blooms, like these, for example.

And here's a closer photo of one of those same blooms. If anyone has any suggestions as to what rose this might be (I know just a photo of the flower isn't much to go on), I'd be happy to hear from them.

This is what used to be our yard, and before our arrival, the farm courtyard of the previous owners. The pink-white blooms are 'Odorata'; pink-orange roses to the right foreground are 'Comtesse du Cayla'; the red ones up on the balcony (in real life more pinkish and purplish) are 'Noella Nabonnand', while there are a few yellow blooms of our scraggly 'Maréchal Niel'. Off to the far left are a probable flower or two of 'Jaune Desprez'. Also visible are the electric blue-violet flowers of Salvia guaranitica, in bloom this spring because the winter never got cold enough to freeze the plant to the ground, and the spring rains have given it the wherewithal to flower. In addition, phlomis, myrtle, and the clump of palm Trachycarpus fortunei, which I notice needs to have some old fans cut out of it.

(posting now)

The only tree peony that I have managed to grow from seed to flowering size. It is, I think, quite a beauty, similar to its parent but pink rather than lavender. I made another attempt fall before last, and now have two miniscule babies with one chlorotic leaf apiece. I'm optimistic about them, though: peonies are tough.

Sunny yellow down at the edge of the woods. This is a golden-foliaged scorpion senna, and I'm proud of it because I discovered the parent plant on our property and propagated it. It's a good plant, flowers, and has good vigor.

Common lilac down above the shade garden. It looks rather wild and woolly because that's the reality. I like a wildish garden.

DH prepared a planting hole for me yesterday; this is a chunk of the soil he dug up. Note that the lower part of it is nearly pure clay. We amend a lot.

Viburnum x burkwoodii, a favorite fragrant shrub, very easy, and handsome all year round. This is at the bottom of the shade garden.

Down in the woods. I bought these as English bluebells, but believe they're hybrids. Pretty, anyway, and clumping nicely.

Hard to see, but this is the double yellow Lady Banks rose up in the top of its flowering ash, luxuriously taking the sun.

Melissa - such a joy to see your garden in its bright green, blooming beauty! I love wildish gardens too - seems great to see roses, or whatever, in more natural settings. Always something interesting going on.

The most striking rose to me is your "Miss Mystery" - I have never seen blooms so remarkably stuffed with petals which do not seem to be arranged in any regular way - sumptious. I hope someone on here will have an opinion about that rose. Is it a once bloomer, or does it repeat?

Jackie

I agree with Comtesse, Melissa. Absolutely charming.

What a blessing some well-timed rain showers are. Your garden and property look as if they're sharing their joy and gratitude with anyone who stops to take a look at them. I love springs like yours. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Glad people are enjoying my pics; thanks for the kind comments.

Comtesse, the photography is getting easier as it becomes more of a habit, I'm happy to say. Now if I just had some skills as well. That photo of 'Rubens' is certainly suggestive! I'll take a look at it, appreciate the hint.

I struggled out of bed late this morning, dragging from the chronic fatigue, but went down in the woods to have a look around and collect dandelion greens and what we call "wild asparagus" (it isn't) tips for a frittata. I wasn't feeling too well, so mainly pulled maple seedlings and fussed around with various blockages of the drainage ditch. The idea is to slow down the water, give it a chance to sink in or get used by surrounding plants, and possibly create some semi-permanent miniature ponds where water animals could grow. The tiny intermittent spring was running nicely after the rain, and it was pleasant to see, and hear, the transparent water in the drainage. The blockages-dams are coming along.

Lovely images Melissa. Your gardens are lovely and the spring is such a wondrous time of rebirth and regrowth. Thanks for posting the images. Barely any buds breaking on the roses here. Things like cherry trees and later Magnolias still just coming into bloom. Thanks for sharing your spring garden with the rest of us.

Cheers, Rick