It's all relative, but yes, they are back....

"It's all relative." That's what I told Lucy as we walked around examining the garden on Saturday morning. The rain has stopped for a few minutes in hopes of luring us out then dumping on our heads. 

"It's all relative. Like you me, Lucy. We're relatives. Someone even made a theory of relativity." I was trying to explain that although it seems like about 30 years since we've had a nice weekend, this wasn't the fact. It had been nice once before, I just couldn't remember when. That's when we stumbled upon the next perplexing item. 

How does algae grow in a water fountain when it has literally, quite literally, rained all week? I remember venturing out in the rain last weekend and there was very little algae, yet this weekend it was more like algae with a bit of water fountain to go with it. Well, there is only one thing to do - well two if you count raising your hands to heaven, falling to your knees and crying in a distraught voice, "WHY!"

I got the scrub brush and hose and cleaned it out. As I was there, I thought it would be a good time to pull some weeds and plant a waterlily. I mean, what else would you do? I bought these two waterlilies for half off a week ago, but needed the wine barrel, which I purchased, and if luck holds, the advertisers for the lily aren't bending the truth, and everything works; just drop in and watch the magic. We should have a water lily in the barrel in a short amount of time. Seems a little too good to be true, but if it doesn't work, then I won't buy another one.

I also am trying to lure in some colorful birds and heard that fresh fruit is helpful. So I bent a hanger and applied an apple. It may be too early though because since friday night not one of them were eaten. I also laid a few on a branch and they too were sedulously avoided. I may try again in a month or so. 

On to better news! This is the first D'Avignon radish growing nicely. It has been about a month and a half, but they survived the odd weather and are almost ready to start enjoying. Lots of other stuff like lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, peas, and stuff are growing, but not as far along as our brave little soldier here. 

Also, our clematis is about to bloom. I am looking forward to this as two years ago, we did a major pruning and last year there were only abou 10 blooms. This year will be much better.

You may have wondered what the "but yes, they are back" part of the title meant. I may also have wondered when I wrote it, but it fits in here. Yes, the gold finches are back. The males are much easier to spot, but the females are a nice addition also. Every spring I wait for them and don't put out the expensive finch seed until they arrive as the red wing blackbirds and starlings aren't picky. In honor of their return, though, it is out and we enjoyed watching and hearing them!

One last bit of good news. Here is the poppy bed that I spoke of a few posts back. You can see little patches of the seeds coming up and starting to fill out. I am hoping for oodles of poppies and it looks like that may happen!

Last, but definitely not least, Saturday was the plant sale up at Federal Way Rhododendron botanical gardens by warehouser. It is a smaller one, but they have more of the hard to get varieties of not just rhodies, but lots of others. Usually around 30 nurseries participate. 

I escaped and "only" bought some trilliums, iris', a korean lilac, another viburnum, and some little orange and yellow flowers I had never heard of but just had to get even though I had no idea where they would fit, but I just couldn't live without. There were much more I wanted and a very knowledgeable staff to answer questions, but alas it is over and we'll have to wait til next year. 

However if you are about to wonder if you can survive that long, the WSU master gardeners sale in Puyallup is on next weekend. I am debating if I will go because I am sure I'll find stuff I really really need, but don't know where I'll put them. It is always enjoyable though as the staff is first class and can't get annoyed with all of your questions as they want you to buy! Well, we'll see how things go.