Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’
It is a beautiful Easter weekend in Chapel Hill. We will wait to see how the hydrangeas do but otherwise the garden survived a couple nights of below freezing temperatures. Iris germanica ‘Orinoco Flow’ is the second iris to appear this spring. It opened just before the cold snap but looked cheerful afterwards.
Soon gracefully nodding columbine flowers will be open everywhere in the garden, as well as in many places beyond where it decided to wander. This first one to open is homesteading in a south-facing position next to the drive.
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
This past week I have watched peonies rising with amazing speed. Peony ‘Coral Charm’ is always the most eager to bloom.
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ (Coral Charm Peony)
I counted a dozen buds.
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ (Coral Charm Peony)
Here are a few flowers and a video with birdsong from yesterday’s Instagram post.
My husband and I went retro yesterday and colored eggs for the first time in many years. If you are looking for a creative way to be in the present moment, I recommend dye. Watching its transformation brings on a true sense of awe and wonder. Wishing you all a wonderful Spring day on this Easter Sunday.
Easter Eggs
pbmGarden 
Happy Easter. You garden is doing well.
Hope I can keep up with it this year.
I like that white/purple iris.
I. ‘Orinoco Flow’ looks like it has stitching all around the petals.
I love the Easter eggs – what a fun thing to do, it’s been years since I did that.
Your garden is looking floriferous! I’m looking forward to the coming attractions. 🙂
Thanks Eliza. I can’t even imagine the last time we had dyed eggs either. Took me back to delights of childhood.
That Iris alone would have made my day. 🙂
The cold weather set back some irises but they should catch up. 75 degrees today.
That’s a beautiful Iris and I’m envious of your homesteading Aquilegia, which I have difficulty keeping alive for long. You’re the second friend today to show off colored eggs – it’s a trend! I hope you enjoyed a happy holiday weekend, susie.
We hadn’t dyed eggs in years! Some of our food dye was dried up but reconstituted easily!
Looks like my comment didn’t get sent? Your lovely eggs reminded me of painting eggs with my niece when she was young. 😃 My peonies are only just peeping through. I love watching them unfurl their leaves. Look forward to seeing Coral Charm in a vase again this year! 😉
I didn’t see the first comment–thanks for taking time to redo it! Painting eggs this year with my husband was a delight. I’m sure your niece has sweet memories of spending time with you. Coral Charm is always way ahead of my other peonies. Have a great week.
Your garden is always further on than ours. And how exciting to have your first iris.
A few iris were ready to open but the cold snap last week got them. I don’t remember that happening before. In many ways the garden seems behind this year (or maybe it’s just more normal than in recent years).
I don’t think I have ever looked at the native Aquilegia buds at that stage, only at the flowers. Lovely.
They are spready plants but nice nevertheless.