Spring garden update

It's been a long time since I wrote here. The main reason is that I've been working on another writing project. I may say more about that some other time.

But for now, I want to update you on how our new garden bed is doing. 

It’s been just over a year since we planted it. 

Some plants did not survive the winter so there are gaps. The writing on the plant labels also didn't last--so I'm not sure about the names of all the plants that didn't survive without carefully studying the diagram we got from our landscape designer. 

Others are so prolific that they are crowding out their neighbors. I want to remove and or rearrange things some time. I don't know why our designer had us plant so many things so close together. She seemed to think we would be upset like other clients have been if there was space between the plants despite me telling her that I like space and I prefer a more minimal look. 

I took the above photos this morning. I was planning to write this blog update using a photo I took a few weeks ago when it looked more interesting. But I decided I wanted a more up to date photo. It also gave me a good excuse to take a break and go outside. While I was there I decided to take a longer break (aka procrastinate) and sit outside so I could drink my tea and soak up some vitamin d. I know it's shady in the photos but it got sunnier as I sat their. And I have read that it's possible to get vitamin d in the shade--it just takes longer. 

Anyway it was nice to spend some time outside. I haven't done that much this spring. I don't know why. I do enjoy it when I spend time outside. Though after enjoying the birdsong and writing in my journal for a while I started noticing things that need doing. Things like the soaker hose that needs to be tidied away and all the plants that need to be pruned or rearranged. I also noticed that my husband had weeded and edged this weekend so I sent him a thank you text. So that was good.

Here are some other photos from this spring:

The tall purple flowers in back are Gulf Coast Penstemon. The bright pink flowers in the front are magenta Dianthus

This is the photo from a few weeks ago that I referred to above. The magenta Dianthus and giant yellow irises were at their peak. I snapped it after we got home from a ten day trip back east. I was pleased to see it looked so presentable despite our having been away. 
The grass was a little patchy. But that seems to be a common thing around here this year.

The desert willow tree had a few flowers on it recently but there aren't anymore at the moment.

Note: I don't know if I wrote the plant names correctly. I think if it is a genus then it is supposed to be capitalized and italicized but other types of names such as popular names are not. If you know the correct way to write any of the above names feel free to tell me in the comments below.