Gardening on a Saturday

Was out at sunrise this morning to tend to some regular gardening duties.  Even though spring is late here in southeastern Alberta there are a few plants showing their colours and brightening up my day.

After a quick trip out to an acreage I was in Pat's yard:

An early-blooming cushion spurge with its sulfur-yellow flowers.

I love this variety of Spirea.  The new growth is always such a brilliant and showy crimson colour.

 

The heart-shaped pink flowers of an old-fashioned favourite...a bleeding heart.

Then next door at Dave's place:

The white blossoms of a Honeycrisp apple tree.  These are one of the tastiest apples you can find anywhere and they store well for the winter...Dave was still eating the apples picked in September the following March.

Two doors down at Bill and Margaret's:

Hints of pink on the new growth of a false spirea.  Their appearance has always struck me as something far too exotic to grow here in the south...but they do.

Hosta leaves edged in yellow.  The deer often think that hostas are simply a salad planted just for them.  

The lovely lavender flowers of a creeping phlox.

At Lawrence's office:

The caraganas are reaching full bloom.  They have proven to be one of the hardiest prairie plants.

Mama bush bunny had a couple of babies recently and this is one of the pair.  The youngsters are cute as a button and also help with the lawn mowing.  They live under the deck in the backyard. 

An early display of dwarf irises...one of my favourites of the early-blooming perennials.

And ending in Linda and Lawrence's yard:

A lone tulip blooming amongst the ferns and trunks of a mountain ash tree.

I'm still somewhat astounded that people pay me to do this.  Who would have thought?

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on May 13, 2023.