The Iris are Coming, The Iris are Coming!

Yes they are.  The iris are coming just as I prepare to leave for Oregon.

'Pumpkin Center' (Bennett Jones, R. 1988)

This SDB is lovely spring yellow, with pale pumpkin.

 

 

'Jennyanydots' (Paul Black, 2011)

One lone bloom on a fine growth on this SDB stands proudly.

'Stitch Witch' (A. & D. Willott, R. 1975).

Another SDB has the classic white with violet plicata.

Is this 'Marsh Imp'?

This unknown early bloomer looks a great deal like 'Marsh Imp', an MDB. The height is correct as well.  The pure white MDB 'Snowy River' is also starting to bloom.

A bed of Forget-Me-Nots keeps a shady spot light and airy,

'Panda Paws' (unknown)

 

A beautiful tulip with the colors of USC.  Go Trojans!

CITY OF VANCOUVER DESTROYED!

Entire City of Vancouver eaten by deer...

Their hoof marks left no doubt. Don't know why they found this clump so tasty, but a new application of Liquid Fence was applied.  

Ruins of Tulip "City of Vancouver"

Tulip "Tennessee"

Gavota is a delight.  A rich burgundy is edged by white that blends into a creamy yellow on the pointed petals of this beauty.

Tulip "Gavota"

Kees Neilis and baseball.  Spring is here.

Tulip "Kees Nelis"

Little League behind our house.

Tulips So Far This Spring

It's been a marvelous spring of tulips!  I planted lots of new bulbs in the fall and most have produced wonderfully.

The first to bloom was this Fosteriana tulip "Pirand."  It lasted well through several hard frosts. The other Fosteriana in my garden, "Juan" bloomed later.

Tulip Fosteriana - "Pirand" Early 12-14" (observed Early 14")

Tulip Fosteriana "Juan" Mid-Late 18" (observed Early 12")

Then came "Toronto" and "Quebec"... these early tulips are from the Gregii and Kaufmannia groups.  Mottled leaves and fluted bloom are typical of these compact and dense growers.  They are particularly suited for an exposed area where high winds won't mangle them.

Tulip Greigii "Orange Toronto" Mid-Early 14" (observed Early 12")

Tulip Kaufmannania "Quebec" Early 12-14" (observed Early 12")

From the Martha Stewart collection is Brown Sugar.  From a distance the reason for the name is obvious. It renders a beautiful bronze effect.

Tulip "Brown Sugar" Mid-Late 14-20" (Observed Mid-Late 16")

These triumph types did not have a cultivar name but they were also dirt cheap at the Christmas Tree Shoppe. The red and white is a favorite.  

Tulip Purple Triumph Type (Observed Mid 16")

Tulip Red and White Triumph Type (Observed Mid 14")

This was from the Biltmore collection.

Tulip "Tennessee" Mid Season 18-20" (observed Mid 13")

Packaged together these were from Lowes. I have discovered that if you are lucky you can get some great bulbs form Lowes... but you can also waste your money... and the prices are not really a bargain in the plant department. 

 Tulip "Angelique" Late 16-18" (observed early-mid 12")

Tulip "Blue Diamond" Early-Mid 12-20" (observed Early-Mid 12")

From Bristol's, a local nursery... "Mickey Mouse" is my favorite!  The painted look is really spectacular.

Tulip Kees Nelis Mid 16-18" (observed Mid 12")

Tulip "Kaiserskroon" Mid 12-14" (observed Mid 12")

Tulip "Mickey Mouse" Mid 12-14" (observed Mid 12")

Tulip "Gavota" Mid 16-18" (observed Late 14") 

Many have commented that "Angelique" blooms less prolifically and has less color the second season.  I have noticed that even the first year the color deepens rather than fades as the bloom is out...

Tulip "Angelique" 2nd season Late 16-18" (observed Late 14")

These are from a low priced, large quantity of Darwin Hybrid Mix. Though stunted by the strange spring, they are big and showy. I don't care for the combo of bright pink and Yellow/Red blooms.  I have marked the Yellow/Red bulbs to replant them in their own spot.

From Darwin Hybrid Mix (observed Mid 19")

Just bloom is "Happy Generation" and some others I cannot identify...

Tulip "Happy Generation" Mid 18" (Observed Late 13")

Tulip Unknown Peach-Pink (observed Late 16")

Tulip Unknown Purple White (observed Late 14")

Red Oxford and Gold Oxford are blooming as well. Some have yet to bloom or are lost.  

Spring Bulbs in Bloom

King Alfred type Daffodil

One of a "Mixed Trumpet" daffodil blooms. Note the tiny variety below.

Tulip - Blue Diamond is a "late bloomer" ... but not in 2012!

Another late tulip, "Angelique" is also blooming early this year.

"Brown Sugar" actually tends more toward bronze than this photo shows.

A New Camera - Kodak Z990

Bloom time is here for bulbs and irises and daylilies are around the corner.  It was time for a new Camera.  Again.  My last one just gave up,

I have an Rebel EOS 35mm which has gathered dust since I went digital.  Kodak after Kodak digital cameras have resided here, as I moved slowly from 3 to 14 megapixels.  Being from Rochester, not buying Kodak would be like my Atlantan husband drinking Pepsi.  They became outdated or broken or lost.

30 years ago I bought a cutting edge SLR 35mm camera.  The Canon A-1 was the first with digital display LED display.  Below the picture in the view finder red LEDs displayed 1000 3.5 and I believe M or A.

Wanting to return to an SLR, but this time a digital camera, I started looking.  The Canon Rebel with a 35-80mm zoom was about as cheap as I could go.  If I wanted more features with Canon or Nikon I could pay $2000 or more.  Out of my price range to be sure, but I was willing to save up for a lower level model.

Then I got an offer from Kodak.  20% off all their products, They are phasing out their digital camera production, but promising to continue to offer support and service.  Sad, because they patented the technology, but let it get away from them.  So I started to consider the X990 Max, the top of their line.  Lots of features I liked about the Kodak cameras I have owned and 12 mp.  That's plenty for most of us.  The real selling point was a 30x Optical zoom. That's the equivalent of a 35mm 28-840 zoom!

At $299 it was not they much less than an entry level SLR. So, drop down to the 21x zoom without 1080p video and lose stereo mics and other features with the Z5010, or wait for the SLR.  When I noticed that the Z990 had a electronic viewfinder, which allows the SLR like ability to see the image even in bright sun I knew it was this or an SLR.

When the sale was advertised and the Z990 was now $239 I started shopping in earnest.  An Amozon vendor which allowed me to use my free 2-day shipping, offered the Z990 at $183.  That did it and now it is mine.  And here is one of the first pictures...