Don't argue with an allium!!!

Addendum  Here's the link to where I buy silk ribbon in bulk to dye.

 

DH is off to Europe for 10 days escorting a  bunch of elderly people...all younger that he is.  I love this kind of free time... I set up card tables and have a mess everywhere and I migrate from mess to mess as the spirit moves me and takes naps in between and eat odd things at odd hours. 

This time though I am doing some gardening in between.  Today I planted corn and squash and tomato plants. I'm forever hopeful that the critters will let me harvest.

I am just loving the peony display...
The second tree peony bloomed and is incredibly lacy..    These blooms are about 10" across...

When I fell in love with tree peonies they were extremely expensive.... $75 -$100 a plant and up...  Now even though they are still very dear they are much cheaper and  $25-$30 will buy one. 

I have stopped buying plants years ago except for species clematis but I do covet a yellow tree peony and might succumb this fall....

And another early peony has bloomed.  I think I especially enjoy them this year because the cloud of guilt for all the weeds has disappeared with thanks to my special granddaughter Leigha and all her work...  I could have never done it alone.






My gardening style can best be described as benign neglect.  I have always planted what could stand drought, zone 4, deer, heavy clay soil, and neglect and if I planted something and it died, I just planted something else.. eventually I found I had garden of plants of just this type. 

Sometimes the plants take matters into their own hands... such as these alliums.  I planted ALL of them on the other side of this stone wall.  They gradually dropped their seeds over the wall and thrive there....only 2 being left inside the wall.  Who am I to argue with an allium..