Sheryl & Teddy's Place

Okay, not a flower yet, but it will be a trillium of some kind, I promise!

There is a little road that I travel a few times a week called Kirkpatrick Hollow. One of those roads that if you meet someone diving the other way, someone has to pull over – and pulling over can really put your life in your hands if you’re not careful.

Spotted Phacelia

Anywho, I noticed a number of spring wildflowers there – some I know the names of, some I don’t. But I hope you enjoy them.

Oh, and Yay Spring!!

Lobelia, maybe?

Mayapple's shiny leaves light up the forest floor

Black form of the Eastern Swallowtail (on White Swan Echinacea)

Eastern Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

I can’t believe how many butterflies my paltry selection of coneflowers have attracted.  Throw in some dianthus and zinnias, and you have quite a display – as delicate and ephemeral as they may be.

Sorry for how ratty the Echinacea looks  – we’ve had some really hot and dry weather here – especially for Middle Tennesee.

Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)

Just for fun, I thought I’d put up this lovely catepillar – seriously, isn’t s/ he  gorgeous?  I thinkit’s the catepillar of the big yellow Tiger Swallowtail, above.

The pic is from last summer when I found ithappily devouring my carrot leaves.  Oh well, it’s not like *I* eat them.

Lucky me, I got to ride along to New York for Teddy’s bored meeting.  Is it just me, or is New York getting friendlier?  Everyone was so nice – people on the street, waitresses, cabbies … it was great.

Nice, huh?

While Teddy was working, I rode the train (subway?  not sure of the diff) to the New York Botanical Gardens.  Couldn’t believe how beautiful everything was.  All the lilies and the hydrangeas were in full bloom.   They had a tram to take you around to some of the highlights, but I’m sure there was much I missed: the garden is 250 acres, at least one huge library, a gigantic conservatory (that was closed, much to my disappointment,) conifer forest, perennial gardens, rose garden, an edible garden display and tons more.

Herb pot outside of The Martha's edible garden.

The edible garden was  a knot garden that somehow had Martha Stewart connected to it – typical boxwood outlines filled with cardoons and other food plants.  There were gardens  beyond that caught my eye (see above pic,) so I moved on.

Huge Savoy cabbage, overflowing parsley - how pretty can your vegetable garden be?

A little further on was a vegetable garden done in raised beds, beautifully laid out.  And, of course, filled with edible flowers and herbs along with the vegetables.  I can see where it might be difficult to actually pick anything and ruin the design.  Still, it was beautifully done.

More vegetable beds.