Sweet May

Finally, warm spring days.  May sweet May. Much to do in the garden.  I caught this Pennyhopper in the garden.  I told Penny I caught a bug and put it in a jar so it couldn't get away.  I am a magpie and save all sorts of things.  Bug wings, dried bugs, mini spaceman, bones - lots of things.  I've made one of these for all the grandkids.  This Pennyhopper is sitting on a chunk of amethyst, her birthstone.

She's holding dried lavender and has a little parakeet egg is in her basket.  Ladybirds are on the wood around the back.  She was quite enamored.

As I said I love May and so look forward to the flowers and warm weather.  My iris are blooming and the peonies are in bud and about to burst forth. I need to re-pot some citrus and plant many annuals.  I can't wait to see it all.  But, with the sublime comes Mother Nature at her worst.  Tornadoes in Oklahoma are most prolific in May and tomorrow might be a real lulu.  I am almost more afraid of large hail as it just beats the plants down.  I've never personally seen hail larger than a quarter, but have heard of it the size of grapefruit.  Tomorrow will tell.

When the wind blows mightily on the days in question, you know somewhere is going to get it. Hope it's not here.  I'm not going to plant my hydrangea plants until after tomorrow.  Will have my truck in the garage, so it won't be damaged.  Fingers crossed.

City Doings

I've been at the city house.  Planting and pulling weeds.  Many flowers blooming.  

The goslings are growing.  Seven remain and their parents are diligent.  They even chased Emmy, the weenie, but Sister, brave weenie, chased them back into the water.  Many different water fowl are trying to find nesting places in our backyard, but weenies keeping after them.  I fear several might start laying when we leave.  Anyway...

There are many large clumps of iris; both bearded and these single ones.  I have never seen these or planted this kind before.  The greenery is much more plentiful and they are covered in blooms.  Peonies, roses, freesia, iris and geraniums - too many to name, are bursting forth.  It is gorgeous.

After losing her eggs to varmints, the little mallard had a clutch of 12 babies hatch.  She is rearing them alone and not as diligent as the geese with her offspring.  Seven remain.  

Besides gardening and tending to my booth, Nonna has been tending to her grand babies.  Penny Lane is drawing on the patio with chalk and very proud of  it.

Bella and Ollie stayed the night and are washing all the dirt off in Nonna's bath.  Bubbles everywhere.  They loved it.

But, here comes trouble.  Dangerous series of weather events setting up this evening for a large tornado outbreak and baseball sized hail.  My flowers will be decimated.  My truck and husband's car can't both fit in the garage (don't ask), so as his car is smaller and newer,  it will go in the garage.  

Schools have closed in the event of a large tornado supercell. They don't want everyone out driving which is dangerous when the traffic backs up (aka sitting ducks).  All conditions are ripe for a bad day.  I have seen some storm chaser trucks with radar, etc. out driving or parked, waiting to go.  I just hope it happens before dark if it is coming.  Keeping fingers crossed for everyone and every thing in its path.  I have never known anyone whose house has been hit by a tornado, but have known those with damage to their roof from hail.