The very cool white azalea. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . meet my last azalea to bloom, the beautiful 

Mrs. G. G. Gerbing, Rhododendron indicum, a pure white 'sport'

of the George L. Taber azalea, the pretty pink one I showed here.

This white beauty is a vigorous grower and profuse bloomer given the

right conditions. My 'G.G.' is just a few years old and has some 

catching up to do to reach the heights of 'George'. Both can reach 6-8 feet

 tall and 4-6 feet wide.

This time honored variety is the standard for white Satsuki azaleas.

 Blooms early and abundantly in medium, single pure white flowers. 

Dense foliage on a spreading shrub produces a versatile landscape candidate.

 Ideal for urban landscapes. A natural in Asian-inspired gardens.

I couldn't resist cutting a few to enjoy indoors.

Still gardening non-stop.

Today awaiting delivery of 10 cu. yards - a small mountain - of cypress wood chips. 

Every couple of years we refresh the entire back garden walkways and 

natural areas with these nice looking chips making walking clean and comfy.

 Hoping a certain granddaughter's boyfriend will arrive later to assist Bob in

 'moving the mountain' as my back will no longer allow that part. 

I'll make the tea and serve healthy homemade carrot muffins.

And today ~ a very happy 90th Birthday to

 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Diversity of Tulips. . . . . . .

The beautiful parrot tulips have 'flown', I knew they would not stay 

forever. The wildflowers are still holding their own though and with a quick trim

and fresh water they were ready for new blooms, this time from the garden.

A spray of my favorite George L. Taber azalea for height, and a bunch of

 creamy pink and rose voluptuous double or peony tulips, bulbs purchased from

 Costco and planted last Winter. There are so many tulips to choose from and
have to say Costco's prices were quite remarkable for fancy ones such as these.
I used to always order from catalogs and spent a small fortune - these were not
 expensive. Some are in pots gracing the walkway to the front steps, others are
 in a raised bed along with daffodils and bluebells. I cut just five as I do like to

see them growing in the garden.

 Tulips are stunning flowers. For many, many years I've always planted traditional

 standard one color tulips, usually the late blooming tall Darwin, Cottage or

 Mayflowering - although they bloom in April here in the southeast.

  Many shades of pink, golden yellow and the darkest purple 'Queen of the Night'

 were favorites, always gorgeous and perfect for cutting, their tall stems being

 sturdy and resistant to Spring storms. Sadly tulips are not perennial in my

 area, Summers being much too hot, humid and dry. Now and then they will pop

 up the following year but are never as beautiful as in that first bloom year.

Do you have a favorite tulip?

Do you grow them in your garden, or perhaps in pots?