Frog nursery............

Well, the frog eggs have been laid in the small water bowl. I'm not sure why the eggs were not laid in the larger bowl. Could be there are not enough plants. That's okay, I just hope that the raccoons stay away. The female has attached the egg sacks to a small red water lily and variegated bullrush. It's very exciting..........so there will soon be tadpoles!

In the shade garden........

Arisaema sikokianum

I love the Spring for these plants, Arisaema sikokianum also known as Snow Arisaema. Displaying its snow-white pestle shaped spadix above five-part leaves in April. The pseudostem and spathe are green and maroon in varying proportions.

Leaves may be solid or variegated.

There is only one place that these plants are native. The Japanese island of Shikoku, where they grow in the leafy forest duff that is damp but never water-logged.

Reaching a height of around 24" to 28".

This variety is always at the top any wish list, but make sure it is on yours.

USDA hardiness zone 5

Death Valley Shack

Mediolobivia haagii a.k.a. Rebutia pygmaea

This Mediolobivia haagii bloomed on Wedneday, nice surprise! It was tucked up on a back bench in the greenhouse. I have always made it a habit of looking my plants over just to see if I might be having any problems with them (crawling things). There it was blooming like crazy..........

Mediolobivia haagii a.k.a. Rebutia pygmaea distribution is Argentia and Bolivia. The plants are globose and flowers range in yellow, golden yellow, orange to orange-red. Since 1922 this plant has had its name changed many times, at least 30+.

This group is planted in a 4" pot.

A day of sunshine

Lily "Silk Roads"

Erythronium albidum

White "Trout Lilies"

Species Peony & budding Ceanothus

It was great to have the day off Wednesday, the weather was perfect. Slightly overcast with patchy clouds. I ran errands in the morning while it was cool and had the rest of the afternoon to work in the gardens. Had to put on my straw hat so I would not burn my head. You can see in the pictures how sunny it was.

Get your shovels ready.........The fabulous Oregon weather is finally here folks.

The pictures are a few of the plants that are blooming, but of course there are more, and I will post them in the next couple of days.

Today in the Death Valley Shack

NEOPORTERIA GERCEPHALA

I have been waiting for about three weeks for this cactus to bloom. Once the flower bud started appearing it was very exciting.............Can the flower color get any better? And I quote from my friend Ms. Patty, "That's a nail polish color".

The habitat for the Neoporteria gerocephala is Chile and is not widely cultivated. Growing globular either solitary or clustering, free flowering in summer. The plant above is in a 4" pot.

Death Valley Shack

This last week was the blooming of Mammillarias in the greenhouse. Enjoy.......