POP! Go The Poppies

That Old House, Memorial Day Weekend, 2009.

That Old House, Memorial Day Weekend, 2011.

We have put up the Flag, though; even a stripped-down house should fly the colors on Memorial Day.

 Shutters off, flaky paint powerwashed away, and she's waiting for her makeover.

We're hoping that in a week or so, there will be painters swarming all over her.

She's looking forward to that.

But not everything is gruesome around here.  There was a major metamorphosis this weekend, as this:

 . . . went to this:

Taken from the sunroom this morning; pardon our dishabille! We're tidying up the borders and it's a messy job.

 Anyway . . . this:

 . . . became this:

A popping Poppy!

 Not too much is blooming right now, and I haven't planted annuals yet.

We've got a nice clump of chives battling it out for space with rampant spearmint.

 So yesterday we yanked out the bullying spearmint, much of the ivy that had wandered

down off the stone wall and was covering the border, and began our delayed spring spruce-up.

Last fall we used "professional" landscapers to do the fall cleanup.

Big mistake.  They did yank the dead annuals and leaves and sticks,

but they also yanked Black-Eyed Susans, daylilies, irises . . . oy.

A triumphant iris, one that made it thru the Fall Cleanup Disaster.

Cute beards; aren't they darling?  I'm not going to mention menopause, I promise.

Plants in closeup have such amazing detail.  Look at this Poppy!

The papery petals look like crumpled silk.

 Despite the diminished flowering this May,

it's still a beautiful time in the border.

  On Memorial Day

we fly the flag, and remember, with gratitude,

the many who have served, and are serving, in uniform.

Links today:
Mosaic Monday, Little Red House, click here.
Metamorphosis Monday, Between Naps On The Porch, click here.
Show Off Your Cottage Monday, The House In The Roses, click here.

 Now I'm off to find Howard, who is hiding out somewhere hoping I will forget his promise to continue working in the yard today.  Poor man -- a day off from work, and I have him out in the fields!  -- Cass