Lori - These are lovely! Ours were more like you described this year - I think too much heat and too little rain.

I hope the change after losing trees is not too shocking - I feel your pain. 10 years ago, our yard went from peaceful shade to stark sun in one minute when we lost 5 mature trees. It took many years of adjustment, but it is now my peaceful place again.
Sue

@loribmt Oh Lori! Beautiful purple Siberian irises! Your yard looks awesome with the gorgeous groundcover surrounding the irises and beyond, and the very lovely wooded area in back. So inviting! I'll be right over, to sit with you, sip on a glass of lemonade (or wine?), and steep in the glory of your own little slice of nature and all it's bounty.
I hope that most recent wind storm didn't cause any loss or damage to trees on your property. (?) Hugs, Laurie

gorgeous!

Love these irises, Lori. They'll lovely, great color. Will they spread out, multiply on their own or do you need to dig up bulbs to replant in another area? I had a lot of daylilies that I dug up and the new plants didn't do well. May need more time. I also love my African Iris that multiply like crazy, take over any area they can get to, but it's lovely and great filler for some places. I've thinned them out and given some to friends.

Also have walking iris, mine are little white with purple, gold and brown centers. They're lovely and I love the way they walk and spread. Also make a fun basket. Have trouble keeping the landscapers away from them....they are not weeds, darn it! Stop spraying them....but, I pull babies and replant where they can grow and flourish. Just stick my finger in to make a hole and plant the roots in and cover them well. They grow fine with a bit of water and love. My favorite place currently is under a live oak in front of my condo. They seem to like the filtered light, get water from my lawn sprinklers, and make me happy watching them walk and bloom. Pretty blooms.

My patio and feeders are suffering since I've been under the weather. I had planned to spend time today cleaning up all the dirt that's floated to the center of the patio and is now growing seedlings from the feeders' mess. Getting more seed that's cleaner, so not so much to clean up. I'm about ready to get my little gun out after the squirrels! What a nuisance. I love their personalities, interest in life and the way they figure out how to get to the seeds, but they've too persistent and make a huge mess, drive me crazy. Fun, how they know me and see me coming and run.....makes me feel so powerful and mighty!

Woodpeckers, cardinals, chicadees, house finch, wax-winged ???, still coming around, but not having as much fun. They like it clean and neat. If asthma and UTI let me, I'll be out there tomorrow to clean and reestablish the bird bath, clean up and refill feeders, move more to get away from squirrels....just do my thing. Love it and hope to have fun tomorrow.

Btw: son is better today. It's not a good thing for him to miss any doses of his meds, so I set it up for pharmacy to text me when something is filled. YEAH! Big progress, such a tiny thing.

Blessings to all. Have 't gotten the pictures working yet. Calling Samsung for help. Pray for me, please! Want to share the orchids and others. eliabeth

@loribmt CONGRATULATIONS!!!