Blaze Roses and Lily of the Valley

As of May 24, the Blaze roses on the south side of the house are blooming. And for the first time in fifteen years, I have blossoms on my Lily of the Valley!

Thirteen years (and three days) a blogger

Just got a "Your Memories" post on Facebook from 2009(!) about how I had been a blogger for five years. My actual Blogiversary is May 14, so I'm a little late. Thirteen years since I heard a report on NPR's Morning Edition about how Google had bought Blogger and was hoping to increase the number of people with blogs by providing a simple, user-friendly platform. I had been following several blogs at that point and had been thinking about starting one myself. This is technically my second post - my first one just had the words "Coming soon!" and existed from the time I put it up before work that day to the time I came back and replaced it with my "official" first post.

It's really been quite a thirteen year stretch - much of it documented right here on my blog. Here's to another thirteen years!

Rhododendrons in bloom

...at least since yesterday, May 15.

Lilacs in bloom, rhododendrons still on deck

I assumed that I had missed the lilacs this year, but they are in fact just coming into bloom on May 10.

Rhododendron blossoms are swollen, and some are already opening.

Azaleas are nearly spent.

Roses are mostly leafed out, and some buds are swelling.

Azaleas blossoming, rhododendrons on deck

No photos, just a garden note: I noticed azaleas in full bloom on the way home today. Ours are just starting to blossom, but will likely be in full bloom in a day or two.

Rhododendron blossoms are swelling, but no blooms yet.

NEPA BlogFest returns!

After a two year hiatus, BlogFest is back! This is an informal gathering of bloggers and politicians from throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond. The Spring 2017 edition will be held at Ole Tyme Charley's Restaurant & Pub, 31 South River Street in Plains on Saturday, May 6, 2017. The event will coincide with the running of the Kentucky Derby, so if you want to see a bunch of people get very interested in horse racing for about two minutes, that's the place to be!

You can read more about BlogFest here.