Feb 16 - 18 The Colquitz River and more crocuses

 On February 15 we had very heavy rains and the river rose to nearly the top of the bridge on our street, and on the street where the blue bridge goes over the river to the trail up the hill.  The measuring stake is no longer in the river.  It must have washed away with the heavy rains.  In the last photo you can see the invasive species.  We have sooooooo very much ivy and blackberries along the river.  By the blue bridge this ivy has completely taken over a patch of lovely fawn lilies.  I must get out there and remove a bit of the ivy... I know the lilies will still be under there.

Two photos of the crocuses from February 18.  More to follow as February in my garden has been all about the crocus field.

Some of the garden February 14 to 16

 The vase cement planter and the deep purple crocuses in the front garden on the 16th

 One of the lovely striped crocuses in the crocus field which is a in the grass of the boulevard

 This is the crocus field showing where the hydro workers left soil to fill in the ruts the traffic made while circumventing their trucks while they were working on adding our star wars hydro pole just across the street from our front driveway.   Since this photo I have raked the soil out more evenly and added some topsoil to fill in low spots in the crocus field.  I then planted grass seed over all.  The grass is now starting to germinate.

 One of the dark purple crocuses.  I photoshpped it to emphasize the bright center.

 The camillia by the back step leading up to the deck.  It has even more blossoms on it now.

 The hazel nut tree in full bloom with its lovely catkins.

This is another photo from up on the deck showing the stepping stones in their winter moss.  The stepping stones go around the fig tree and its bed.  I have taken this area out of grass and added the stepping stones because it is a very soggy area when we have our winter rains.  That Harry Lauders Walking stick shrub is now finished blooming.  

Feb 14 new orchid photos

the new orchids and a Phal, and a pink African Violet.  My photos do not do justice to the plants.
Yesterday I finished repotting all of the orchids.  I see that the old root from the Andean Fire has died and I have only a tiny plant of that one.    I must get the African Violets done next.
The new orchids:
Feb 13, 2016 Orchid Show
1)  Cattleya Wilsmara x Kolishri.
2)  Lc Secret Love - Hsinying
3)  Phrag Sedenii - Schlimi x longifolium
4)  Milt. Breathless - 'Beauty'
The Cattleya Wilsmara x Kolishri is the one in bloom.  I will repot it when it has finished blooming.
We had heavy rainshowers today.  I spent the morning at the museum.