What a difference ten days makes!

When we left town for warmer climes on the 19th of April (more on that in a later post),  the garden was opening day by day, and I knew we would see changes when we returned.

But I was completely unprepared for the amount of growth, flowering and fullness my garden showed by the time we returned at the end of the month, just ten days later.

Iris x pacifica 'This Ring' (front) and Iris tenax had popped!

So, also, had Camassia quamash, in the loveliest range of blues. I had been waiting for these blooms since last spring.

Our young Cornus x 'Eddies White Wonder' was living up to its name.

Lettuce seedlings were in dire need of thinning.

I missed our garden bloggers plant exchange, but I came home to find a few items I scored at last year's two exchanges strutting their stuff:

A froth of bloom topped Saxifraga x urbinium 'Aureopunctata' (thank you, Loree!)

The beautiful chocolatey blooms of Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow' (thank you, Anne!)

Its flowers are quite unlike wild columbines.

And Acanthus spinosa is already forming several blooms (thank you, Ricki!)

For April Bloom Day, I had one bright orange bloom on Helianthemum 'Henfield Brilliant'.  Just look at her now.

Early this spring, I relocated Eucomus comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy' to a sunnier, hotter location. It seems to approve of the move.

Lewisia cotyledon 'Sunset Series'.

I love the soft, gray, downy foliage of Convolvulus cneorum and keep trying, in spite of having lost three previously. My small, fourth attempt is finally coming out of its winter sulk with some fresh new leaves.

It never occurred to me that Luzula nivea would bloom, but I saw the beginnings of flower buds before we left. Now in full bloom, they have an artless, wild look I like.

I commented yesterday that after ten days in Southern California, I was surprised at how happy I was to be back in the Pacific Northwest. I vow to appreciate how lucky I am to be able to garden here, as well (okay, at least until the next round of spring rainstorms!)