A nice shrub, rarely used

     This is Stephandra incisca "Crispa," or Cutleaf Stephandra, a shrub in the rose family.  The improved variety "Crispa" grows from three to four feet high, and it will spread to an indefinite width, as its arching branching will root easily where they touch ground.  It grows in Zones 4-8, prefers acid soil (though it does fine in my pH 7.2 ground, but I add elemental sulfur in the fall), and does best in full sun to part shade (though this planting gets very little direct sunlight).
     Bees and other pollinators love it, as the one photo shows.  I do not know what the insect is that was crawling around the flower.

    

Alliums alive!!

     Alliums are my last spring ephemeral to bloom, but what a show they provide!  I probably planted this allium over 25 years ago, so I forgot the species or variety.
     The first photo shows the buds just before opening.  Most photos were taken about 6:30 in the morning in full sunlight.  The fourth photo shows a moss garden in the background.  The fifth photo shows a black wooden hanging fixture.  That was a design of Leonardo da Vinci, which I built three years ago.  The last three photos were taken in very late afternoon.  The light then appeared to be "softer," giving, I thought, a more pleasing appearance.