This edition of Doodads will take you on an abbreviated tour of the yard, as I walked around on my way out to the mailbox.

The first picture is the growing fancy Asiatic Lilies I planted in the fall.  These are going to be gorgeous!  They were planted in suet cages to keep the ground dwelling critters away from them.  You’ll see that it doesn’t stop the chipmunks from trying to burrow to them (bottom right.)  Earlier this week two of them in one of the other two clusters were nipped off on the top, which makes me suspect deer, so I put tomato cages over them in hopes of it being a deterrent.  So far so good.

The lilacs are in bloom, not fully yet.  I’m kicking myself for not going out two days ago and capturing them being swarmed by orange and black butterflies.  Why didn’t I go for the phone???  Maybe they will come back…

Here is a closeup of a lilac in bloom.  Is there anything prettier?

This stuff has been growing here and there in the yard.  This plant got established on the dirt  hill in the driveway last year, and after getting some seeds of it from the library seed bank, when they sprouted I identified it as….. St. John’s Wort!  I will harvest it for tea this year.

This is part of a very pretty lichen colony on the roof of the wishing well that my stepdad built for me years ago, which covers my actual well.  Lichen is an interesting life form.

Here’s another part of the lichen group.  Isn’t it lovely.

The two redbud trees are in bloom.  The bees LOVE this tree.  It’s too wet and chilly out there for the bees to visit today.

Here’s the Old Hen, with lovely chives.

The apple blossoms have taken a beating from the thunderstorm that went on for hours last night.