Just when the winter got to be too much last year, we went to Spring Alive! at the Zoo and saw green plants and beautiful flowers to warm my heart:
![16699168482_a51305f993_z](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16699168482_a51305f993_z.jpg)
It’s always nice to stop and appreciate how cool the Zoo is:
![Zoo Museum Inscription](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16080263203_53021a4cee_z.jpg)
Anyway, not long after that, the first signs of spring were visible in the yard: crocus poking up through the mulch:
![16789619636_c8c85fc15e_z](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16789619636_c8c85fc15e_z.jpg)
Crocus in bloom:
![16921541152_46a0fae571_z](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16921541152_46a0fae571_z.jpg)
My most anticipated spring happening was the growth of my allium bulbs. Â I believe I have started quite the fad amongst copycat neighbors who want in on the magic that is allium. Here’s the first appearance of my allium plants:
Around the same time, the daffodils and these cool tulips bloomed:
Soon the allium plants had produced quite a bit of greenery and the flower buds were finally discernible:
![Allium before flowers](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/17655337594_96b508a12f_z.jpg)
As the bud started to open, it was pretty creepy looking:
![Starting to open](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18255327286_32a30716cd_z.jpg)
But then, it started to look a little more acceptable:
![A little more open allium](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18095568119_f8a021590b_z.jpg)
I actually planted 3 different varieties of Allium along the side here – two very similar looking purple varieties and a white variety. Â The white flowers were significantly behind the purples in development:
![Allium starting](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18274901162_c76828fab6_z.jpg)
Once the white flowers caught up, the allium flowers were stunning:
![Allium](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/17659467034_118f24a418_z.jpg)
![Blooming Allium](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18283227941_dd107aec22_k-1024x768.jpg)
![Orange coneflowers and Purple allium](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18090112428_4f7dd92559_k-1024x768.jpg)
The only problem with allium is that the bloom pretty early in May/June and are quickly spent. Â Bossman told me that once the flowers are spent, you can prolong the time you look like a crazy hillbilly by spray-painting the blooms (also note the beautiful Asiatic lilies):
![Lilies with Fake Flowers](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18795999783_fe4cac6783_z.jpg)
I believe these yellow flowers are technically also allium:
![Yellow Allium](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18966433831_a11c0784f5_z.jpg)
Here’s a cool Zebra Primrose bloom:
![Primrose](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18095595989_1be33c8e3d_z.jpg)
Yellow columbine with woodland phlox in the background:
The backyard bed prior to mulching:
![Back Beds](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18281753745_efc38e51c8_z.jpg)
A cool little friend:
![Toady](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18777288709_20a54fd9ed_z.jpg)
The back corner bed looked pretty good:
![Back Corner](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18794326284_47638d9cfe_z.jpg)
Cool toad lily:
Awesome multicolor coneflower:
![Wacky Coneflowers](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19229531988_ceca1cafc7_m.jpg)
Balloonflowers:
![Balloon Flowers Closeup](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19229080778_dc0dda543b_z.jpg)
Balloonflowers in context:
![Balloon Flowers](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19550814515_82b6bffa8c_z.jpg)
The PeeGee Hydrangea looked awesome for the 3 minutes before the flowers were too heavy for the branches of the plant to hold them up:
![PeeGee Hydrangea](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19230999659_a8dfda88d5_z.jpg)
We finally got patio furniture. Â It is great! (minus the fact that Kim convinced me that I needed to waterproof the cushions, which basically ruined them):
![New Patio Furniture](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/18777318749_b58417bf4a_z.jpg)
So lush:
![So Lush](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19417053475_ecd2873448_z.jpg)
The Jacob Cline monarda (beebalm) was crazy tall, colorful, and unique-looking:
![Bee Balm](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19420488411_40e982387b_z.jpg)
I grew several elephant ears from the corm/tuber/bulb (whatever the appropriate word is), but I did buy this one pre-grown and it was worth it:
![Elephanty Ears](https://theshellybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/19421037361_e5e29525b1_z.jpg)
This year, I had ONE hydrangea bloom on all of my existing hydrangea plants (for those keeping track at home, this is ONE more than I have the past few years). Â It was on the plant next to the dryer vent, so thank you, dryer, for your heat lost to the environment that kept my one flower bud alive:
More yard stuff soon (I know you’re excited).