Photos of the day- very photo heavy!

It started off cloudy this morning but it cleared and turned into a gloriously sunny, warm day.  Just what I needed after a week of dampness and stressful work- a day to get outside and play in the dirt.  Some random, and not so random photos of the day:

My porch has been taken over by little plants. I think I've got 11 flats out there!  But then I've got mine, Jim's and I started extras for the plant sale at church.

I got the herb spiral planted (mostly) today.  This photo was taken when I was trying out spacing.  So far there is sage, Italian Oregano, English Thyme, Tarragon, Orange Balsam Thyme, Marjoram, Flat-leaf Parsley, Chives, Garlic Chives and Basil.  The rosemary and lavender plants will go next to the house.

Our old purple iris are blooming... as is the first of our new ones that we planted.

We planted this one two years ago as a tiny little thing and this is the first year it has bloomed.  LOVE the color!!

I spent time digging the south flower bed.  I'm thinking this will have the rosemary, lavender and some chamomile- as well as my clematis.

The girls primped.  J17 and A have been friends since Kindergarden.
And J17 did manage to get her dress finished.

The top of the dress is actually 'convertible'.  She tied it off the shoulder- which I think makes the dress look lopsided.  I liked it much better with both sides up.

Aren't they lovely!?

BFFs smile for the camera.
But while the girls primped- everyone else worked!

The big support beam is up for the deck.  This is the BIG one.  We've got a 14 foot span over the sidewalk (and back door) and it took them a while to get all the cuts right so those side braces were perfect.

 When K12 wasn't busy, he did what most 12 year old boys do when presented with things that look remotely like guns....

 Back to flowers- I'm excited by this peony.  When we moved here, there were pale pink peonies by the deck and I discovered a bunch more waaaaay back by the fence, overgrown by bushes and trees- too overgrown and shaded to bloom.  I moved them two years ago and this is the first year they are going to bloom.  These look to be hot pink- more photos to come when they open.
And finally... my WTF moment.

I know it's hard to see. It's my columbine in the Goth Garden.  The plants are blooming but every single leaf has been nibbled off, leaving only stalks.  ?????  Rabbits?  But they haven't bothered them before.  And the plants in the garden look fine.  Who knows!