Although we get out to hike, bike, paddle, and walk in the hills, we sometimes spend the day in the yard, gardening for the whole day.   On some of these days, we stop to take a few photos, a pause to enjoy and appreciate “semi-wildflowers.”

One of the first flowering perennials to bloom is rockcress.   We have many such plants, some in purple.

We also have some in pink.

And some striking ones in white.

Yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) is an abundant, reliable, and sweet-smelling perennial.   They can become somewhat invasive so it’s best to deadhead before seeds develop.

One of our favorites in the garden and in the wild is spreading phlox.   We will hike to where it is flowering in June.

We have some early blooming succulents like this one, nicknamed “donkey tails.”

Some stonecrops set new growth in early spring, like this golden sedum.

We have quite a few perennial herbs like oregano with its hairy rosettes.

One of the stars of the garden and one of the most reliable plants is vinca, a ground cover for hard-to-plant spots.

We spend some time in the rockeries, flower beds, vegetable gardens, borders, and slopes on most days.   When we are not, we are exploring wilderness areas, witnessing whatever flora and fauna we find along the way.