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heralyn.bsky.social
Heralyn
@heralyn.bsky.social
860 followers 2.4K following 380 posts
Cat mom, gardener, book nerd. Formally heralyn on twitter, currently heralyn@ecoevosocial on mastodon.
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heralyn.bsky.social
Book four! Don't sleep with the dead by Nghi Vo!
A photo of the book Don't sleep with the dead by Nghi Vo
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
It's mum season! A bouquet of mixed flowers and greens from the garden, mums in a two part vase, and a bloom of little pearl camellia. 🌱
A bouquet of mixed flowers and greens. Chrysanthemums, salvia, and echinops greens. A vintage pink two part vase filled with yellow, orange, and pink mums. A photo of a bloom of little pearl camellia. A double with creamy inner petals and pink outer petals.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
I have a few shelves... Just added some more to hopefully use to get organized! #booksky 💙📚 #bookishQOTD 📖🦋
A photo of 5 bookshelves, with 3 almost full A photo of 4 book shelves and a hutch full of books A photo of 5 stort bookcases, full of books and topped with art.
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Some more photos from the garden today, including garden kitties! 🌱
A photo of a species fuchsia in bloom. I love the large fuzzy glaucous leaves on these and the late season flowers are a bonus. A photo of a toad lily in bloom, small orchid like flowers, white with deep purple speckles and curved pointed petals. Love these little guys! They bloom late, last forever, and increase yearly. Garden kitties! A black and white cat and a tuxedo tabby enjoying some supervised outdoor time, and trying to avoid the mud. A photo of a camellia parvilimba in bloom. Small, trumpet-shaped fragrant flowers with white petals surrounding golden stamens. This camellia has some of the smallest leaves and is certainly an interesting addition to my collection.
November 9, 2025 at 3:28 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Mud season is upon us. Winterization is in process and I am as tired as the garden! 🌱
A photo of a garden in fall, hydrangeas have been cut back and are going to sleep, catio panels are on for the rain, and guide poles are up for the patio wrap! A photo from a similar vantage point earlier in the season. The plants are full and green and the climbing hydrangea is in bloom. Another photo of a very green and full garden border with a catio. The same corner in early spring, the hydrangeas are growing, peonies are blooming, and lilies are reaching for the sun.
November 9, 2025 at 3:17 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Book three, To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth. I really enjoyed When Among Crows and am excited to get back to these characters. 💙📚
A photo of the book To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth. The cover features side profiles of two watching men, one with a golden halo holding a book with pages cascading out, and the other behind but with his eyes open.
November 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
And book two!
A photo of the book The Wax Child by Olga Ravn the cover is a high gloss black with an illustration of a wooden cadle with smoke rising from it.
November 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
They are the best winter displays! ♥️♥️♥️
November 3, 2025 at 4:15 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
My start to Novella November! 💙📚
A photo of the novella What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher. A gory photo of a bear decaying into a wooden framework merged with a branch and I am hoping some cool new fungi evil!
November 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
Cut back hydrangeas today to prep for winter. While paniculatas can be pruned in spring (they bloom on new wood) I do an initial cut back in fall to stop branches from snapping under the weight of winter wet.
A photo of a bucket full of pink and green little lime paniculata hydrangea blooms. A second photo of a bucket full of pink and green little lime paniculata hydrangea blooms. My blooms were simply massive this year!
November 2, 2025 at 9:41 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
@snellis.bsky.social sent me this great picture of the garden kitty enjoying some extra comfort on a chilly day in the garden. Having a garden cat has really changed the way we enjoy and interact with the outdoors. AKA we actually sit and enjoy it more! 🌱
A photo of a plastic outdoor chair seen from the side, with a pile of towels in the seat and a black and white cow can sitting nestled in them. The chair is surrounded by lush greenery of a rather unkempt and in process garden. A photo of the back of a black and white cow cat's head looking out onto a lush green garden, filled with filtered sunshine.
October 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
Some shots from around the garden, a toad lily in the sun, a pineapple lily bloom, somehow the crepe myrtle still in bloom, and the miscellaneous fuchsia baskets which were amazing this year! 🌱
A photo of Tricyrtis hirta or toad lily blooms in the sun. These small blooms in white and pale purple stand tall against their foliage and put on a great fall display. A photo of a Eucomis or pineapple lily in bloom. This strong flower spike has ceased blooming but is still showing off with dark purple ripening seed pods. It sits in the sun here next to a species fuchsia with large glaucous leaves. I grow just a few pineapple lilies, both in the ground and it pots. Many of the ones I grow came from seeds, including seeds from this plant! They are easy to germinate and start blooming at around 2-3 years depending on the cultivar! A photo of a bright pink crepe myrtle in bloom, surrounded by dark foliage and bright blue sky. I am not a fan of pink, but I fell for these dark leaves! This one has been in the ground for five years now and is not only taller than I am finally, but is finally showing that it does want to be a proper tree! A photo of twe hanging baskets filled with various fuschia cultivars. When my Costco fuchsias finally gave up the ghost after almost 6 years I wanted to try something different and celebrate the various fuschia blooms! These worked out so much better than I dreamed and are just huge! Looking forward to seeing how these come back next spring.
October 4, 2025 at 3:22 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
I love this time of year when I have roses, dahlias, and camellias all in bloom together! Here are some boggy shots from after the past few days rainstorms.
A photo of a shady camellia sasanqua showa no saki camellia. A pink double bloom, with just a hint of golden stamens peeking through the petals. This camellia can take sun with enough water at its feet. It has an arching habit and tends to bloom through fall and winter for me. This has been it the ground for five years now and is very happy, although I do provide supplementary water in the summer as it is planted beneath two large trees one of which is evergreen. A photo of dahlia Totally tangerine. This single bloom is a bit pink/orange mix with an open center which sometimes also has anemone petals. This dahlia has been growing in this pot for four years now and does get a bit of a refresh in the spring. It stays in the pot throughout the winter in our unheated shed as the dirt in the pot protects it from the worst of the cold. A photo of dahlia David Howard. A large full double bloom in a bright golden orange. This bloom is a bit past its prime and the dark center of the flower is visible. This dahlia has also been grown in a pot for a number of years and is a big favorite here. The plant has dramatic dark foliage along with these gorgeous blooms which makes it a striking feature in the garden. A shady photo of a camellia sinensis, a small white open bloom with bright golden stamens. This is the tea camellia! And as a tea and camellia lover it was a pretty easy choice for the garden. I actually have two, this one which is grown in a pot, and another which is in the ground. They are fun plants and grow quite quickly!
October 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
New baby roses! The green rose, Lady Emma Hamilton, and Chocolate bubbles! These are still very small babies, but I can't wait for them to go up! They are additions this year in preparation for the new rose boarder we hope to put in next spring!
A photo of the green rose in flower. This is not a traditional rose bloom at all, and almost looks like something infected with yellow asters disease! The petals are like small, narrow, serrated leaves with those in the middle tipped with red. A photo of the rose Lady Emma Hamilton in bloom. The bloom is a rich orangey apricot color and is just beginning to open. The petals hold small rain drops, gently reflected in the sunlight. A photo of the rose Chocolate bubbles in bloom. Aery small, sweet bloom, of a deep rich reddish brown. These blooms last forever!
October 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
I have one of those sewing machines! Ignore the cat proofing rooster and soda cans :)
A photo of an old white treadle sewing machine with stuff on top.
September 27, 2025 at 1:36 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
#caturday with Gary. Showing off his newest if I fit I sits box.
A photo of a tuxedo tabby cat sitting in a bit too small box, looking at the camera.
September 21, 2025 at 12:08 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
It's been hot, we've been watering and watering and watering. Finally cooling down here! Some recentish pics. 🌱
A photo of the rose The Lark Ascending in bloom. These blooms are a soft peachy apricot color, and no matter what time of day, always appear lit from within. The blooms are more than doubles but still open centered. It is the most beautiful rose I grow! A photo of a Eucomis or Pineapple lily in bloom. These odd spiked flowers wear hats of leaves which resemble pineapple tops. The flowers are small and come off from the stalk, opening bottom to top. These flowers are backlit by the sun. A photo of a panicle hydrangea in bloom. Maybe firelight, quickfire, fir and ice, I can't remember! Cut back hard this year and so very large flowers with a soft scent that fade to pink with age. A photo of the rose Vanessa Bell. A very soft yellow rose that fades to cream, very quickly when it is hot I am finding! This is another gorgeous cupped rose, with many petals, a light fruity scent, and is surprising me for a first year rose. We had some early struggles this season with powdery mildew and thrips, but we are finally hitting a stride! Can't wait to get her in the ground next year and see how she does!
August 1, 2025 at 4:04 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Trying to explain to my coworkers that getting up at 5am to water all my pots in the current heat advisory is a happy start to my morning! 🌱 I just have a few to get through!
A photo of a portion of the front patio. Showing pots of viburnums, dahlias, witch hazel, camellias, and so many more! A photo showing the back portion of the front patio, with potted camellias, viburnums, and others. A photo of the current back patio set up. This is where I keep cuttings to grow on, slug attack victims, non-hardy plants, and the house plants for summer. It changes from year to year and this year is a bit sparse as I have worked on putting more pots into the borders and out in the yard. A photo of the last view of the front patio, some potted hydrangeas, hydrangea relatives, and so others. The big dark red hydrangea should be going in the ground next year. It is an amazing grower and this is only the second year I have had it! They have some great examples of this one at Heronswood garden up in Washington.
July 16, 2025 at 3:09 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Some sunny shots from this morning and a bonus garden kitty! 🌱 A hydrangea quickfire/strawberry sunday (can't remember which, and honestly they look the same to me?!?), a lily I think may be a faded zelmira, the pineapple lilies are beginning!, and garden kitty stubbornly staying cool in the shade.
A photo of a just opening panicle hydrangea in the morning sun. Rays of sunlight backlight the bloom showing off its early green color. A peachy lily bloom backlit by the morning sun. A pineapple lily reaching for the sunlight. It almost looks like a small pineapple sitting on a trunk, or a palm tree with bloom beneath it. A black and white cat lays it the dirt hidden under some plants. He is stubbornly not looking at the camera and keeps insisting that despite the heat, yes mom, he does want to stay outside. So please go away and stop embarrassing him.
July 14, 2025 at 10:17 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
Today's before and after, 2023 to today. 🌱 The native dogwood has grown, grown, grown! The "temporary" iris bed is still in place, but the sweet peas are sadly gone.
A photo of a raised bed being built. To the left there is another raised bed filled with iris and sweet peas grown on a trellis. A photo of the same area today. The iris bed on the left is still there, and the bed on the right has been built and was recently emptied of garlic. There is a multi stemmed tree halfway through the picture.
July 6, 2025 at 12:59 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Four out of six for #caturday
A photo of four cats sitting in a cat condo in front of two windows. There is a black cat at the bottom looking very much a void, a black and white cat on the left looking out the window, a tabby tuxedo cat at the top looking at the camera, and a fluffy orange and white cat on the right looking over his shoulder at the camera.
July 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
heralyn.bsky.social
Shots from the garden today! A lily opening un the sun, small and medium potted hostas in bloom, a lineup of hydrangea cuttings, and a deep red day lily. 🌱
A photo of a lily starting to bloom in the sun. A photo of two smaller hostas potted up with their purple bloom spikes, I love having pots of ferns and hostas on the patio, it gives me a chance to grow some that are not fully hardy (ferns) or won't be totally eaten by slugs. A photo the shows a line of one gallon pots filled with small growing hydrangea cuttings. Behind them sit a mix of potted fuchsias and geraniums, with ferns and hostas one shelf lower. A photo of a deep red day lily glowing in the sun. Love this little bloom, it is smaller than my other day lilies, but such a dramatic color.
July 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Cats being silly. Gary hiding out under the bookshelf, Nigel, waiting for his moment to pounce, and Albert wondering what the heck those two are up to!
A photo of three cats playing, ane hiding on his back under a bookshelf looking up at a black cat standing an the shelf looking down, with a black and white cat sitting and watching on from in front of the shelf. A photo of three cats playing, ane hiding on his back under a bookshelf looking up at a black cat standing an the shelf looking down, with a black and white cat sitting and watching on from in front of the shelf.
July 3, 2025 at 2:29 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
Lucky you! They are a favorite of mine! :)
A photo of pineapple lilies, eucomis, showing their distinctive pineapple like top growth of leaves, above flower spikes in yellow/green and pink.
July 2, 2025 at 1:58 AM
heralyn.bsky.social
I think Steve may have already posted tho today shot, but here is a out the name angle from 2020. You can see the little lime hydrangeas that were very sad in the shade that we moved, which are now taller than I am! Little lime not so little! 🌱
A photo showing a garden waking to the rising sun. It is filled with too many plants, and some rather shabby looking grass. A photo of a traditional lawn with same sad plants an the back border. The grass looks nice but so, so empty!
July 1, 2025 at 12:04 AM