Lilac time, iris and the dating (pit) game

 A few yards away on a neighboring patio

The scent drifts over on the wind.

And the first iris opened yesterday. I think the pachysandra has covered the others too much to bloom. Plenty of foliage, no buds yet.

And, in the hope springs eternal category, here are some Medjool date pits soaking for a few days to see if I can get germination. I'm thinking of a houseplant rather than a date crop. Has anyone reading succeeded in sprouting a plant from date pits? 

The ginger hasn't done anything yet, but the yellow potatoes are sprouting.

I'm impatient for the fencing project to be done so I can get the ficus tree out of the living room and to camp on the patio. 

That's the naturalist's notebook for the day.