These geraniums (I think they’re ‘Orion’) are blooming away in my garden right now.  They are underneath a birch tree, the only somewhat shady spot in my yard, and seem to love it.I bought them at the end of the season last fall along with some Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’).  The grasses were in really rough shape with barely a handful of leaves, but they were such a good deal I couldn’t resist.  I didn’t think they’d survive the winter and was surprised when I saw their little yellow shoots this spring!  One of them is the yellowish blob behind the geranium in this shot.  Once they catch up to the geraniums, I think it will be a striking combination.

So that leads me to our first blog giveaway!  In the process of cutting the bars of soap, I am left with lots of end pieces and trimmings.  They don’t look that great, but they’re the same awesome natural soap as the full sized bars.  In my attempt at an analogy, these would be the end-of-season bargain plants… it’s a stretch, I know.  :)

Anyways, to win this stack of ends (weight equal to 3 full bars of soap!) AND a flax soap bag to help you use them, all you have to do is leave a comment answering this question:  What’s your favorite plant blooming in your garden?  And if you don’t garden, what’s blooming in your neighbor’s garden, across the street, anywhere… ?  The winner will be randomly picked and announced next Friday, June 12.  This contest is open to people with U.S. shipping addresses only, please!  Good luck!