Sunday, June 20, 2021

06.20.21 Spring Gardens and a Happy Father's Day to all Dads!

 We were most fortunate to have weather conducive to the gardens. Some hot weather, some rain and did they ever grow and bloom! My favorite time for the gardens is abut mid-May when all of the weeds are pulled and there is room to walk around the lilies along the stone pathway! Also, the azaleas, dogwood, and rhododendrons are quite beautiful. But in a short couple of weeks, the mountain laurel, mock orange, verbenas, climbing roses, and peonies are in bloom. After that all of the greenery grows into a jungle! Soon the summer flowers will be in bloom as we have beautiful succession gardens around the house and the driveway. If a "weed" is flowering, I let them bloom and enjoy the beauty.

Please enjoy the "bouquet" of flowers from my gardens.

New Dawn Rose - climbing along the fence and looks gorgeous.




Purple cone flower. I have a few broken clay pots so I buried the sides of the pots halfway into the ground without their bottoms. It gives the impression of flowers growing in the pots with the advantage that the roots reach the ground and access the rain water. 


Yes, this is a dandelion! It is pretty!

                     

We have purple and white geraniums as ground cover in some flower beds.  

                           




Foxglove. Initially they were purple, then every year thereafter they are yellow!



The first blooming lily of the season - Stella d'Ora.


Pinks.

Pink mountain laurel with a bee.
Evening primrose.


Iris in front of the mock orange shrub.

Mock orange.


Pink peony.

The first rose of Spring - it was pink in an area where white roses grow!


Mountain laurels of various colors. My favorite is the white one.


                                      

                                


Irises of different colors.







Dark pink peony. 

Honeysuckles for the hummingbirds!

White peony.

White lilacs by the front door. You can smell the fragrance throughout the house!

White old fashion rose. Blooms once early in Spring but grows prolifically.



                               



My beautiful lady slippers growing on our hillside in the woods. I look forward every year to finding them.  They are safe from the dogs as the hill is outside of the fenced area for the boys to run. Good move.

Triplets. Same place every year.



Crooked stem!





The four of us! Can you find me?

We had a lovely walk in the forest this morning and the boys are exhausted!  They can do at least two hours of walking if it is cool. So the wooded trail is perfect - if you are careful about ticks!  Pulled one from Gunnarr right on the bridge of his nose, none on Fionnegan or Shorty. 
All smile - Someone will sleep well tonight!


We hope you all are well and enjoying this beautiful day. Hope you also enjoyed this bouquet of spring flowers and blossoms! Happy Father's Day.

Until next time...................................











Monday, May 10, 2021

05.09.2021 HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY


 May all of the Mom's have a special day today. We are having a fun day enjoying the outdoors and the gardens. Doing a few much needed chores - such as painting the back deck - but do enjoy the quiet and the feeling of accomplishment when the painting is done. Yes, I left the boys on the other side of the gate to paint - much to their dismay. But they patiently waited at the door for me to return.

A few flowers form my gardens. They look absolutely lovely, and I especially enjoy the mounds of johnny-jump-ups (violets) that are wild flowers and spring up all over the front gardens. The azaleas are gorgeous and the late blooming daffodils are still brilliant. 




And yes, I finally had a chance to go for a bicycle ride! It was an early morning ride along a bike trail close to the house. I did feel a wee bit guilty leaving the boys at home, but no too guilty. I enjoyed the fresh air and the exercise and hope to do this on a regular basis. After 20 years in the tool shed and a new tune-up, the bike did very well indeed!






This is my side garden in a full Spring bloom. It is so enjoyable to see the lovely pink dogwood and shrubs in bloom. Spring is truly my favorite season.




Where's my Momma? cries Gunnarr while Fionnegan and Shorty wait patiently at the door. I am painting the back deck so I had to keep them away. Not only did I not want paw prints on the deck, but I did not want to clean paint from their paws! As it turned out, dirty paw prints were on the deck later in the afternoon. They wasted no time.


We are always watching you Momma, especially on our Momma Bear's special day.


White "violets"!




I hope you enjoy the photographs of some of my garden flowers. I hope they bring a little joy to your life and a smile to your lips. And I hope that you all are safe and well. 

Happy Mother's Day!