daisy delight

garden love: poppies

Bright sassy fireballs that burn quickly. But oh-so-startling orange lovely while we've got them.

A funny for you. This is what the closed bloom looks like:

And this is what a newly-opened one looks like! The green shells cling to the petals and remind me of fuzzy caterpillars!

garden love: peonies

These bloomed much earlier in the year but I came across the photos when I was getting photos organized and realized I hadn't published these. And I just can't resist sharing their lush, many-petaled layers.

garden love: alliums

These particular alliums have taken over in my garden in a big way. I remember last year yanking and pulling and throwing all the greens in a big heap and a befuddled neighbor inquiring about my efforts, asking if I had a lot of weeds. No, I grunted, my arms all muddy, just plants I didn't plant.

This year I took a decidedly more peaceful approach and let the quarter of my garden that was overflowing with alliums just be. No ripping. A bit of bemoaning for the planned plants that were swamped amongst the allium patch but acceptance. And now I am rewarded for my lack of efforts with 25+ beautiful purple globes.

Perhaps the unplanned is just as beautiful as the oh-so-carefully plotted?

garden love: bleeding hearts

I considered trying to split my front bleeding heart but since it is one of my most faithful plants I just didn't have the heart to risk ruining it. Next year I need to take a weekly photo of it coming up in the spring. Once the sunshine hits, I swear it doubles in size every day. It is amazing!

Same flower, new season

Once again appreciating the contrast of Queen Anne's Lace against a blue blue sky. Just like I did two summers ago. Just as lovely in the winter I think.

chase away the gray with some color

I came across this photo while writing for this blog. I don't believe I shared it before. And if I did, it is worth repeating during these gray days. Each individual flower is a separate ceramic sculpture. They were so very striking gathered together in a circle on a cement outdoor patio at the UICA this past ArtPrize. An unexpected garden blooming. I just looked it up. It is titled Flora Metamorphicae 2012 and the pieces were actually created by 6 different artists.

pretty purple seed pods

The hyacinth bean vine transitions to autumn. It is an annual but very easy to grow. I would highly recommend it.

oh my lovely Hibiscus

I have two now: Lord Baltimore (red with green leaves) and Lady Baltimore (pink flowers with purple leaves). They are the last plant to come up in the spring and they take their time growing but grow they do! Here we are mid-July and they are in their glory with plate-sized flowers that peek their faces in the kitchen window – a welcome hello as I begin my day.

I am also fascinated with their spidery buds.

lovely lilies

Lilies are my very favorite flower. Accordingly, I have many of them planted in my yard. Although I think the Asiatic lilies look a bit ridiculous, a bundle of blooms perched atop a very tall stalk  like a floral jack-in-the-box, they are beautiful indeed!

summer pinks

The Meijer Gardens, a local favorite, happens to be open late on Tuesday nights – perfect for an after dinner adventure when the weather is perfect and bathtime is worth skipping. There is nothing like playing and taking in some nature for relaxation.

foxglove freckles and fur

The foxgloves in my backyard garden are especially pleasing to me this year. I added more last summer and now there is a whole lovely grouping of them just beginning to bloom.

morning glow

I went running bright and early on a recent Saturday morning. When I came back, the sun was up and shining beautifully on my garden. While I am most certainly not a morning person there is something magical about being outside when the day begins.

breathe deep

 A spring bouquet for you, simply and loosely gathered in a jar. Lilacs, bleeding heart, and dogwood.

dear dogwood

Every spring I delight in your lovely pink blossoms!

 

spring in miniature

The spider plant in my office is blooming! Teeny tiny white flowers that have delighted me in their surprise appearance.

dirty work

Thanks to the support (um, hard labor) of my husband the backyard garden project has taken off. He gets full credit for digging out the cement block border, reinstalling said border as a back edge, ripping up sod, inserting the edging, buying and hauling the dirt (I did manage to help with the this), and using the scary looking rototiller.

I removed, relocated, and replanted existing plants. I also used scrap stones from last summer's backyard project to make a path back to the rain barrel. And I very gleefully purchased new plants and arranged them in the new garden. I remember looking over my work and saying "it's just like graphic design!" as I considered how to place different textures, leaf shapes, and plant colors.

 The back edge is raised, allowing the garden to slope forward

Crafting my stone path through the mud and muck

All my new plant babies!

morning sun and new blooms

One of the pleasures of getting up early in the morning is seeing the sun shine on your garden as it is rising for the day. I can't claim to have actually seen the sunrise itself, but I did enjoy the glow upon my hibiscus plant. I can't help but love the oversized blooms in a bold and brilliant red.

farmers' market treasure: sunflower

My sweet husband bought me a stunning bouquet of flowers at the farmers' market. The bunch that caught my eye featured a huge sunflower. So amazingly beautiful! Summer is overflowing with visual inspiration.

a flowering field

This field of flowers grows in Allegan County, Michigan, not far from a recent blueberry picking adventure. I had my husband pull over so I could stop and take some photos.

Isn't it lovely?