Today it is 54
chilly,sweater weather
How do robins bathe in cold water
and why?
Summer is approaching
but not today
except ..you can see the march forward

Lady's Mantle blooming
alongside a single spring bloom of wild Columbine

and the Annabelles are gearing up
to wear their white gowns

and the Solomon seal has set its seeds
I hope a few are not eaten

and OH...look at this cutie chirping
by the hostas...under the serviceberries
waiting for parent to come
How alike we humans are

..

and the mock orange is blooming
scenting the garden...with a childhood memory
of walking home from school
envious of our neighbor's bushes
Why could my parents not have these?
like Mr. Ebersburger ?

oh and look....a flock that has hidden from bunny
still blooming
maybe for me
how sweet are those flowers

St.John's wort.....a survivor
I had ten bushes of them and had them taken out...
I couldn't go near them, so loaded with bees were they
the bushes literally hummed
Pretty plant....but in moderation
today I could use their medicinal property
:)

Oh little baby robin
mama has snatched a hawthorne berry for you

I don't know what has happened here with the harebells
they seem to be dying out
These are wildflowers that were given to me long ago from a long gone neighbor
5 houses ago....I would hate to lose them
maybe I need to pay more attention to their needs

and the oriental lily has opened this morning
where yesterday it was just a closed bud
hmmm....I wish I could open this morning too

Here next to Joe-Pye weed hides the spiderwort
precious fleeting flowers that live a day
but oh how they are loved by me

The yellow loosestrife has opened
myhusband does not like them
says they take over
yes...they take over
my heart

Oh I see you found the seat
I placed in the gaden

and you found rest on one of the many dead branches I have scattered about
just for such an ocassion
of need

babies....you've got to love them

Work
I lost myself in work
a much neglected garden
called for me to get to work
prune, weed, thin out
I lost myself in work
thank you my dear garden

seedlings

my morning glories

sundrops

Oh the thistle I pulled

and this is still my mystery plant
grows to over 5 ft
in a clump
the flowers smell like cow barn
what is it?

the oakleaf hydrangeas are blooming
isn't this too soon?

I love the white flowers of the soapwort
that open in the evening

the lillies and mums
both opening

tickseed....

 

I bought these oriental lillies on clearance last year
stuck them among the other lllies and spiderwort
they made it!
I confess....I do have a green thumb
most of the time

"NATURE-WILD NATURE-DWELLS IN GARDENS
JUST AS SHE DWELLS IN THE TANGLED WOODS,
IN THE DEEPS OF THE SEA,
AND ON THE HEIGHTS OF THE MOUNTAIN;
AND THE WILDER THE GARDEN,
THE MORE YOU WILL SEE OF HER THERE."
...Herbert Ravenel Sass

Love our flag

mom chickadee was busy feeding her three babies
or..maybe it was dad

 

 

Remember
our war dead
Remember their families
who hold their loved one's memory everyday
in their hearts

Today is supposed to be in the high 90's
so I was out early to water
and fill the feeders and birdbaths
How I love my sanctuary
my wards
each and every bloom
They surround me in comfort
even when I don't know I need comforting
The garden is God's arms around me

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR YOU FORMED MY INWARD PARTS;
YOU COVERED ME IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB.
I WILL PRAISE YOU, FOR I AM
FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE;
MARVELOUS ARE YOUR WORKS,
AND THAT MY SOUL KNOWS VERY WELL
PSALM 139 14-15

Isla (eye-la) Maeve

It's chilly this morning
so I busied myself filling the feeders
pulling a few weeds
...though NOT deadly nightshade
I think that is what is giving me a rash on my hands
despite the fact that I wear gloves
I may have to find superman kind
...cause I'm not giving up weeding
And to think I let that darn plant go
because some critters can actually eat the berries
CURSES
It's battle time around here
But the Cedar waxwings have arrived in force
waiting for every serviceberry to ripen
...get in line
the Robins were here first

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that's Happy Jack....looking for a place to dig up

a few columbine are still blooming

Me and Boo (my kitty)
love to watch the doves
strut across the deck
I was hoping to remove the deck this year and do a patio
but window replacrment in Galena put that on the back burner
There's always next year....guess I'll have to clean and stain it one more year
I just had my breakfast on the deck and threw a few of my blueberries to Mr. Robin
who was waiting a few feet away....
knows I am easy

"What a happy woman I am living in a garden, with books,babies,birds and flowers,
and plenty of leisure to enjoy them....
Sometimes I feel as if I were blest above all my fellows
 in being able to find
my happiness so easily."
-Elizabeth von Amin