But not this year! Wowza!~
Spring showed up in a big, bold way. Couple that with all the festivities and planning for my youngest girl graduating and time flew by. The days were warm with just the right amount of rain to burst things into bloom (including my allergies). I couldn't keep my camera charged enough as flowers came in and out. Come take a tour with me.
The daffodils, tulips were first on the scene while the forsythia on our back wall displayed showers of little yellow flowers.
Meanwhile, in the front yard, my little weeping cherry (Mister bought me for a Mother's Day gift two years ago) bloomed! This was actually my second weeping cherry because the first one died. The nursery replaced it for me so I was crossing my fingers that this one would survive the winter and it did!
Those all flowered and went by but right about then the peonies started to show their buds. I am always so anxious for the blooms because invariably after finally opening we get a hard rain that drags them to the ground or knocks all the petals off. I am determined to cut them before that happens.
While I waited for them to open the iris and azaleas were in, and a little patch of lily of the valley.
The tall phlox came in the front. I did not plant them, they just show up every year where ever they want to and I am okay with that.
I lined the flower beds in my front yard with stone pavers this year. It is my attempt to try to help Mister from mowing into my beds and to keep my creeping mulch from finding its way into his grass.
I took out the two scotch-broom I planted last year. They had gotten too big and were half dead. I replaced them with with some salvia and annuals for color.
Some geraniums and greens from my local Home Depot made the front porch welcoming. It all looks neat and ready for guests and not too soon either because Graduation Day will mean friends visiting!
That went by quick and with it came a plethora of roses on the front arbor and at the entrance to the front porch. The weather had been so beautiful!
The shasta daisies were blooming in the backyard among the lavender and the peonies opened to reveal the most stunning blooms. I did cut some and brought them into the house to enjoy. They stayed past Father's Day. I was able to take a few cuttings at different times to enjoy indoors. (Tip: cut them and leave them outdoors in a vase of water overnight. The ants will leave the cut flowers so you can bring them indoors worry free.)
Mister and I took a short trip to Portland, Maine and when we got home a whole other batch of flowers were showing off! Wild roses I didn't plant come up every year so I just let them do their thing. Mister's prickly pear cactus has gone nuts! And, my poor little chives that share the same bed have their purple spheres competing for attention. In the distance I can see the Stella D'Oro lilies starting to show. And the yucca loves its home close to a water source.
Hydrangea is blooming in the front yard and the bushes on the side yard are starting to show. The hosta has sent up its tall shoots that will beckon the hummingbirds soon. Trumpet vine and black-eyed Susan are making ready for their turn along with the daylilies.
June was a beautiful, quick month but more than flowers are blooming at my home. As I said earlier, my youngest graduated high school.
It has been 14 years of homeschooling for this momma. Much like my gardens the fruit of the labors have been beautiful but then the times go by quickly and the next thing starts to bloom. Being a mom to children for 32 years has produced much fruit among weeds and some thorns... sadly, I am still a work-in-progress. We are looking forward to the next thing and I am comforted by Ecclesiastes that reminds me there is a time and season for everything... I am determined to enjoy this season while it lasts.
And then, only as God can do, I was reminded by this little gift left in a fern on the front porch. The momma bird has three beautiful babies just like me! I am blessed to have this nest and my three little babies that have grown into some pretty awesome chickies.
Thanks for spending time with me and walking through my gardens.
Linking up to these parties:
Jann Olson, The Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Celebrate and Decorate, Our Home Away From Home, Ducks N' A Row, Katherine's Corner, Shabby Art Boutique, Life With Lorelai, The Charm of Home, The Boondocks Blog