A beautiful Lupine growing amidst some greenery.

The close up of this Lupine amazes me even more
than the one from yesterday. Just look at that detail!

I am always amazed when I view a close up

of a flower and all the intricate details.
This Lupine is an amazing color.

Today I am going to start a mini-series of Lupines!

 So easy to start from seed and so many colors
to choose from, I can't get enough of them.

Come back tomorrow for a closeup.

There is a spot in my yard that is meant to be a
new veggie garden. Celery ended up popping up
all over this bed and here is one little
 johnny jump up that popped up amidst the celery.

Here are 2 bouquets I ended up keeping next to each 

other in the kitchen. They looked perfect together.

This is one of those onion type bulbs sold in stores
in the fall. I'd forgotten I planted it until it
popped up this spring. Talk about easy to grow!

Here is the beargrass I planted a few years ago,
flowering away. I don't know much about growing
it, what I do know is it grows wild in the PNW.
If you ever see it growing wild it is impressive.

This is what you get when you leave dandelions

to grow in your yard. While providing hours
of enjoyment to children, we adults forget to stop
and smell the roses. In this case appreciate
the intricate design of the seed-head.

Such a sunny flower. What is wrong with the
dandelion? Other then it shows up everywhere!

I have a love hate relationship with the dandelion,
LOVE the pretty flowers but HATE that they
show up everywhere.

This rhododendron is growing next to the one I

showed you yesterday.  It was very sunny
so the pictures are a bit sun washed but
still beautiful colors.

I just happened upon this Rhododendron growing
with a few buddies next to a Target store.
Such vibrant colors.

Mayapple

The Mayapple truly does flower in May.

I really don't know what this little guy is but they visit the flowering
greens often. The flowers are from a cutting mix gone to seed.

It was a cool morning when I found this little

guy trying to stay warm in the Clematis.

The bee in the photo was a happy coincidence.

Bees and flowers, we can't get along without
both of them. A beautiful combo.
More bee photos to come...

The Shooting Star is such an adorable little flower
that I had to bring you more flowers of it.

Hen n Chicks will always have a place in my yard.
Gotta love a plant that rewards you for ignoring it!

A closeup of what I'm assuming is the
Golden Chain tree flowers.
If anyone knows for sure, let me know.

Such a strange combo of colors! I found this in the Ballard area
and couldn't help but take a picture.

One of our Rhododendrons just started flowering
you can also see the native blackberry flower
peeking out behind it.

It's taken me a few years to ID this flower
although I've enjoyed seeing it for years.
It's common name is Mourning Widow Geranium
with the official name being Geranium Phaeum.
It's a pretty little flower and easy to grow.

For quite some time I grew an Iris in MI that
had a distinct grape Kool-aid smell.
After moving to the PNW I searched for this same Iris
and after 6 years I am happy to say I think I found it.
The Iris is one of my can't be without flowers,
it is so rewarding to grow.

This lovely shrub is growing in the Ballard area but I don't know
what it is. I used to think it was a Mock Orange although
I'm not sure. Do you know what this is?

Shooting Star

I'm so excited to be able to say this flower
is growing in my garden. Such a pretty 

wildflower and so easy to grow, just provide

it healthy soil in the shade. 

Such a pretty green, weed. I have no idea what weed this is
but it grows beautifully thick and lush!

You've seen the Wallflower here a few times but I cannot

resist showing you it's sunny face again.
These live under an evergreen quite well, a self sufficient
flower with a fragrance to boot.

For me this seems to be a bit unusual for a
Columbine. The flower is smaller and such
a pale yellow verging on white.

None the less, it is enjoyable to see.

Foam flower belongs to a rather large family of 700!
It is high in tannins which the Native Americans used to make
a leaf tea to cure mouth sores and eye ailments, while the roots
were used to make a poultice to treat wounds.

I grow it simply for its beauty.