I apologise that today's photo is late, we've been very busy lately and

it can be difficult to keep up with everything!

Today I am using my laptop which doesn't have very many photos on it

add to the fact today is heavy rain, I thought this spring photo

would be perfect. As soon as I saw these cute little blue bells

(no that isn't the plant that's the description) it made me feel sunnier!
Muscari or grape hyacinths are a favorite spring bulb and

I think it's obvious to understand why.

The recent bounty from the garden. I am grateful for what the

garden is giving to me considering the weather has been

quite cool this summer. When others complain about

the heat I am happy for the ripe tomatoes and

wonderful cucumbers it gives me.

I went out to get some sunflower photos and found that the longer

I stood still the more I saw. It was great to see a honeybee

full of pollen and enjoying the sunflower.

Looking out at a sea of flowers every morning starts my day off

very well.

 How do you start your day off well?

Life can bring both happiness and sadness,

we've had some of the sadness befall our family recently.

This accidental shot of the snap dragon brought me

some well needed laughter at just the right time.

Nature sometimes does know.

I cannot resist staring at these flowers when I go outside.

Just so darn cute and sunny and happy!

I cannot sing the praises of hiking enough for finding wildflowers.

Western Bistort was an important food for Native Americans;

the seeds can be ground and used as a flour (related to buckwheat)

and the roots are roasted and resemble chestnuts in flavor.

It is considered one of the strongest natural astringent medicines,

If you'd like more information regarding the medicinal uses may I

suggest you check out botanical.com.

Seattle garden controversy!

I don't not usually post a post without photos so this is an unusual post this morning.
 I want you to check out the controversy in Seattle over a garden on the corner, its a "distraction" and Seattle wants it kept lower. Oddly enough just down the street from here is a house with more distractions; signs and a tent. I wouldn't really call them signs, they are more like poster board with a lot of writing on them hence the distraction!
 Check it out here!

Tree Fungi may seem an odd thing to include in a garden blog,

although I don't think so. It is a growing plant type thing growing

in a big natural garden (the forest!).

I'm actually pretty happy to have been able to get a photo of one,

for whatever reason when I take tree fungi photos they don't

turn out.

Todays Tree Fungi is growing near Heather Lake, WA.

This was such a pretty columbine growing in Bend, OR.

I think I need to grow some of these!

I couldn't be happier with poppies that popped up in my flower

beds this summer. Granted I sprinkled the seeds but honestly

that was it!

Summer annuals add so much color along with being easy to grow.

This turned out to be a wonderful sunny combo, Gazania and Alyssum.

These sunflowers really surprised me at how

tall they got. It might be because I planted them fairly

close to each other? Aren't they tall though?!

Such a sunny happy bunch of flowers!

We are doing quite a bit of work on our house this summer

which means I end up a bit behind on taking photos and getting

them posted.

Enjoying the sun on the flowers whenever I can though!

I was strolling through the garden path last night when I spotted

these 2 cuties growing side by side. They almost look as though

they are reaching to hold hands with each other.

Cute!

Hiking is a wonderful way to find wildflowers.

This little bugger is mertens saxifrage, growing in a lovely semi-shady

moist woodland area near Heather Lake, WA.

There isn't a lot of information regarding this plant but

the best info I found was here. 

The budding sunflower looks more alien then sunflower!

Pinwheel Phlox  is a darling little flower wouldn't you say?
We bought this at a street fair in Anacortes, WA a few years back

and loved it ever since. Phlox is a favorite for their mass blooms

in the landscape. One plant in a few short years turns into a rather

large planting, Watering them  helps to extend bloom time

but try not to water the leaves as they can be prone to mildew.

Something I love about Phlox is the fragrance, how does one describe it?
Powdery!

This is such a pretty poppy!

A Lupine and  a Poppy! I didn't plan this combo and I'm not

sure if it even works. Looking down at these 2 though

and I had to take a picture.

What an adorable Clarkia, reminds me of the morning glory flowers
(that I cannot get to grow at all!).

I cannot say enough good things about these flowers.

I am going to have to try and save seeds to the favorite ones.

When I first saw this Clarkia I thought maybe it was a Malva

but nope it is a Clarkia. What a pretty one.

I think its worth mentioning the Clarkia is excellent

as cut flowers. I've had some in a vase for almost 2

weeks and while a few flowers have dropped off, it is looking

beautiful still.

This Clarkia jumped out at me for being quite different than the others.

Not only is it ruffly but it is also molted and is the first I've seen as such.

Quite different but quite pretty.

This summer I've become enamored with the Clarkia.

I had no idea there was such variety in such an easy to grow flower.

Over the next few days I will show you some of them.

When I first saw this one I thought it must be a different flower

but nope this is another of the lovely Clarkia.

Blog Hopping

I hope you noticed I added a blog hopper page. HAHA I added a page!
Why is that funny you may ask, I may answer because it took me awhile
to figure out how to add the page. Oh is that a snicker at my blog design
ineptness or is that a nod in agreement? If it's a snicker, well fine!
If it's a nod in agreement then go check out blog help (duh is all I can say
to myself for not going sooner!).
 Anyways please add your blog on the blog hopper page.
~Thanks~

Our mornings have been quite cool lately, when I went outside

for some photos I found this bumblebee. He looks as though

he is trying to get under the covers but doesn't quite fit.

Scarlet Flax.

Sorry I am a bit behind on the posts,

we are painting our house and I've gotten behind on here.

This is some type of  malva, I planted seeds years ago and

every now and then it pops up here and there.

Gotta love it.

This sunny-flower came up next to my veggie bed on it's own.

Fairly perfect if you ask me.

Rudbeckia a North American native and one that belongs everywhere!

Okay maybe it doesn't belong everywhere but all flower beds should

save a spot for them. The Rudbeckia also known as black-eyed-susans

or coneflower belong to a large Astercaeae family.

There are many newer varieties of Rudbeckia and while all are quite

pretty I do love the original.

Marsh Marigold (clatha leptosepala) is a common name that may be applied

 to other flowers in the buttercup family.

 This plant is also referred to as Elk's Lips which refers

 to the shape of the long leaf.

When you go hiking and find beautiful flowers it doesn't really

matter what the name is, only the beauty matters.

These Oriental Lilies are growing in a precarious place right now!

                                We are painting our house and these lilies are right in the way but

everyone is being kind and stepping around them.

I'm not sure which variety of Oriental Lilies these are

but aren't they beautiful. One thing I especially love

about the Oriental Lilies is the heady fragrance.