Beautiful Blooms

Yesterday was one of those busy days.  It was Monday and it followed a very busy weekend.  At work I was scheduled to drive the bookmobile on our route that takes us to the town of Index, then Goldbar and then to a rural grocery store.  It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining and the first view we had as we started out was of Mount Rainier.  The scenery was beautiful the whole day which is not unusual when you live here in the Pacific Northwest.   I can't say that the behavior of the other drivers on the road was so beautiful.  People seem to associate the word SLOW with the bookmobile because it is a large vehicle and they must not let you merge in front of them.  That does distract a little from the enjoyment of the drive.  I will tell you that if you see the bookmobile we can get up to and do go the speed limit so we won't slow you down too much.

After work I had went to the hospital with my husband to see the newest baby girl born to a family in our church.  She is beautiful and everyone is doing well. 

So many blessing in one day.

It was about 8pm and time to return to our nest for a time of rest.

As we pulled into the driveway I looked to the left and saw that my favorite peonies were blooming!

When I saw this I knew that I must cut some right away because when the rain came back they would be on the ground.  I suddenly had a burst of energy and cut the peonies and toured the yard taking pictures of many of the plants that were blooming. 

My verse for the day from my little box of verse on my desk was

He careth for you.  1Peter 5:7

The beauty of God's creation is just another way that he cares for us and makes us feel renewed and inspired.

So much beauty, I am so glad I didn't miss it.

I will be linking with
 Bloomin Tuesday at Green Thumb Jean's
Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon CottageHome and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Bloomin' Tuesday Collage

I was looking around the gardens to see what kind of work we need to get started on for Fall clean up.  There is plenty to be done but first I want to share the little bit of color still hanging out in our garden.  I played with the pictures on Picnik.com and made a couple of collages.  The color scheme seems to be blue and yellow and deep pink.

Many of these plants are brand new to our garden and were determined to put on a little show for us.

It feels and looks like fall around here.  Soon our flower beds will be covered with the leaves from our three large maples.  I am glad I took a walk around to see what was still bloomin.


I am linking to Bloomin' Tuesday, be sure to visit and see what's bloomin in other parts of the country.

Just a Few More Flowers Blooming

I have been checking my garden in our hot 90 degree plus weather.

This really hot weather does not happen all that much in Washington State.

I did find a few new flowers to share for Bloomin' Tuesday.

"Baby's Breath" in the back garden by the driveway

Globe Thistle in the same bed in back

These three pictures are of the large hydrangea plant outside our dining room window.  Many of the flowers are hiding this year.  This is probably my favorite plant in our entire yard.

This Variegated Hosta is to the left of the Hydrangea, under the Small Red Maple

Hollyhocks - they are starting to fall over

I think our dog Emmy may have had something to do with that.

Forgot the name but these look familiar I'm sure

One of my new Echinacea

Hen and Chicks - Echeveria and other plants I'm not sure of the names,  
growing in an old cracked bird bath

What a busy little bee
It seems to like the Pincushion Flower

It is always fun to stroll around and see what's bloomin'


Linking to Blooming Tuesday at MsGreenThumb Jean's

Summer Blooms

I think I say this every week but my garden does continue to surprise me.  I found some plants blooming and I thought I would share them.

First I want to show your our Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon

This picture was taken while there was a light rain

The flowers are high on the plant.

The look like they are a lilac color before they open

With the sun shinning on the double flower they look very pink

This is a new plant to my garden so here it stands with one lovely flower.

I have always liked Gooseneck Loosestrife

I have a little white fence piece to hold it up when it starts flopping down.  I think the cat or dog may have something to do with some of my floppy plants.

I pinched back my pink geranium a while back and here it is full and beautiful again.  Notice my pink flamingo?  My sister gave that to me when I turned 55.  She said that this is necessary in a garden belonging to someone of my age.

This shrub is called Shrubby Hare's Ear or Bupleurum fruticosum

I think shrubby hare's ear works for me.

Ligularia dentata "Othello"

I think this plant should be moved to a shadier spot,  I was hoping that the surrounding plants would shade it sooner than they have.

My new Malva plant. 

I bought that after visiting my friend Kerri's garden and saw hers. 

 I had forgotten how much I like this plant.

This is called Cupids Dart or Catananche

It is hard to take a clear picture of it because the delicate flower is always moving, even in a slight breeze.

Well that is what I found this week bloomin in our garden.  I didn't even make it to the back garden to see if I missed something.  I'll have to check that out later, before the next Bloomin Tuesday.

I hope you enjoyed the brief tour and take a look at the other gardens linked on Bloomin Tuesday. 

I Found Some Things Bloomin'

I found a few surprises these past couple of days.  The first thing I noticed was that everything was very dry.  We are having some warm weather here now and have been so busy we haven't thought too much about watering.  Here is what I found in spite of the heat and lack of water.

Leucanthemum (I call them  fluffy Shasta Daisies)

 

Astilbe

Heuchera

I tried to get a closer picture of this little dragonfly (?) but whenever I got closer it moved further away.

 

Stachys macrantha

 

Spiraea japonica

Limonium (German Statice is what I always called it)

 

A neglected rose in the rose bed

I love this flower but can't tell you what it is called, my mind goes blank,

maybe you can help me remember.

This is our back garden along the driveway.  It was all weeds and stumps a couple of years ago.  We bought plants at the end of  the season starting two summers ago and is now all filled in.  It is now much better to look at when driving by or pulling in. There is a large stump in the back now covered in ivy, we keep it trimmed back because ivy goes crazy.

I will be linking to Bloomin' Tuesday. Go see what's BLOOMIN' this week.

What's Bloomin In Our Garden?

I was back to work after a couple of weeks off and things went pretty well.  I still have a little energy left so I decided to grab my camera and take my Monday stroll around our garden.  What will I find for a "Bloomin Tuesday" post.  As usual, I was surprised by how many new flowers I found.

Liatris spicata or Gay Feather in the back garden

Coreopsis (I think its moonbeam)

Campanula rotundifola olympica

Shasta Daisies (short version)

Hydrangea (small compact plant with white flowers)

Hostas near the front deck

Perennial Phlox

Closer view of the phlox.  I planted two plants last summer so these are my first blossoms.

Whorled Sage and our cat Lily

Salvia verticillata "Purple Rain"

 She has been following me around so I let her sneak into the picture.

Astrantia or Masterwort

This is one of my very favorite plants, it grows in the shade of a Japanese Maple near our back porch

I always enjoy strolling through my garden to see what's bloomin.  I hope you enjoyed your visit too. 

I will be linking to Bloomin Tuesday at MsGreenThumbJean's 

 

Go take a look at what's Bloomin'