Spring Blooms

I really goofed last week. Somehow I managed to delete my post. I hope I do better this week.

The garden is beginning to wake up after a cold, brutal spring. It is always such a pleasure to see old friends return to the garden. Like the aquilegia, often called Granny's Bonnet, or here in Colorado, Columbine. This one, is a favorite, as it resembles the wild ones that grow in the Rocky Mountains in the aspen tree groves, much like ours in the center garden. Here in the garden, however, we have no idea what color will bloom each year. They self seed, so we have a nice wild variety every spring. I do wish that they would stick around longer, but it gets too hot for them.

The pink columbine is new this year. I love the pink. She is just so soft and romantic.

Just around the bend from the columbine you will find the hostas. Take a really look because they while they are beautiful, even a gentle hail storm will rip their wide leaves to shred and they won't be able to recover.

The giant alums have reseeded yet again and they present quite a show of pretty little stars gathered in to a big ball.

There is so much purple in the center garden that this orange geum adds a lot of contrast. I love the orange.

Clematis are another favorite. This one didn't bloom early enough last week to be included in the mosaic that I did on the clematis. This one climbs the pole by the water garden.

She's a pretty one. 

Iris add to the flower show here. These are in the center garden, blooming late. I have two other clubs next to theses are still tightly closed. We might see them next week.

It's had to believe how much these clumps have grown out by the garden.

I more or less summarized the iris in this week's Monday Mosaic.

The one the end is our only Dykes winner, Edith Wolford. Isn't she lovely?

We are so fortunate to have a tree hugger daughter, Heather. Actually a very knowledgeable arborist, she gave us the bad news: one of our four ash trees is very ill and we will probably lose it. It's one of three planted along the driveway by the barn. The previous owner planted them and we have enjoyed them. Now with good size they provide shade, but in April, as Heather explains, the temperature dropped from 70 degrees to 30 over night and tress and plant life just can't take that drastic change, and this one froze. 

The second tree, a locust was slow to bloom last year, but this it seemed to bud out when the other one did, but it is struggling. Perhaps it will survive. 

Finally, take a good look. The hay field looks so good and tomorrow it will be cut

Finally a bit of grandma bragging on the grandchildren. I spent Sunday with the girls at a horse show while the Head Gardener took the boys camping to a an archery shoot. They are all growing so much. Lucy is 10, Ellie 11, Jacob 16, and Nathan 10

Top: Mariah, 18 years old now, an authentic mustang. Lucy has asked her to do things that I don't think she ever knew possible.

Bottom: Ellie with her Morgan, Hank, a handsome ten year old, learning new skills, too. 

 The boys love shooting their bow and going camping. They spent the week with us. While Jacob has gone home, Nathan will stay another week.

So, gang, that's about it for this week. Hopefully I can keep from deleting this post.

Lots to this week, starting with a root canal tomorrow afternoon. Ugh!

Linking with Angie at Mosaic Monday.