Heres what's blooming!

Here is Michigan we've had some crazy weather.  2 weeks ago we had snow!  Nothing stuck to the ground, but still - snow in May?  A week later it was hot and humid, in the 80's and that's what we still have.  This warm weather is making our flowers happy though.  Here's what's blooming now:

The bleeding heart are always pretty.  They're almost done this year.

 The lily of the valley is blooming in the back yard.

The wooded area behind our back yard is full of money plant.  Right now it's all purple blooms, but in the Fall there are silvery discs on each plant, which is how it gets its name.

 Here's a closer shot of the money plant.

I love lilacs because they smell so good!  They are almost done for this year.

 In our front walkway area the dwarf lilac is also blooming.  It's a pretty little bush with flowers that look and smell like regular lilac, but about half the size.

 The two flowering bushes are Verbena's.  They are different varieties and we enjoy both, but the smaller bush flowers in a unique way.

You can see the Verbena flowers here - they grow along the top of each branch which really shows off the flowers.

 We're really enjoying seeing this new bed grow this year.  Bob built this gate and put it and the plants in last year. It's nice to see all the plants growing happily there.

 Over the weekend, the Siberian Iris opened up, and if you look at the trellis behind them, you can see some white Clematis blooms.

 The Siberian Iris are one of my favorite Spring flowers.

 Here's one of the Clematis blooms.

Last but not least is this Weigela bush.  Both the leaves and flowers are so pretty!

"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor

 or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his 

splendor was dressed like one of these."

Luke 12:27

Verbena bush

 Last week I posted this picture in my Wordless Wednesday post and a lot of you wanted to know more about this plant.  This picture is deceiving as it looks like this is growing on the ground.  Actually, it's a Verbena bush. 
This particular type, gets flowers not just at the end of the branches, but along the top of each branch.  It's really beautiful when the flowers open up.

Here's another picture of the same branch, with the flowers opened up.

 

 And here's a picture where you can see the whole bush on the right side of the arbor.

 This is another type of Verbena bush we have in the back yard. This one gets flowers on the end of the branches.  These flowers are so unique.  They get a circle of little flowers around the center, making one larger flower.

I enjoy both of these every Spring and wish those flowers would last longer!

Fall is coming...

When I walk through our yard and look at the flowers, there is no denying that summer is coming to an end.

The Black Eyed Susans still look pretty from a distance, but when you get close, you can see that they are getting tired.

I'm not sure what these are, but they still create a pretty splash of color.


There used to be several of these blooming out back, but this one is the lone survivor!

The flowers on the Rose of Sharon bushes still look nice. I like the way they close up in the evening.

These flowers are Fall Crocuses. They need to be planted among other flowers because all summer long, all they have is some really ugly foliage, but when summer comes to an end these pretty flowers pop out!


This area in the back is another that looks nice, until you look closely. Then you can see that the flowers are coming to an end.

The Vibernum bush is filling up with berries.

The flowers on the Hydrangea tree are starting to change from pure white, to a pinkish color.

And if you look closely, our Autumn Joy Sedum...

is beginning to turn to it's signature red color.

I guess I better get ready - Fall is coming!

Late Summer Flowers

 It's almost September!  I know many of you are anxious for Fall, but I'm hanging on to Summer for as long as I can! I'm not ready for cold and I hate to see the flowers fade.
This weekend I wandered around the yard to see what was blooming.

Here's the gate at the side yard.  The hosta have gotten so big this year.

This is a flower on the oak leaf hydrangea which is right next to that gate.

These chives are growing along the walkway when you go through the gate.  They are one of my favorites, they always make me think of little purple fireworks.

These phlox are such a pretty color.

Bob planted a bed of zinnias this year.  Unfortunately, many didn't come up, but this little red one is almost open.

 

In the back, these are some black eyed Susans still hanging on, despite showing their age.

The Autumn Joy Sedum are starting to change color.

This bee was enjoying the sedum.

In the back corner of the yard, is this area Bob has filled with grasses and phlox.

Next to it is a row of Rose of Sharon bushes. They are different colors - this purple, light pink, a mauve color and white and they look so pretty all together.

Here's another Rose of Sharon bud, in pale pink.  It looks almost like a rose bud.

Bob also planted morning glories this year.  As the name says - they open in the morning.  This is a bud, the photo was taken in the evening.

And here is that same flower, opened up the next morning.

We've made it to the other side of the yard.  The building you see here is Bob's workshop.  The little tree is a hydrangea tree.  It's so full of flowers this year.  The flowers start pure white and turn an antique rose color.  They hang on, even into the winter.  I've taken pictures of the flowers with snow piled on top of them in the middle of the winter.

Here's one of the flowers.  You can see the pink starting to show up.

One last look at the back yard, standing near the hydrangea tree.

Thanks for making it through to the end!

I never promised you a rose garden - but I've got others!

There are more flowers blooming all the time! Before I show them to you I have to clarify something. I have received nice comments on "my" flowers and I have to remind you that they are more Bob's flower than mine. He is the gardener in the family. Sometimes I help pick them out and I may make a suggestion here and there, but he is the planner, the planter and the weeder! I am mainly the admirer and photographer! With that said - here are this weeks best blooms:

Remember the Gaillardia from a month ago? It's still blooming.
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This is called Veronica or Speedwell. It isn't a big plant but looks pretty growing in little clumps. It looks really nice in front of our yellow Stella D'oro lilies.
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This is a cherry yarrow. The leaves are feathery and this particular type has bright pinkish red flowers.
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We don't know the name of this flower. We got it from Karla and Diane a few years ago and have enjoyed those bright, cheerful flowers ever since.
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These lilies are growing out by Bob's workshop.
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This is called Dragon's Blood Sedum. It is a ground cover that is covered with these bright red flowers in the middle of summer.
I hope you aren't sick of looking at these. I love to admire them, as soon there will be snow where the flowers are now!