Tuesday's Trifles

I hope everyone survived the 4th of July holiday celebrations. Here we started out with a nice shower which made weed pulling rather easy. It was cool too so I got out and pulled a wheelbarrow of weeds. Easy to do here.

I searched the flower beds for some red, white and blue color combos.

I found some reddish and white.

Some reddish and blue.

But not just the color combo I was wishing for.

The 'Patriot' hosta is looking quite spectacular. It is a large hosta and it chose to bloom on the 4th.

Besides all the partying we do on the fourth we always look forward to the first blackberries of the season. We weren't disappointed. It appears that we will have a good crop this year.

We didn't even have to leave the house to see fireworks.

Our neighbors around us took turns setting off some beautiful displays. Obviously I don't know how to set my camera for clear shots. You can just use your imagination to focus. 

Have a great week everyone.

A Few More Blooms

It has been a fast paced few days for me. We worked on the Illinois Spring Bird Count. That took an entire day. Mother's Day was a a wash out in that it rained and the wind blew the entire day. I wasn't able to get into the garden until today. I found this mass of honeysuckle lying on the ground. It must have fallen over during the storm yesterday. I wouldn't have minded so bad but there was a robin's nest in the top of it with three eggs. This robin has nested here successfully the past several years . I didn't get the honeysuckle cut back before she took up residence this year. I was just going to wait until the first clutch hatched before I trimmed it back. I wish I had gone ahead. I guess the it was top heavy and it went over. The vine is fine but our little momma has to start all over.On a happier note the small varigated Wigelia I planted during the drought last year survived the winter. It is now blooming. Its blooms are very pretty. They are white with a pink blush. This was one of my $12 bushes I guess it didn't come with a tag because I can't find one with a name for it. When it grows up to be a $100 plant I think it will be gorgeous. With all the rain there are several different types of mushrooms popping up out of the mulch. I always wonder what the names of these things are. Mushrooms are so difficult to id. The Irises took a big hit with all the wind and water. This is one of the dark yellow ones that survived. At least I will get another chance at some blooms with all these buds. You can see the native Columbine blooming up a storm in the background. They make great companions in the garden.

Here is a blue and white Iris I had forgotten that I had. It has several buds yet to bloom.

Luna was happy that it stopped raining too. She found a high and dry spot in the garden where she could take a nap. She was just about to plop onto some Patriot hostas that are just coming up. In this same area where Luna was napping there is a white Columbine blooming. I don't remember planting it. I must have but I sure don't remember. I think I am having a lot of memory drops so to speak. Do you find things in your garden that you don't remember planting? Maybe it is just me. Hmmmmmm