Monday, May 30, 2011

An Early Morning Visit to Lake Harriet

Let's go to Lake Harriet around 5 or 6 in the morning, and see what we might see.  There's Daisy and Tom waiting for breakfast.

Plenty of Runners and Walkers!
Ducks practicing their diving skills.

A friendly concession stand open for breakfast.
And a bright picnic shelter to eat it in.

Tulips and Towers.


Ready Rowboats.
And if you're wanting to sit down and ride for a bit, there's even a trolley station.


It's a little like being on vacation every day!

Friday, May 27, 2011

What a Morning!

The sun was shining on the bandshell:

Daisy and Tom were waiting for their breakfast by the tree:

And the blossoms were at their peak!




The creek was high:

Even the fences sparkled!

I had to bring a little home.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

It really is spring!


Around the Lake (and back)

Our favorite apple tree is growing up.  You can see why it's our favorite.



But it has many equally beautiful companions.


Daisy and Tom are looking wonderful this morning too!



And the little backyard patio plants are putting on their own display.


Saturday, May 21, 2011

A Spring Slurry





For every beginning
There is an ending
For every go
There is a stop

For every spring
There is a summer
Yet we can dwell
Where time is not

Ready

Seems like the gentle rain has brought out all of the leaves on the trees on this block to their full size.  It has been a very gradual transition, but now that it is complete the contrast is amazing.  It looks as though we are on a different planet.  We humans are certainly adaptable, as these two opposite season photos demonstrate.


Thursday, May 19, 2011

New Plantings

With all the creeping phlox in bloom around town, it was time to bring some home.   Here they are ready to go in the new bed that Bruce dug, along with another hydrangea (why not?)  The swing behind the plants looks more inviting than digging holes.  My next door neighbor saw us working on the new flower bed last night and said, "I just don't have a green thumb."  I had to admit that I don't have one either.  I just want to look at the beauty of flowers and landscaping, and I want someone else to do all of the work.  I do like to water plants though.  And somehow watching a sprinkler whirl is very relaxing.


Here they are all snug in their new spot, with Teddy attempting a fair impersonation at the far end of the row.  I am mixing sun lovers and shade lovers and hoping for the best, since the phlox should be done blooming once the leaves fill in the oak tree which should shade the hydrangea nicely.  This is the beginning of what I hope will be a front yard with several little retaining walls and gardens, if we can manage to find some more blocks that match.  And now it looks like rain.


Here is the new very large faux cement pot we bought at Sunnyside Gardens, all freshly planted with a mixture of white annuals and perennials, like echinacea, phlox, daisies, sweet potato vine, etc.  I wanted to include some allium, but couldn't find any in my usual haunts.

Teddy kept all the neighborhood dogs and bicycles away while I worked.  It wasn't a pretty sight.