garden photography

thyme’s up

247/365: thyme

blog090815_thyme

This is the time of year when my herbs are abundant and I begin to panic about the days I left to enjoy them. Fresh herbs are one of the few things that make me pine for life in a warmer climate. They make me feel rich. Time to get cooking, I guess…there’s a frost warning up north tonight !?!?!?!?!

new hue

246/365: purple woods aster

blog090715_purple-woods-aster

Walking through the summer woods is a largely monochromatic experience. Green on green. Any other color really stands out.

I’m happy either way: I never tire of the infinite shades and textures of the leaves but the surprise of a wildflower is always welcome.

simply stunning

243/365: lone daisy
blog090415_lone-daisy

I have long been a fan of the simple beauty of the daisy. Sometimes it’s harder to see the everyday flowers. Isn’t that true of anything we love once it becomes familiar? It takes something to shake us out of our same-old eyes to realize all over again how stunning it really is.

ding dong

234/365: bells of ireland

blog082615_bells-of-ireland

Call it the luck o’ the Irish.

One of my favorite green flowers appeared in our garden quite by surprise. I know I didn’t plant it and I almost pulled it, thinking it was a week. Something made me wait and see.

I love to see my less-than-fastidious gardening practices rewarded! With a little time, space, and sunlight, who knows what might blossom?

hey, beautiful

226/365: monarch in the prairie garden

blog081815_monarch

I could tell from the tattered wings that it’s been a tough journey. What a relief it must be to come upon a native plant feast like my neighborhood prairie garden!

It is SO good to see each and every monarch this year. Wishing them safe travels and plenty of flowers along the way.

growing like a weed

221/365: wild senna

blog081315_wild-senna

You can tell the native plants BELONG here because of the way they thrive.

We chose the wild senna for the cool shape of the leaves. We had no idea that it would grow taller than me the first season (I’m 5’3 so it’s not a huge feat, but still).

If you live in the Twin Cities, please let me know if you’d like one of these giants for your own garden. I’ve got babies all over the place and I’m happy to share. Be ready for a soundtrack of contented buzzing – the pollinators are coming in droves.

 

moment of silence

A rare, quiet moment for the Russian sage; it’s been a hotbed of bee activity for weeks. I love to see our new garden buzzing with pollinators – can’t wait till the butterflies come.

blog080515_russian-sage213/365: russian sage