“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Summer Flowers


Hello friends! I am taking a brief break from the gardening to just step back and enjoy for a bit.  I wanted to share a few photos I took the other day before our torrential rains hit.  I rescued these blossoms in the nick of time!








Some of you gardeners know what these flowers are, but for you non-gardeners I will identify them for you.  At the very top are white Mock-Orange blossoms. I truly adore them for the unmistakable scent, they smell like orange blossoms! OK, so I've never actually smelled an orange blossom, what I have smelled is the orange blossom perfume they sell in Florida. Maybe some of you Floridians and people in orange territory could clarify this point!  Whatever! They smell fabulous!!






The next flowers down are a couple of very pale, blush-pink roses (again, wonderful scent)! At the bottom are the Peonies, a dark pink one on the left and at the center and right are some creamy white ones that fill out the vase.  If you are wondering about the tablecloth, it is one I inherited from my Mom. Those are strawberries decorating the border.  It is one of my favorite treasured keepsakes from her.






We had absolutely terrible storms that rolled through last week. This was the same storm that started in Canada around Calgary and then continued down through Fargo and then into the Twin Cities and then Chicago. Anyway that evening I was worried about our large trees, the branches were whipping around violently and I was sure they would come tumbling down! It rained, it hailed and all #%@8 broke loose!

We headed for the basement for awhile till the worst passed. There was so much rain hitting the windows we couldn't even see out. About half an hour later  it was all over and we had two inches of rain in the gauge. The good news was that only one small limb broke off of our silver maple tree. We were extremely lucky, not so for many others. The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation has estimated that 3,000 trees were completely destroyed by the storm.

Thank goodness the weather has started to calm down again and we have several gorgeous days ahead in the forecast.  After I have rested up from pulling three wheelbarrows of weeds ( errant wildflowers) and now that the Aleve has kicked in for my arthritis pain.... Oh my I am getting old!!

Well, LOL, I will be trying to get around to all your blogs 
to check in with what YOU have been doing!
xo ~  Diane


14 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures and your flowers are amazing!

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  2. What a GORGEOUS bouquet! But hey, don't blame us up here in Canada for your storm. The Calgary weather system in fact originated in Idaho and then came north to cause the terrible flooding. And then went eastwards, winding up at your place eventually. So the storm progressed on a kind of wonky, wavy path -- there's a theory that loss of Arctic sea ice has caused the Gulf Stream to waver and undulate and that's why such erratic weather patterns are emerging. TMI, I know.

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    1. I would never blame Canada for the storm, you are all much too polite! I agree with you about the cause of the storm, it is the Gulf Stream and the inconvenient truth of Global Warming, AKA Climate Change.

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  3. My family just arrived in MN a few days ago - they got stuck in SD because of the storms - enjoy the nicer weather! I did not know about mock orange blossoms :)

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    1. Your family is getting here just in time for some nice weather, tell them Welcome for me! The mock orange is actually a shrub and there are several sizes and varieties. They are really easy to grow.

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  4. I love that bouquet! It is a fantastic explosion of colour. This time of year there are flowers everywhere. My garden is overflowing; a definite sign of gratitude for all the hard work I put into it - and am continuing to put into it - this spring. I guess I'm getting old, too, cause I share those aches and pains...LOL...

    I'm glad to hear that you have nice days coming along. Enjoy!

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  5. Wow..gorgeous lush blooms..what a blissful bouquet..I love them all! I have always wanted a mock orange because of the scent..so nice to know it is indeed potent and magical..yay! Very inspiring images..
    Glad the storm is gone..there have been many of them this year!
    Wishing you a beautiful day!
    Victoria

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  6. Hey Diane ;o) I am so sorry about the storm you have went through! I am glad you had no damage! I am sorry for the other areas! We have been so hot and humid! Still no rain! I hope it comes soon, so the air will get lighter! As you know, we still don't have air conditioning! Uggg!!! We can do it!! Mom and I will be ok ;o) I love the flowers!!! Gorgeous!! The smells must be so wonderful! I also love your mom's table cloth!! Big Hugs ;o)

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  7. I'm so glad your weather has calmed down! Storms like those are frightening!

    Gorgeous flowers and tablecloth. I can almost smell the blooms from your photo and your description. :) The table cloth is wonderful. I would treasure it too!

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  8. Diane - your green thumb has really produced some lovely flowers. My folks have a Mock Orange bush - it is beautiful and huge - the fragrance is so lovely. My peonies are done so I am glad to revisit these lovely flowers in your garden. Have a great week-end.

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  9. What lovely lovely flowers!! So beautiful. Sorry to hear about the storms but thankfully they passed with minimal damage. Happy Saturday my friend!

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  10. Gorgeous flowers! Glad that your weather is better....but it looks like it has arrived in my area. We have been inundated with thunderstorms and monsoon like rain. At least it clears up quickly and we get some sun, but it seems like this has been happening every day since last week!

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  11. Lovely flowers. The storm sounded terrifying! Glad you are ok. :)

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  12. I'm so glad things have calmed down for you now. Your flowers are gorgeous.
    The sun is finally shining in the UK - yipppeeeee!

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