lilacs in bloom, part 2

I headed back over to the University of Wisconsin Arboretum yesterday so see how the lilacs were coming along, and sure enough, they were incredible. Now, at their peak, their fragrance wafted through the air and their frilly blossoms danced with every gust of wind. It was lovely! Here are a few of the photos I snapped on my little walk through the lilac grove.  

down a path, so many lilacs to enjoy!

double petaled and lavender in color

double petaled, with various shades

beautiful!

a true pink lilac

star shaped petals and lavender in color

a few varieties...

perfection.

aren't they lovely?

lilacs in bloom, part 1

It's one of my favorite times of year - the time when lilacs bloom! It's hard for me to pick a favorite flower, but if I absolutely had to chose, lilacs would win out. I took a nice stroll through the UW-Aboretum yesterday, and I snapped some of these early lilacs. The Arboretum looked gorgeous; with late blooming magnolias still going strong, crabapples & redbuds in bloom, and lilacs entering the mix. I think the full lilac grove with be in peak bloom in a few days. If you're in Madison, it's a must see. And, the fragrance is divine. Allergies be damned, lilacs are too beautiful to miss!

a lavender colored lilac with a
teeny white rim around the petals 

four petaled, pink - classic!

a pinkish lavender with some opened
and some closed blossoms

this one will be a beauty in a couple of days!

double petaled and more saturated - I love this one!

magnolias in bloom, part 2

I can't seem to get enough of the beautiful magnolias in bloom at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, just a mile or so away from my home. Yesterday I was back at the lovely grounds, and  here are a few photos I took. 

While the star magnolias were in full bloom last week, many of the stunning saucer magnolias are now at their peak. It's wonderful to be able to enjoy springtime!

magnolias in bloom

Spring, though very late this year, is finally here. At the top of my list of spring favorites, are the magnolias at the UW-Madison Arboretum where the quantity and variety of these lovely trees is quite impressive. The star magnolias are blooming, with all of their showy petals dancing in the warm breeze, sitting underneath these beauties is a perfect way to spend part of a spring day. Here are a few I photographed. 

Click onto to the photos for a larger image.

a springtime stroll

Join me on a short walk through the UW Arboretum. We'll see beautiful flowering crabapple trees, lilac bushes, and more. Don't forget to turn the audio up so you can hear all of the birds singing too!

flowerful friday

This spring, the flowering trees seem particularly gorgeous. Here are a few shots I took recently. Hope you enjoy!

Happy Friday!


And, happiest of birthday wishes to my husband -- I love you!!

happy easter!

What a wonderful day! We hosted Easter lunch for my parents and brother, and the day was quite lovely. I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful day as well.  

sunlight through a crabapple
at the Arboretum here in Madison

inspired by Tissot and Monet

The paintings by Tissot and Monet that I posted recently inspired me. I was walking through the Arboretum here in Madison this morning, and this scene captured my eye. It reminded me so much of the setting of both Tissot's and Monet's paintings. Can't you imagine an artist painting this spring scene?

click onto the image for a larger view

flowerful friday: special edition - magnolias in bloom

As promised from yesterday's post, here are some of my photos from the amazingly stunning magnolia grove located not but a mile from my house. This grove is nestled in the University of Wisconsin Arborteum, and is breathtaking in its beauty. I think these photos do a good job of conveying the gorgeous scene, but honestly, to see these blooming beauties in person is a whole other experience. 

I hope you enjoy!

light pink saucer magnolia

looking up from below - heavenly!

I could lay under this tree for hours!

a pink star magnolia

some were still in bud form - so cute!

next to my hand, to show the large size of these
gorgeous blooms

one part of the magnolia grove

sublime!

this cream colored star magnolia had the
most lovely fragrance!

one pink, one cream colored -
side by side

Happy Friday!

dusk skies in spring

We've had some incredibly beautiful skies this spring, and dusk never disappoints. Last night I was able to capture the gorgeous sunset from within the UW-Arboretum. The sky was breath-taking and the setting couldn't have been more beautiful. Stay tuned for tomorrow's Flowerful Friday post to see  amazing magnolias in bloom.

classic color combinations: blue & green

What better way to see perfect color combinations than in nature? I brought my camera and a new lens on a walk today in the nearby University of Wisconsin Arboretum and snapped a few photos of  evergreens and the most gorgeous blue sky. There's no snow on the ground here, and it feels unseasonally mild outdoors, but despite this unusual weather, it was still a beautiful winter day.