flowerful friday - flashback to summer

I think for those of us who love to garden, in the off season months we dream of next year's blooms and remember last year's beauties. I looked through my garden and flower photos from this past summer and came across this June bouquet that I particularly loved. 

Nothing like some summer colors to cheer up a grey day!

flowerful friday

We've had incredibly warm weather this fall making for a unusually showy November garden. Colder weather is forecast for the weekend, and I *think* these are the last of this year's blooms. 

Summer colors even into November!

flowerful friday

We moved from Madison to the Milwaukee area almost 2 years ago. The first year in the house we didn't have a garden, and I felt like a huge piece of me was missing. So this year when I was able to get a garden going I was so thankful. 

We've had incredible weather this autumn so the growing season has been especially long. I just cut what I think are the last of my dahlias for the year. Bittersweet, but beautiful. 

from the garden -
red dahlias, blue borage, and orange nasturtiums 

flowerful friday

Though the summer season is starting to wind down, there are still many lovely flowers in bloom. I photographed these zinnias recently. Aren't they beautiful?

~photos by Inside the Pomegranate~

flowerful friday

I don't know what these purple beauties are, but to me, they are so summery. Aren't they lovely?

Happy Friday!

~photography by Inside the Pomegranate~

flowerful friday

Isn't this a lovely color combination? And the roses smell divine!

Happy Friday!

~photo by Inside the Pomegranate~

flowerful friday

There's something so magical about waterlilies. Here's one I photographed recently. Doesn't it just feel like summertime?

Happy Friday!
~photo by Inside the Pomegranate~

a tour of olbrich botanical gardens

Let's take a little tour of Olbrich Botanical Gardens today...

Care to join me for a walk?

Their gardens have so
many colors and textures

and a beautiful reflection pool

let's not forget the impressive herb garden

Shall we take this path? 

The gorgeous view from a look-out tower

~ all photos by Inside the Pomegranate ~

flowerful friday: clematis in bloom

Clematis are in full bloom, and these flowering vines add so much color and interest to garden spaces. There are so many varieties of clematis, so it's not unusual to see a wide range of petal shapes and colors. On a recent visit to Olbrich Botanical Gardens here in Madison, the clematis were blooming most beautifully. I snapped a few photographs of these stunning climbers. Did you know that wild clematis are native to China? By the 17th century, they could be found in Japanese gardens, and they reached European gardens by the 18th century. I'm happy to have a few clematis in my own garden. Do you have them growing in your garden too?

Happy Friday!

~photos by Inside the Pomegranate~

flowerful friday: lavender from the garden

With its delicate and relaxing scent, lavender is one of my favorites. I've never had a lot of luck growing it here in Madison, but happily this year my lavender plants came back and are flourishing. There's nothing quite like just a few sprigs of fragrant lavender to bring indoors to enjoy.

flowerful friday: (more) peonies from the garden

The peonies in my garden this year seem to be doing especially well. Perhaps it's the cool start to the season or all of the rain, regardless, the results have been lovely. I couldn't help but having another peony post since these top heavy beauties won't be blooming for much longer.  

Happy Friday! And, a very happy anniversary to my mom & dad!

flowerful friday: peonies from the garden

Another joy of springtime are when peonies open up their full and heavy blooms. They lend so much color, texture, and fragrance to our gardens. No wonder they are at the top of so many of our "favorites" list.

flowerful friday - irises from the garden

It's now time for irises to show themselves off. With their frilly petals that waver in the wind, they are so pretty, and their fragrance is so light and gentle. Here's a few apricot and purple ones I photographed.

flowerful friday

I snapped this photo this week while on a walk. Isn't springtime beautiful?

Happy Friday!

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?

flowerful friday

Last fall, my mom and I split a huge order of tulips, and now we're reaping the benefits of digging all of those holes. They're a multicolored variety, which brings so much cheery color to the garden. I cut a bunch for a bouquet, but since our allergies are so bad I haven't been able to bring them inside. So, they're sitting on our screened-in porch for us to enjoy. Aren't the colors beautiful?

Happy Friday!

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!

my springtime garden

The springtime garden is such a happy place for all of us who love to garden. Every which way we look we can see new growth and new buds and blooms. I'm slow to get my garden going this year, but this morning I was able to spend a good hour or so doing what I love - pulling weeds, tidying up the space, and planting a few new items. Here's a little glimpse into my springtime garden.

allium, close-up
I planted these bulbs last fall, so I'm
excited to see them bloom for the 1st time!

another shot of allium

cherry blossoms from our fruit tree

tiny grape hyacinths with lavender,
mint, and chives scattered here and there

one of my favorites - the lilac in our front yard garden
the scent is divine and the petals are beautiful!

not the showiest of flowers, but these lungworts
add so much to my little shade garden
on the north side of our house

flowerful friday - from the springtime garden

The bulbs in my garden are continuing to bloom, adding lots of little bursts of color here and there. I picked these four - checkered lily, daffodil, leucojum (aka spring snowflake), and grape hyacinth - to cluster together for a cute, informal arrangement.  

Happy Friday!

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!