shades of green - olbrich

We were able to spend a little time indoors at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison this weekend. And since winter is decidedly here, the warm temperature and tropical plants were most welcome. I love the incredible patterns and details that these beauties present. 

so vibrant 

a whimsical curl

light and feathery

Me and my little fellow taking it all in

flowerful friday

This Friday I thought I'd share a few photos of wildflowers I snapped recently on my morning walks with Lucas. Fall is Madison is beautiful!

~photos by Inside the Pomegranate~

winged beauties

It's the time of year here in Madison that monarch butterflies can be seen fluttering to and fro. These winged beauties always catch my eye and cause me to stop and take in their seemingly effortless dance. Aren't they so graceful?

~photos 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~

a beautiful summer day

Today was a beautiful summer day, full of sunshine and singing birds. I took this short video while enjoying Olbrich Botanical Gardens here in Madison. Enjoy!

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.

happy halloween!

I love the cute side of Halloween - kiddos dressed up in their costumes - but admittedly the scary and ghoulish side just isn't for me. 

Wishing you all a happy, safe, and fun Halloween!

our cream colored pumpkin picked at
the farmers market here in Madison -
it reminds me of a full moon

flowerful friday

At the local farmers' market last Saturday, dahlias, sunflowers, and gladiolas were in gorgeous, full bloom. I picked up some beautiful dahlias for home (at a great price nonetheless!), and I snapped these colorful images. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's farmers' market to see what delightful early-fall flora might be available.

dahlias with with a few gladiolas

sturdy sunflowers

Happy Friday!

music for a monday morning: andrew bird's three white horses

Andrew Bird will be performing here in Madison on Wednesday evening. I can't wait. I'm sure it's going to be another amazing live show. Here's just a glimpse of his new album, "Hands of Glory". Enjoy!

 

colors of the season {from a farmers' market}

Fall was definitely in the air yesterday, and while taking in the Dane County Farmers' Market the temperatures were cool, seasonal specialities like apples, pears, and squash were everywhere, and many vendors were selling lovely dried flowers bouquets. Here are a few shots I snapped that capture the colors of the season. 

cool weather radishes 

lovely dried bouquets 

colorful swiss chard

green and gold "Packer" peppers

flowerful friday

We spent part of last Sunday at Olbrich Gardens, here in Madison. It's one of my favorite places in town, and is a phenomenal botanical gardens. Here are just a few photos I snapped while at Olbrich's Thai Pavilion display.

close-up - isn't this flower stunning?

myriad of colors 

Olbrich's Thai Pavilion -
a little piece of Thailand right here in Madison!

Happy Friday!