Bleeding Hearts

These are the Bleeding Hearts in my garden this spring.  For Today's Flowers # 101 here they were in full bloom.

Then the foliage dies back. I just cut  it back ...

It's OK 'cuz they'll be back next spring.

This variety blooms all summer!

 Visit Today's Flower's  for more views of flowers from around the world.

Tyger Tyger Burning Hot (Apologies to Wm Blake)

Only the sunny golden Tiger Swallowtail wanted to be out yesterday in the 102+ heat of the garden.

 

Too darn hot for the rest of us!
 Link up with Outdoor Wednesday #78 for more nature.

Happy Fourth

Happy Fourth

 Ready for blue berry pancakes today.

 

 My favorite 4th picture from the past ...

 More flowers from around the world can be found at TODAY'S FLOWERS #100.

Hydrangea Envy

Don't you love hydrangeas?  I could just dive into this blue bush.

But here's my tiny tiny bush.

Nice flowers, but lacking in number and size.

And this one needs some acid to turn blue.

To make this arrangement I bought these at a yard sale.  They weren't on sale, but I asked and for five dollars picked an arm full.  (Do you travel with clippers in your car?)

The intense blue is so delicious.
Join in TODAY'S FLOWERS # 98 to see more beauties from around the world.

June Party

I think parties are easy.  Last week-end just to celebrate my garden (and Flag Day) I had a little garden party.  Of course the crisp breezy Monday and Tuesday had disappeared by Sunday.  It was hot and humid.  But since PFS can play golf on days like that why can't we be on the deck?  And in fact it was not all that bad outside.  But I kept the food and drink indoors.  Come on in....

Food's in the dining room..

 Poached salmon....

Cheese boards.....

Veggies with hummus....

Toasts with prosciutto,  mozzarella, sundried tomato/pine nut mixture ...

Phyllo cups with pipped in goat cheese topped with a date/cranberry/walnut/honey combo...

Desserts in the kitchen....lotsa raspberries.  We're picking 3-6 pints a day!  Some I've sold in a silent auction for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, but most we eat.

and lots of flowers ...

And it is not hard.  Day or so ahead ... Poach the salmon (took 30 min.), prep the veggies while it cooks, blend up the goat cheese and toppings, set the table up with platters and serving utensils.  I use small plates and real napkins (environmentally friendly and really cheap at yard sales).  Two hours the day of to ... pipe in the cheese, assemble the toasts, slice fresh bread, fix veggies and cheese, arrange flowers.  PFS stocked the laundry room sink with beer and the big punch bowl with iced bottles of wine.  I put lemon slices in the pitchers for the lemonade.

 Did use plastic cups (so gauche!).  A quick last minute vacuum and clearing the magazine clutter.  With my sister's help we were ready an hour early, so I got to read the Sunday Times.

I think everyone had a good time.  Even on the deck.  I did pick up a $30 fan on sale at Target to add a breeze.

Lilies of the Garden

Bloomin' time...day lilies

 orientals

Join TODAY'S FLOWERS #96  to see what's in bloom around the world.