Iris of Whimsy...Part 2

FINALLY...

Spring has finally decided to arrive here at the Whimsy Gardens!!!

The temperature today just may reach into the lower 60's,

and water is pouring off of the roofs from the melting snow.

Soon, I hope, I will be able to see the earth

and the emerging leaves of my gardens!

Traveling a bit back in time to March of 2012, it was then I created a post showing some

of the Iris of Whimsy Gardens.

Today I thought I would show a few more images I have taken in my gardens of one of my

favorite garden flowers...

the iris.

~ Cracklin Burgundy ~
Tall bearded
 Year registered 1981

This is one of the first iris I introduced into my gardens in the mid 80's (after my grandmother's heirloom blue), and is a gorgeous deep red!

~ Unknown Heirloom ~
Tall bearded

The Wabash iris I showed in March 2012 was found growing in the middle of
a clump of this iris's rhizomes, which was given to me by a friend
who had found them growing wild on an abandoned site.

~ Unknown Heirloom ~
Standard dwarf bearded

This very hardy iris which grows no larger than 11 inches tall was found growing
in an old farmstead garden.

~ Unknown ~
Miniature dwarf bearded

Who knows what one will find at a yard sale!
A few years back this little iris was one of those finds.
It is short on height but still produces good sized blossoms.

 ~ Appleblossom Pink ~
Intermediate bearded
1973

This is one of 5 new iris I added to the Whimsy Gardens last year.
The blooms are gorgeous and smell a little like grape pop!


I can't wait for the snow to go, the earth to thaw, and my gardens to come alive again!

~ A wonderful whimsy day to you! ~

Spring, Spring...

I love all of the four seasons,

but when Spring comes it means not long after, summer blooms return to...

~ my roses ~

~ Therese Bugnet ~

~ John Cabot / Explorer Series ~

~ This rose was labeled as -

Blanc Double De Coubert,

but, I believe it is not ~

~ The Scotch Rose / Double Blush Burnet ~

Thank you Connie of Hartwood Roses for your wonderful help in identifying this heirloom rose!

and

I hope to catch bloom images of my Charles De Mills and Apothecary Rose this summer.

All of these roses are fairly easy to maintain and burst with an abundance of delicious aromas one expects from the beautiful rose.

...Coming up...Gardens Keep Iris...

~ Wishing everyone a beautiful day! ~

Dragonfly Cottage

~ Orange Ruffled Daylilies ~

~ Marshmallow Blossoms ~

~ Dragonfly Cottage at Garden's Keep, home of De La Renaissance creations ~

Curls of Nature

~ Soapwort Blossoms ~

~ Campanula ~

~ Hosta Blossoms ~

Nature's beautiful designs are abundant in whimsy.

 I absolutely love whimsical curls...in my art, in nature, in life. One curl in a whisker, a flower, or cloud reminds me to smile and remember the happiness in life. 

~ I wish you a wonderful, whimsical weekend! ~

The Littlest Rose

~ Miniature Heirloom Rose and Friend ~

When trying to capture images of blossoms on the heirloom rose bushes I was gifted many years ago from my grandmother's old gardens, I was surprised when I discovered this little bee taking shelter from the rain under the petals. I do not know the name of these very hardy, extremely thorny bushes, but despite the pain they inflict when weeding around them, I still love them. Their roses are adorable, measuring just a wee bit over 1 inch when fully opened, and their scent is heavenly! Being so small, twas not much shelter for the bee! 

Nature Glows

Under the Forest Canopy

Glowing Rose Bud

I love how leaves and flower petals seem to glow when illuminated from the sun's rays!

~ Wishing you a beautiful weekend. ~

Spring Blossoms

 

The Apple Blossoms

Springtime White

Dandelion Sunshine

Pin Cherry Blossoms

The Humble Bumble Bee

THE GLADNESS OF NATURE

by

John Greenleaf Whittier

(1807-1892)

Is this a time to be cloudy and sad,

When our Mother Nature laughs around,

When even the deep blue heavens look glad,

And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground?

There are notes of joy from the hangbird and wren,

And the gossip of swallows through all the sky,

The ground squirrel gayly chirps by his den,

And the wilding bee hums merrily by.

The clouds are at play in the azure space,

And their shadows at play on the bright green vale,

And here they stretch to the frolic chase,

And there they role on the easy gale.

There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower,

There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree,

There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower,

And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea.

And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles,

On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray,

On the leaping waters and gay young isles,

Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away.

~ Wishing you a very delightful day! ~

Beauty in the Greenhouse

Climbing roses still blooming in the greenhouse

The rose's greenhouse companion Rosemary


Long, long ago...well maybe not quite so long ago (12 years) we installed a wonderful greenroom on the south side of our home. An antique French door and four window panels in the medieval styled great room look directly into this growing area, and one turn of the knob to open the door sends heavenly wafts of moist garden air perfumed by blooming roses, green herbs, and fresh earth drifting through out the entire house. How refreshing during the long, cold winter months in Northern Minnesota.