Iris III

Iris II

Iris I

Flower for the Day Iris 5-9-17

We have had a great year for iris. Here are three of my favorites so far.

The profound depth of color here is pleasing.

This one has fragile beauty.

And this one seems old timey.

I will be putting images of 18 more different irises on the website:

www.donsessions.blogspot.com

Flower for the Day Wallflower 5-5-17

My wallflowers (Erysimum) have always been one of the first wildflowers to bloom

each year. They have very bright long lasting orange flowers.

They have been thinning almost to disappearance but this year

a new group has shown up in a separate garden. 

Flower for the Day Miami Mist 5-4-16

Miami Mist (Phacelia purshii) is an exquisite native perennial wildflower. It is in the waterleaf family

(Hydrophallaceae). It is also called purple scorpion weed. Its five petals are delicate lavender and the leaves are pinnate.

The edges of the petals are a lacy fringe.

These flowers were abundant along a trail in full sun.

Flower for the Day Allium 5-3-17

Allium is a spring favorite. Very trustworthy, allium always shows up on time. I have them  in purple and white. The purple bloom first and the white grow significantly higher.

Allium Amiss

We lay, we love, we blossom.
I have planted myself in this garden so many times that the soil knows to not shift back into place when you rain.
You are my sun, clouds, oxygen.
I breathe you in and am filled with fiery hope.
Where there is hope there is fear.
I have been conquered.
My fragile heart is resilient when it comes to your ocean.
My brain is begging to drown.
You demolish my walls and demolish my roots for you,
then watch me attempt to regrow and rebuild the thick walls I need so badly.
You are my hero and my tormentor -
saving me and aching me over and over until you can enter my garden whenever you so choose.
This is love.  

This place in my chest is supposed to feel sacred.
It does not feel sacred anymore unless you are watering me.
I wilt and bloom with your changing tides.
You will leave soon, and I will have to find another way to keep myself alive until you want to come home again.

Britt Nichole March 2016

Flower for the Day Star of Bethlehem 5-2-17

This meadow and trail flower grows well in direct sun and partial shade. Star of Bethlehem  (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is a perennial which has basal leaves with a white stripe.

Stalks develop from a center of leaf rosettes which terminate in white flowers.

Each flower consists of 6 white tepals, 6 stamens, and one pistil. Petals are part of the corolla and are modified leaves which usually are colored. Sepals surround the corolla and are usually green  leaves. Tepals occur in flowers where petals and sepals are not differentiated.The stamen is the male fertilizing organ and consists  of an anther and a filament. The pistil consists of the female organs and includes the stigma, style and ovary. The stamen of Star of Bethlehem has a yellow anther at its apex and a white filament underneath.

The Star of Bethlehem is an aggressive plant. It is a member of the lily family and is related to Allium (Onion) and Nothoscordum bivalve (False Garlic). Thanks to Claire for the ID.

Flower for the Day Forget-Me-Not 5-1-17

The Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis) have been blooming in the wildflower garden for weeks. Myosotis

is Greek for mouses ear after the form of the leaf.

Forget Me Not is a delicate flower
But in those three words it holds power
The power to say - don't let me go
Keep me in your heart where love can grow
 
by Margmax 2012 

Rain in the west 4-29-17

It has been raining for 5 days and when it stopped this

afternoon we went to see the results. Here is the outflow of our Lake Aspen.

After a beautiful walk we found a welcoming chalet and enjoyed the sounds of the falling water.

What did we drink on the deck - WATER. As you can see the sun came out.

There is nothing like Innsbrook when the woods are all leafed out.