Flora And Fauna

This young buck was enjoying a salad buffet of various hostas and other greens this morning.  He kept a close eye on me while I was taking photos and then bounded off when I was too close for comfort.

Young Buck
Finishing His Salad
Off He Goes

We have had plenty of rain so far this year.  There are several different plants blooming in the yard including some that I consider weeds.

Purple Flowering Weed (Damesrocket)
Damesrocket
Blue Flowering Weed (Forget Me Not)
Forget Me Not

The irises still have many buds yet to bloom, but have given us a week and a half of blossoms already.

Iris
Irises In Bloom
Flowering Chives

The azalea was beautiful this year.  Last year it suffered some damage from the deer.  I sprayed deer repellent on it early in the spring and didn’t notice any buds eaten.

Azalea

We have had way too many days of cool temperatures and fog off of Lake Superior.  While the rest of the state is in the 70’s and 80’s, we have been in the 50’s.  Not great for the garden.  Now that it is officially summer, I am hopeful that warmer weather will be here soon.  I think I may have said that same thing when spring arrived, didn’t I?

 

Yard & Garden

In just a matter of a couple of weeks, the grass has grown long enough to be mowed twice.  The trees, shrubs and perennials have made up for lost time.  Everything is green, lush and in BLOOM!

The daffodils are actually done now, but this is one of my favorite that blooms each year.

My Favorite Daffodil

Another of my favorites, crab apple blossoms.

Apple Blossoms
Beautiful Blossom

The bleeding hearts amaze me every year.

Bleeding Hearts

This bush cherry came from my brother who originally brought it from my parents’ farm.

Bush Cherry Blossoms
Bush Cherry Blossom Pollination

The azalea was a gift from our friend and daycare provider when Sophia was born.

Azalea
Azalea | Beginning To Bloom

Another one from my brother – the spirea.

Spirea

Irises from my Mom.  It won’t be long before they bloom.

Iris

The lilacs were here when we moved in 15 years ago.

Lilacs

This pink gerbera daisy was a gift from my wonderful sister-in-law.  I wish they were perennials.  Maybe they are in another climate, but not in Minnesota.

Pink Gerbera
Fuchsia Gerbera

This is the beginning of our container vegetable garden.  It won’t produce enough to can or freeze, but enough so that the kids can see where food comes from.  Yes, we really need to paint our deck.

Container Garden | Tomatoes & Beans
Container Garden | Basil, Tomatoes, Peppers, Beans

Our vegetable garden does not get nearly enough sun, but we still plant lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, cucumbers and zucchini each year.  Sophia was feeling overly optimistic and planted watermelon this year.  This photo is from last week and everything has come up…except the watermelon.  The onions come up year after year, along with the chives and strawberries.  The chipmunks eat more of the strawberries than we do.

Vegetable Garden

Here’s Daphne enjoying the lush, green lawn on a sunny day this week.

Taking A Break From Fetch

The trees have begun filling in our lake view, but no so much that we couldn’t see this laker earlier in the week.

Clear Sailing

Rain is forecast for tomorrow, but sun on SUNDAY!