Colour on a Rainy Day

When the rain is coming down and the skies are grey

it's nice to have a splash of colour here and there in the yard.

This Clematis climbed to the second story balcony and had to be photographed from there.

My "Nellie Moser" and "Duchess of Edinburgh" Clematis in full bloom.


And the Rhodos - filling the windows with colour.

(They will need a severe pruning after they finish blooming!)

And last, but not least - the delicate petals of a Snowball bush.

They are blooming profussly this year despite the rain.

I could take a lesson from them and bloom brightly even when the skies are grey.

Winter Gardening

The weather here in the lower mainland of BC has been so warm with unmistakable signs of spring in the yard that one can't resist a little early gardening. Because we'd been gallavanting in Europe in September and October, I didn't get the fall cleanup completed before the rains started so it was time to finish that.

Raking up the maple leaves and keys in the back flowerbed was imperative to make it possible for the young plant shoots to find the sun.

The beds looks much better now.

A fire to burn away all the debris. It smells so nice and makes it feel like spring.

Once the beds are cleaned up there are bright signs of spring everywhere.

The honeysuckle is coming out in leaves already - does it need to be pruned?

The irises and snowdrops make a nice showing in the late afternoon sunlight.

And yes, that daffodil has bloomed earlier than ever before. Plus there are a few potted primulas that need to be planted. If I do that, they may bloom once more.

The sun is setting and it's getting cold - a reminder that it is only February! It's still more than likely that we'll get a cold snap before Spring arrives in earnest. Here's hoping it doesn't get too cold or we may be losing a few of these early bloomers.

Dahlias and Delphiniums

Dahlias!

Something new to my garden this year.

Dephiniums

I planted these several years ago after admiring them

in my daughter in law's wedding bouquet.

And Daisies - to keep with the "D" theme.

Flowers of Summer

All of these beauties, plus a few which I'll post pictures of on another day, have graced my flowerbeds this summer.

Peonies

The first of the summer flowers - so lush and extravagant in their beauty Hydrangea

The petals are so perfect they look like they've been handcrafted

(they actually are, aren't they!)

Lavatera

Delicately shaded and striped.

Crocosmia

The buds are as beautiful as the flower is in full bloom

I dont' remember the name of these but aren't they intricate?

Day lilies

Lilies
(not sure what variety)

Clematis
Again - I've forgotten the variety but this is the second time it's bloomed this summer

Stargazer Lily
Absolutely stunning with 5 blooms on one stalk.

Here's another whose name I've forgotten but they have very large dark green/red leaves and bloom in clumps on long stems coming out of the centre of the plant

The summer evening light creates it's own beauty.

I absolutely delight in the incredible variety of shapes, colours and details these flowers display and am so grateful for the way God's creative heart blesses mine through these masterpieces of beauty.

Clematis - a Week Later

It is now a week later; my "Nellie Moser" Clematis is in full flower and

the double white variety whose name I've forgotten has started to bloom.

As you can see "Nellie" is very showy and has somewhat overwhelmed

the later blooming Clematis.You have to look closely to see the flowers as they bud and then unfold their petals as they have a soft yellow green hue that hides in the floliage. Each flower has a "star" of leaves around it when it begins to bud. Soon the petals begin to unfold into creamy spikes.This one is almost open.And these beauties are in full bloom. There is now only a hint of green which disappears into purest white as the centre petals unfurl.

With a view like this,

it's hard to do anything else but take pictures and exclaim:

O LORD, You are my God.

I will exalt You and Praise Your Name.

For in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things.

Postscript

I found the tag from the double white Clematis today.

It is called "the Duchess of Edinburgh".

Signs of Spring 2009

Its only February but this is what I can see in my flowerbeds. Can you find the bees already hard at work?

Each springtime I am amazed and awed at how a small dried up bulb has a life that is renewed each Spring. How does it push those leaves out ? From what are they made? And the extravagant beauty and detail of the

flowers it produces for our enjoyment.. there is only one answer....

God, the Creator of heaven and earth has done this marvelous thing.

And when life gets overwhelming and worrisome, we are reminded to:

"Consider the lilies how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is,

and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, Will He not much more clothe you? Matthew6:28-30