This iris is a new addition to my garden this year. When we got it, we thought it was a deep blue, but when it bloomed this year, it is a deep velvety purple. My husband thinks the acidity in the soil caused the blooms to change color. I have never heard of that with iris, have you?? I know that hydrangeas change their color depending on the acidity of the soil. I hope you are enjoying sharing my garden with me.

Roses

I love roses. My favorite rose is the tea rose. The other roses are pretty, but to me the most beautiful is the tea rose. Last year, I planted two rose bushes. it was late in the spring and we did not have the irrigation system installed until late spring. Only one of my bushes survived.

This spring, I planted four more bushes. Each bush is a different color. I can hardly wait til they start blooming........Oh, yeah......they have to grow first.

Sometimes I get impatient with myself just like I get impatient for the flowers to bloom. I know that for the flowers to bloom, they need the correct soil conditions, the right amount of water and sun, and the right amount of fertilizer. They have to be nurtured and cared for. I need to ask myself...."I am I giving myself enough of what I need??" How can I expect myself to grow and thrive if I am not taking care of my own needs?

What areas of my life are lacking nurture: physical, emotional, social, financial, or spiritual?? What can I do to begin to meet my own needs? What about you? What are you missing to have an abundant fulfilling life? Take time to think about the answers to these questions. You deserve an abundant live.

A Little Whimsey

This little guy sits on the ledge above my waterfall. I have to smile every time I see him. He looks all set to jump into the stream and the frog looks like he is saying, "you want me to do what??

My little gnome reminds me to take time to play and to not take myself too seriously. There are days when the workaholic in me needs those reminders. There always seems to be something that needs to be done or someone who wants something.

Do you ever wish you could clone yourself? Some days I do. Then one of me could be off playing all the time and the other could be working. But, knowing me.......they would probably both end up working full time.

So... given I can't clone myself. I choose to take some time everyday to just walk around my gardens or just sit and listen to the waterfall. I find the sound on a waterfall to be so relaxing.... almost hypnotic. I know that there will always be things that are left undone, but the most important will get done and the rest can wait. I have to focus on what is important to me and my family... the rest can be delegated or left undone.

Tulips

I am not sure where these tulips came from. I plants two kinds of tulips last fall and neither one of them were this beautiful reddish-orange color. They bloomed later then my other tulips, so they really stand out. Especially since they are surrounded by yellow iris. Have you ever noticed how the blooms almost fully close each night and then re-open with the sun the next day? I think flowers are almost magical.

Spring Rains

It rained here last night. The air is cool and clean. the flowers are all saying, "what a refreshing change!" The past few days have been very warm and dry.

Yesterday evening I planted 4 new rose bushes. I am glad I got them planted ahead of the rain. The next few days are supposed to be cool and rainy. What timing. The roses were looking a little stressed before I planted them. They had been setting out in the hot sun in the parking lot of the store. I am sure they were grateful to get their toes into the cool moist soil of the garden. the fertilizer I gave them will help ease their transition and lessen the transplant shock.

As I look out onto my garden this morning, I realize that my soul is feeling a little stressed. School is out, the kids are home. This means less personal time for myself. I need to nurture my spirit. I think I will take more walks this summer and spend my evenings in the garden. The beauty of the flowers and the sounds of the birds always quiets my mind and soothes my spirit. What do you do to nurture yourself?

Pansies

Pansies are an example of a flower that survives inspite of hardship and in the face of many odds. Last year I planted these flowers. I did not have my sprinkler system set up right and we had a hot dry summer here in Colorado. The pansies died before the summer was over.........But this spring, they came back bigger and better than ever. Pansies are supposed to be annuals. They are not supposed to survive over the winter. Well, as you can see - these not only survived - they are thriving.

It makes me wonder......what part of me would thrive if only given the right circumstances. Am I nuturing myself??

Multi-colored Iris

I love the muticolored Iris. These are my iris that are two toned purple and mauve. My mom had many different colors. I wish I could find some like she had.

This morning, the bronze iris is in full bloom. I love the varied shades of color and the velvety texture of the petals. This afternoon, I am going to buy some roses and bedding plants for the garden. I enjoy seeing the new plants as they take root in the furtile soil and thrive. I have to ask myself, Am I thriving? What do I need in my life to thrive even more?

Opening buds

Yesterday as I was walking in the garden, my bronze iris was a tight bud, just starting to open in the afternoon sun.

My front yard garden

The iris are in full bloom.

My Garden My Sanctuary

Welcome to my garden. It is the place I go to "get away from it all." To me, nothing compares to a stroll around my gardens. Stopping to smell a fragrant flower or to marvel over a bud just getting ready to burst open. My garden allows me to escape from any cares or worries I have. It is a quiet place to contemplate and dream. Nothing shouts hope as clearly as flowers breaking through the barren ground in the spring. Even a late spring snow is not enough to discourage the flowers. They know that the warm spring rains and the bright sunshine are inevitable. They push through the ground in spite of possible adverse weather. I learn so much from watching and working with my flowers. I to choose to grow in spite of possible "adverse conditions" or "perceived roadblocks." Join me here for the journey. I look forward to sharing my garden with you.