A touch of green

It's been unseasonably warm and quite a treat to be outside in some sunshine again.  Yea!  I noticed that a big juniper bush which I was afraid I might lose, is getting it's "green" back.  It appears it will survive.  Most all the others have not, so I'm thankful this on has made it.  It might be because it is on the southeast side of the house, instead of the north. 

So many people have lost junipers and pine trees, and probably, many like me, have had professional tree care people come in and help save what we have left from the drought conditions.  It will be interesting to see how everything looks once spring growth begins to break through.

Still flowering

My petunias have taken such a beating from the high winds in the last couple weeks.  They look pitiful.  But this flower... and I can't remember what it's called - but you probably will ... is planted right in with the petunias and is doing so well.  I've got to remember to get more than two of these plants next year!  I should probably also look to plant something that flowers late in the season so that I have something pretty in the pots in late August and early September.  I'm not much of a green thumb, but I'm willing to try a hardy plant...and I mean it must be hardy to survive out here with lots of sun and occasional strong winds.

As you can see, my trees have not turned yellow yet...and all through the valley, there's only a hint of yellow on some branches that have taken a turn for fall.  Perhaps we will stay green until October.

My flower garden in pots

My flowers are giving me such joy! Love the colors.  And they are doing so well this year; perhaps it's all the rain... oh, and I've given them some fertilizer that's supposed to be good stuff.

I've had an opportunity now to read a good book while sitting out on the patio, enjoying the green grass, shady trees, and colorful petunias. Yea for summer!

Oh, sweet Columbine!

Friday's Foto.

Waiting for sunshine

The flowers are so heavy with raindrops and dew, they too are anxious for sunshine! The Columbines haven't quite lifted their heads yet to reveal their gorgeous blooms.

Blue Flax is waiting for sunshine too.

So, while it's been too wet to be outside...well, it's just perfect for knitting inside!!  I finished a hat that I am giving away.  It certainly was a good way to knock down the stash by one ball...especially this single ball of yarn with about 175 yds!  The pattern is called Antler Hat (a freebie from Ravelry).  It has these cables that look like antlers...very masculine, eh?

A plant's surprise

I almost missed it!  I was turning off a floor lamp next to this plant last night when I noticed something unusual.  The side of the plant facing the window had been blooming for a while, and I didn't see it!!  I didn't even know these plants sometimes had such unusual, beautiful blooms.  I suppose this plant was thanking me, in this way, for moving it (a few months ago) to this particular spot; I'm thinking it must like the soft light that comes in through the west window at the end of the day.  That light is going to be more intense as the summer approaches, and I wonder if the plant will change its mind.  But for now, I'm thrilled to see this blossom.

I've got a young plant doing quite well at the other end of the house, getting all light from the east windows. 

And then I must rejoice in the pretty purple blooms of my African Violets.  This one has been blooming away! 

Now my other violet went into a dormant phase, so I started sweet talking to it to coax a new shoot of blooms.  I'd like to think that it appreciated the love, and has finally sent up new buds.  These are a deep purple and are so pretty when they open.  Anxiously awaiting.

A ride out to Pinion Ridge

The weekend opened up another opportunity for a 4-wheeler ride...this time to Pinion Ridge on top of Union Pass. We rode 37 miles, round trip.  Much of it was in beautiful timber.  The higher in altitude we climbed, the more wildflowers we saw; we especially admired the Indian Paintbrush, which was particulary vibrant.

We rode on, until finally the trail climbed a hill, a grassy slope above the timber.  Here is where the view opens up and treats you to quite a great view of Green River Lake and the Wind River Mountains as you look to the east. 

Here we are at the trail's end.  If you look over your shoulder to the west, you can see the Grand Tetons, and to the north, the Pinnacles.  It's a grand view!  A haze was moving in and out of the valley, and the sunlight was changing constantly. It was difficult to capture a good image, but we sure enjoyed the view as we ate a late lunch on top of the mountain.

Driving back down the Union Pass Road, we found a field of purple flowers. Time for a final photo shoot.  The sky was looking pretty dramatic too.

A desert garden...

Let's check out the Russian Sage.  These two plants are starting to look mature for the first time.  I think this is my 3rd season.  The lavender spiky blossoms are out, and the bees are loving them.  I've never seen such huge bees going after the sweet nectar.  Wonder where they came from.

The aroma of sage

As I water the two Russian Sage plants, the softest sage fragrance is sent forth; it's delightful.  I discovered that these plants start growing from the base every spring, and once they start, they make fast progress.  I think these plants will start shooting out their flowery lavender spears pretty soon. 

The pots of flowers I planted are starting to fill in.  They loved the rain from a couple nights ago. If I keep giving them fertilizer, they should do fine!    

Wildflowers

One of my favorite wildflowers grows right here on my property amongst the sagebrush: Arrow leaf balsam root. From what I'm hearing and reading, the foothills in our county are in full bloom with this bright wildflower.  It would be a good time for a road trip!

Flowers in the pot...

Mother's Day and Memorial Day are profitable days at the local garden shops.  I missed both deadlines to purchase and plant flowers; in fact, I just got the job done two days ago!  Sometimes it doesn't pay to get too eager to plant, as the temps dip, the winds blow, and the new blooms take a beating.  But I am now in the safe zone, and my pots of flowers should do fine.  Oh, it's so GREAT to have some pretty petunias in the yard!!

Spring flowers on the west coast

I love the vibrant colors... a picture taken in San Francisco.

And I am amazed at all the flowering trees...in this photo, the beautiful magnolia blossoms.

Purple Sage

The purple sage plants that I planted a few years ago are now looking more established and are beginning to put out a pretty array of purple blooms.  They are drought resistant, so they are doing well out here where they get plenty of hot sun and wind this time of year.   

4-wheeling over Limestone Mt.

Probably very close to a year ago I posted pictures and a narrative about a 4-wheeling trip over Limestone Mt. and into Louis Lake above Lander, WY.  It's a very nice ride, and I've done it several times now.  Even so, I enjoy it every time...seems like I always see something new...or the weather creates a different atmosphere. This past Thursday I was there again...and the weather was so hot, yes even up at 9,000 ft.

I had not been on this ride so early in the season, however, and the wildflowers were bloomin'. I saw a delicate little hot pink flower on the ride in the morning, but on the way back in the late afternoon, none of us saw it...and of course that's when I was hoping to stop and catch a photo.  Oh well. Like a "morning person," maybe these were morning flowers and just closed up for the rest of the day.

On this trip I made a point to stop and take some pictures of some of the unusual rock "structures" that we've passed many times.  A few years ago, four of us were making this trek and got caught in a rainstorm...a good downpour.  So we parked the 4-wheelers and crawled up into these rocks where we found an overhang under which we could hide for protection.  Standing all hunched over and sucked up against the rock, we still got splattered a bit, but were very grateful for this outcropping of granite!  We were desperately hoping that it would be a storm that passed through quickly (like 10 min!!!)...but it wasn't.  We were there for about 45 minutes before we could continue on.  It continued to rain lightly for a few miles, but eventually we rode out of it.

This is another outcropping of rock a half-mile or so up the trail.

After eating lunch at Louie Lake, we drove to the Blue Ridge Lookout, stopping at the Little Popo Agie Creek to enjoy the wonderful scenery.  We almost always see fishermen on the bridge or out in the stream.  Seemed like a good photo op.

Indian Paintbrush

I always like spotting Indian Paintbrush, our state flower, in early summer!  I was not disappointed when we stopped at Virgin Lake on the 4-wheeler trip.