Summer Has Begun

This was a super full month, and this clematis was brimming with flowers the whole time.

This is the only bloom from some bulbs I bought at Costco this spring. I think the ground squirrels ate the others. It is a eryngium, or sea holly, which is a plant I have wanted to grow for a long time. It was…underwhelming. I might try again another season. If this one comes back next year I’ll be surprised.

The mums I planted right before a vacation two years ago is doing great. That was still not a great time to get a new plant, but sometimes I just have to.

I like this combination of the gladiolus with the euphorbia. They are almost the same green.

I think the carrot is making seeds now.

This was the mum Rena picked out that same time right before vacation. Hers isn’t doing as well, because it is getting overshadowed by my geranium.

All the purples

I love the blue and yellow combination here.

The white sage really grew this year. Sadly, most of the blooms snapped off later in a big wind storm.

We went to the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Muir Woods with our family members when they were here for my oldest daughter to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a wonderful weekend. We are grateful for her and feel blessed by her choice.

Gladiolus stealing the show with an assist by the lilies

Asters and penstemon

Love everything about my raspberry yarrow 

Since school ended, we went to the Crocker Art Museum for Wee Wednesdays. It was so fun. The docent led our group in finding horses in the galleries. Then she read us Eric Carle’s Blue Horse book and the kids did a horse themed art project. On our way out a couple of us took pictures with our favorite artwork.

We also went to the Lindsey Wildlife Experience at Walnut Creek. We saw a porcupine and snake animal encounter. I know these places aren’t gardens, but it was fun to see the redwoods at each of them. It’s hard to take off gardener glasses.

I got a friend for my orchid lady now that she has finished blooming. I think they look sweet together. Then the rest of these pictures are from the Ruth Bancroft Garden which we visited today. It felt like wandering back over to Arizona for an hour. I loved it. The girls loved the scavenger hunt bingo and the koi pond. They have a sculpture show going on until mid August. I didn’t get pictures of all the amazing sculptures, but I loved seeing them in context with the plants. It was beautifully done.We also went to Heather Farms park today, but their garden was closed for a private event.