Wildfower Heaven at Albion Basin Trail

Hello my friends,

the other day our youngest daughter texted us and said that the wildflowers at Alta ski resort were at their peak and did we want to come go for a hike.

 

We were more than thrilled!  It turned out that Sunday was the best day.  Normally we would attend church, but we felt like spending time with her and enjoying some of God's creations would be a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning.

 

When we arrived we thought we would hike to Cecret Lake.  The lady at the gate told us that right now Albion Basin trail was the most photogenic.

 



Wildflowers covered the hills as far as the eyes could see.  Really, the pictures do not do it justice!

 



 

This girl is in her element, wildflower heaven!

 

Paintbrush

 

 

wild geranium

 

Cone flowers



 

My new phone has a portrait mode and I love it!  The item in the front stands out while the background is blurred.

 

Don't you just love the dainty look of Queens Ann's Lace?

 

 

Primrose

 

Two people that hold a special place in my heart!!

 

 

Kylee is buried up to her Corda Rope Sandals in wildflowers.  :)

All of these gorgeous blooms and this silly butterfly chose to land on the dirt.  (wink)

 



 

A little reminder that not too long ago this mountain was covered

 in snow.

 

Of course I had to be a bit silly, pretending to be downhill skiing.  After all, I have the perfect pokey out buttocks for this pose.  lol!

 



 

We stopped at this shady spot for a little snack on the way back down the trail.

 

 

 

If you look closely, you'll find little tokens left by others to brighten your day.

 

Someone tucked this rock inside a crevice in a tree.  Isn't it cute how they used wiggly eyes for the flowers?

 

 

 

Oh what a beautiful day!

 

If I die tomorrow, just bury me amongst the wildflowers!!

 

 

 

Let’s Do Lunch!

What better time to catch up on someone’s life than over lunch?

Today’s Challenge: Invite someone special to have lunch with you.

Just like a pretty blooming flower can brighten a dreary wintery day. An invite to do lunch, a way to get out of the office or home can do the same.

I’ll be inviting three special someone’s to have lunch with me today, my darling daughters.

June Blooms

Now that July has arrived I thought I would share what June brought to my garden.
The month of June has a special place in my heart. It was my sweet mothers name, (now two great grandaughters have it as a middle name) and also the month in which she was born. It is the official month of summer, and also when some of my favorte flowers bloom.


I planted pansies last Fall. Can't believe that they still look this pretty!
Normally I would have pulled them out by now. I guess all that Spring
rain helped. I've planted some petunias so there will be color when they
finally are spent. Don't you love that word 'Spent"? Just tells it like it is.
Sometimes we ourselves feel a little 'spent' after working hard and trying
to look good all day.



Sweet Peas-these are among my favorites

Delphiniums- Another favorite

Sweet Williams

Lillies, these were just given to me a few weeks ago, by my

friend, Shelley. Wasn't sure if they'd bloom this year.

Ground cover, Snow in the Summer

carnations

Salvia

Scabiosa

Coral Bells

Spiderwort

Wild Geranium

Penstemon-Husker Red

Jupiters Beard

Most of these are starts that I brought from my Highland home last Fall.
Don't you love that they are so willing to be moved to a new home?
In fact, sometimes they thrive in a new environment.

Creating the "Cottage Garden"-phase 1

Ever since we moved into our new home last July I have been dreaming of creating a new "Cottage Garden". You know, the kind where flowers and vines grow rampant everywhere. And the atmosphere is so inviting that you never want to leave. This will not happen overnite, but the anticipation is delightful! This year will be phase 1. I have a feeling that it will be phase 3 or 4 before it's finished. That's alright though, remember-"Patience is a virtue". I know that it will all be worth it in the long run. I thought that I would share my progress with you for the next few months. Hope you enjoy it. In one of my garden magazines it listed 10 things you need to do to create the 'perfect' cottage garden. Over time I will share them with you as well as a few of my own ideas.


1. Include Vintage Treasures in your landscaping.

As you might well guess, this was an easy one for me. I've been collecting treasures (junk) for many years. This chicken feeder is planted with a purple pincushion flower and a clematis is planted at the base of the small ladder.

I think that this milk crate and dolly saw some working days in their time. I'm sure that they'd much rather be holding plants.

Not sure if this pillar was ever used in a church. It certainly looks like something a preacher would have stood behind. Boy, I bet it could tell some good stories. If it could only talk!


2. Plant in unusual containers

This old mop bucket holds my mint in the herb garden. It's a great way to control the spread of the runners it shoots out. I couldn't have an herb garden without mint. Love the smell when you brush against it.

This vintage stove was given to me by a friend years ago. Originally, I had it in my family room. When I grew tired of it inside I coaxed my hubby to move it outdoors. The beast is SOOO heavy. He vowed to never move it again. I love it and hated the thoughts of leaving it at the old house. When Mothers Day was approaching I told my children that all I wanted was for my sons and son-in-laws to move my old stove up to the new home. Hooray! See, mother does know best. My hubby caved and helped move it. He's a keeper!

3. Provide homes for feathered friends

Still love birdhouses!

4. Plant flowering trees

Golden chain, I had one at my Highland home and I loved it.



5. Plant old fashioned flowers

Iris-one of my favorites because my mother had alot of them in our garden. That is where I developed my love of gardening, home sweet home! Some of my Iris are starts from my mother and sister Dolores.

Peonies-can't wait until they are big and bushy!

Poppies-these are starts given to my by a sweet old man who use to cut wood for a craft shop I ran with my partner, Diana. He and his wife have both passed on. I think of them whenever I see the bright orange blossoms.

Batchelor Buttons-this is the perennial version. I also love the annual ones that just reseed wherever they feel like it.

There are alot more flowers and ideas I hope to share with you over the next few months. Hope you enjoy! Until then, happy gardening!

Patience is a Virtue!

Growing up I always remember my mother saying "Patience is a virtue"whenever us girls became impatient. It's a quote that I found myself saying to my own children quite often. Now I am saying it to my grandchildren. This time of year I myself become very anxious for Spring and have to recite this quote in my mind periodically. As I thought about it this week my mind wandered to some of the things that I do to pass the time until Spring arrives. I thought I would share them with you.

1. Browse through garden books and get ideas of projects I might want to do in my yard. Being in a new house, there are many. Again, PATIENCE I know that I can only do a little at a time. Actually, that is half the fun. Contemplating the next project.

2.Order plants or seeds that are a bit unusual or different than what I normally have. I have my favorites that I have to plant every year. This year deer resistant plants are on the top of my list.

3. Occassionally I take a stroll around the yard to see what little plants have started to poke their heads out. Yesterday I noticed a few of my daffodils are coming up, YEAH!

4. Just getting out and raking or pulling a few little weeds seems to give me a lift. Ya, I know crazy! There's just something about getting my hands into that dirt that rejuvenates me. Blame it on my parents.

5. Decorate my home in Spring colors. This year I've done a green, black, yellow and pink thing. Each time I enter into my great room the colors seem to brighten my day. One of my dear friends brought me some pink tulips and I love them!

6. Take a mini trip to somewhere warm. Off to St. George for a few days. I definately think this will do the trick.

The Bomb

Mothers Day was the BOMB! Some of the family came for dinner and Shultz cooked delicious BBQ Pork in the dutch oven. The kids came bearing gifts and I loved them all. Falco may not have spent $150, but he gave me a bunch of Burts Bees stuff . My hands and feet are gonna be so happy! Ky and Dustin gave me a gorgeous geranium basket and Nichole gave me a subscription to Taste of Home healthy eating. Lonnie and Tracy gave me a cute garden decoration. I love anything for the garden! I hope all of you mothers had a great day also. We took lilacs to both my mom and Shultz's moms graves. They loved flowers as much as I do.
I miss them terribly and think of them often. How thankful I am that I got to have them in my life.