FIBERGUY

Morning Glories in Phyllis's yard

These simple, common white morning glories arrested my attention this morning.  They are the very essence of beauty, are they not?

How can you not love this elegant beauty? It’s from a small bit of peony taken from the Hall family homestead up in Lutsen. It’s really taken off in our yard and this year is full of blooms. We don’t know exactly what type it is, but then again we haven’t done a whole lot of research to try and find out. Harald’s mom says it’s probably at least 50-60 years old. And best of all? It’s a fragrant variety with a sweet, old-fashioned rose scent. Heavenly!

Update: After checking out several peony farm web sites, this peony looks amazingly like one known as “Gay Paree.”  How apropos.

As Harald so rightfully challenged me last night, it’s time to get some pictures after promising two weeks ago to do so. Even though I’ve been gathering pictures for several weeks, I am going to start with a picture taken just this morning. Sorry it isn’t clearer, but these are among H’s most precious additions to the garden and they are blooming particularly beautifully this year. They are Martagon lilies, a very old type of lily. Now, if you aren’t familiar with them, you wouldn’t know that the blooms are impossibly small – probably no more than a couple of inches across. Click here to read a good primer on Martagons.

I was smitted with these pinwheel phlox blooms the moment I laid eyes on them.  This is their second year and they are doing very, very well.  They strike me as a very sweet and old-fashioned looking plant.

Gorgeous red lily, ain’t it?

This is close relative to the hollyhock, a French mallow.  Actually, we planted this plant the first spring we were in our house.  It bloomed profusely and then went to seed.  We thought nothing of it until the next year when mallow plants were absolutely everywhere!  We’ve been trying to get rid of them ever since.  But this hardy plant came from a seed two years old and we decided to let it grow.  Probably a mistake, but for now you must admit it’s lovely.

If you know me, you know that hollyhocks are amongst my most favorite flowers, and this double ruffled pink one is, well, just look at it will you?!

OK – I must confess.  This lily belongs to my neighbor and is right next to where I park my car in the drive.  But, I ask you, how could I not include this stunning creation in my collection?

This day lily filled me with joy when I saw it at Kelly & Kelly last year.  I had to have it.  You see why.  It’s the most feminine seashell pink.  Oh, it does take one’s breath away.

This is a fancy hybrid, I think, of the rudbeckia family. Harald picked it up at one of our many nursery stops this year and it just went in the ground – and it is blooming spectacularly already.