Japanese Tree Lilac

 I took a few photos of the Japanese Tree Lilac in town.  I only had a couple of errands to run while Far Guy had his infusion. 

A nice looking tree.  And yes the fragrance is very strongly Lilac.  This one was on the edge of the clinic parking lot...although they are a common boulevard tree in town. 

Far Side

Buds

 The buds are about to open on the Japanese Tree Lilac. 

Fun to see the blooms, although the trees in town are covered in blooms.  I believe ours has seven blooms:) Which is better than none.   I cannot even blame the deer...who found she who sees robins first raised garden and ate most of her beans and some radishes:(

Far Side

Well I'll be

 My Japanese Tree Lilac has blooms!  This is exciting because this is only the second time in 26 years!

See one bloom toward the center of the photo. 

There are more very high in the tree.

Far Side

Seen on the trail

 We went for a trail ride...

I found an apple tree...might be a crabapple...we will watch how the apples develop.  I was looking for a different apple tree that we picked crabapples from years ago. 

The Trillium was in full bloom along the trails.

Then it rained and it was a hard rain.  We got 1/2 inch in the early morning on Monday then in the afternoon tornado and wind warnings and another 2 inches of rain...that will drown some skeeters and hatch some more.  My other baby brother and she who sees robins first came by for a visit during the storm.  The wind was't too bad...no bending over of trees just some swirling this way and that.  

Far Side

Perspective

 Flowering Crabapple. 

This flowering Crabapple gets small apples...I know this because this is the tree where I park every Thursday when I pick up my online grocery order.  The birds eat the fruit.  They are not large enough to do anything with.

My parents yard. 

I commented to my Dad that his Crabapple trees were beautiful.  He replied "Those are worthless they don't get any fruit." I told him perhaps they were just to look at...he muttered something under his breath...

Dad wants productive trees...most people stay away from the Crabapples with fruit...they are messy and attract bees.   In town they litter the sidewalks and get stuck to your shoes....there are some boulevard trees that have nice sized fruit if someone were inclined to make jelly. 

Far Side

Spring Snow

 We went for a drive.  We picked up parts for the new /old car  for when Far Guy feels good enough to work on that project again.  

I went inside the grocery story because I had to pick up a prescription...the sign said Masks are required by those who are not vaccinated...masks are optional for others.   Go figure...in this area the anti vax people never wore masks to begin with.    I wore my mask. 

I have an abscessed tooth...a real pain ...hopefully the antibiotics will help. 

Far Guy talked with his Doctor, additional tests were ordered at the local hospital...we are waiting for a call with that appointment.

The flowering crabapples are beautiful in town.

This is Spring Snow...she is at the library...a sterile crabapple....her petals gather in drifts on the ground much like snow drifts.

Far Side  

Wistful Wednesday: Blooms

I clipped off the blooms and growing points of all the flowers I planted.  They will bloom again sooner or later!   I also mowed the lawn.

I still need to trim but my trimmer tool ran out of juice.  No watering last night as it might rain...it would be great to have rain showers to settle the pollen.

We visited with Rich a woodcarving friend and got some wood from his stash...all woodcarvers usually have a stash...we have some stash but either it was two narrow or too wide for our present projects.
He has a dog named Sammie so we got a temporary dog fix!

The Lilacs are blooming.  I recall that they were usually the first flowers to appear on the altar of the small church we attended when I was young.  Lilacs first then Peonies.  I can still imagine the fragrances of the flowers mingling with the closed up smell of the old church.
Far Side

Menahga Gardens

When were were touring the city of Menahga for garage sales we ran into the Menahga Memorial Gardens est 1992.  I had never noticed these gardens before and I think they merit another look see in about a month!

Here is a look at the flowering trees, not much else is blooming there…well some dandylions.

Beautiful flowering trees!

Menahga has a summer concert series called Sounds of Spirit Lake.  It is a series of free concerts on the shores of Spirit Lake. We attended a few last summer and we hope to go again this year.  Outdoor events are good for us to attend, we can move our lawn chairs around where ever we want…away from the pefume.

Double Flowering Plum

The Double Flowering Plum or Prunus triloba ‘Multiplex’ burst into bloom.  Some people call this shrub a Double Flowering Almond.

It rained a bit and the blooms popped open.  We didn’t get much rain…we could use more.

I love the delicate double blossoms that look like little roses.

I have seen better form…but this one survives next to the woods without extra water or care.

It always blooms between the time of the Pin Cherries and the Chokecherries.

In the Yard

These little birds are so ugly that only a Mama and Papa bird could love them.   Far Guy reported a while back that there was a nest with an egg in it near one of the honeysuckle vines that I wanted trimmed.  The nest was painstakingly built in the fishing net that covers the side of the grain bin for vines that climb. He put off his trimming for awhile. I told him perhaps it was an egg left over from last year.  Then one day he reported that the left over egg from last year hatched.  Apparently there was more than one egg laid in that nest, and apparently they were not year old eggs.

Far Guy thinks that they are Redpoll babies.   There are four of the hungry little things.

I have two blooms on the Fern Leaf Peony that was a gift from Iowa last year!

She is a beauty.. I am so glad she survived her first winter in Minnesota.

Far Guys Lilac has two blooms on it this year.  When he planted it many years ago, it was a sorry looking stick.  All I know for certain is that it is a late lilac..most of the other lilacs are past their peak bloom time and this one is just in the bud stage.  I had one of those designer Lilacs “Tinkerbelle” I think..I kilt it. I also have a Japanese Tree Lilac that has never bloomed..but maybe this is her year..it is not quite time for her to bloom yet.

Nearly everyday something new is happening in our yard:)

Spring Snow

There is a beautiful flowering crabapple called Malus X ‘Spring Snow’.  I was sure that I would have to go to the NDSU Campus to see one again. It is a Zone 4 plant.  On Monday when I stepped out of the vehicle at the Library I knew it was her. I could smell her immediately.

The fragrance was heavy in the air..it was intoxicating.  I told Far Guy..I will get some photos and be in shortly..I was so happy to see this old friend that I used to enjoy every spring on the campus.  Over in the Red River Valley they are a Zone 4 and can grow her.  In this area the microclimate must be just right to grow her, apparently the area near the library is warm enough for her to thrive.

She is fruitless.  Yup a sterile Crabapple which makes her perfect for boulevards and yards where you don’t want the messy little apples all over the sidewalk or in the yard attracting bees.

When she loses her flower petals it will look like it is snowing. Now that is my kind of snowstorm:)

Spring Snow

It has turned cold here, it froze a couple of nights, and friends in Canada report snow. I would not appreciate a spring snow...thank you very much.. all my Father's tomato plants froze.. ours are still warm and cozy inside Far Guys greenhouse/workshop. Area gardeners are getting discouraged..some have already planted their gardens twice..

Years ago I took a Woody Plants Identification Class. The secret to this class was knowing exactly how to spell all the scientific names..and knowing where the trees were located on campus. Lectures were given outside, trees were identified..the same trees were on the mid term and final exams. I always wrote in my notes..my observations..one of which was location..this came in very handy. I was always intrigued by the names. I ran across a Flowering Crabapple, Malus X 'Spring Snow' ..well I took the class fall semester..it was not until the following June that I really appreciated this tree. As I walked along, I could see the tree in the distance.. and it looked like it was snowing..in June. I stood directly under the tree and enjoyed the snow, from my view under the tree it was a real "Ta DA" moment.. I now understood it's name. Nice to finally meet you 'Spring Snow'. She is sterile, and produces no fruit, perfect along a sidewalk in town ..instead she produces huge white flowers, and when the wind blows it is just like a snowstorm. It is only a few days in June that she is noticed..

I am sure that there are many other varieties by now. There are so many flowering trees white, pink, rose and red flowered ones.. how do you keep them all straight? I eventually gave up, I just enjoy them for what they are..beautiful flowering trees.

I took some photos up in Bemidji the other day. Maddie and I were going through them. She asked "Grandma when did it snow?" It was not 'Spring Snow' but one of her relatives.

"It didn't snow Maddie, but it sure looks like it did. This is at the end of your driveway." She replied "It is? Way cool. I never noticed that, when I get back home I will have to look." :)