Musings

Northbound this time of the year in North America is a journey back in spring. In southern Michigan we found our first lilacs in bloom, this small type with a confusing shape to the plant and an unmistakable scent…our first lilacs of 2024.

We also spotted our first Great Lake of the year. We are so fortunate have a room on the beach facing Lake Huron—this is our view. The beach is infested with some sort of beach flies (not mayflies), if you trust my identification. The seagulls are flocking to the insects, so there’s more drama than the waves crashing on land.

Posted at 9:52 PM | Comments Off on Firsts

Here in North America, gardenias are non-native plants, so maybe I shouldn’t enjoy them so much; however, the heavenly scent cannot be overlooked…over-smelled?

Posted at 9:08 PM | Comments Off on In the moment

The gardenias are out. The best thing is to stand by them, close my eyes, and inhale.

Posted at 8:59 PM | Comments Off on Heavenly

Today was sunny and windy, which is pretty much all you need to know to deduce this photo is from the other day.

Posted at 11:00 PM | Comments Off on Coming up roses

My horticulturally talented neighbor-ess has both acid (blue) and base/neutral (pink) soil under this bush. Also, the chemical soup requires aluminum, I’ve read. You’ll have to look it up yourself, if you want more details.

Posted at 10:28 PM | Comments Off on Ph (no D)

No stormy around here…all sunny and humid.

Posted at 9:57 PM | Comments Off on Hello, summer

We’re approaching the cusp of summer. I say approaching because there’s still a spring green tinge to the tree-leaves.

Posted at 9:30 PM | Comments Off on Viridescence

Our neighbor grew up outside of Lexington and has a party every year guess when. I love the juleps and fresh mint the best. All I can tell about the horse race this year is that it was a photo-finish…if they haven’t replaced that technology and thus the phrase.

Our hostess is quite the gardener, and my plant ID app thinks this is a bellflower. It don’t know what it is, but I’m pretty sure it is not a bellflower.

Posted at 8:37 PM | Comments Off on Not in KY

We had several hours with my brother today. He was here for meetings downtown. He said he’d like to get outdoors and walk a bit before the hours he’d be spending sitting in a plane returning to SEA. So, we took him to Piedmont Park (not original, but almost always rewarding), where we found lunch and some off-white plant specimens.

The upper photo is of a long hydrangea bloom, its weight bringing it horizontal. This one is what I think is cottonwood “cotton”…with a slightly green tinge.

We had a grand time, and also saw ducks and geese and turtles, a few dogs, and many people strolling and generally enjoying the afternoon. Just as we did.

Posted at 8:47 PM | Comments Off on Off-white

I spotted the first blooming dogwood I’ve noticed this year…

…and this reminded me of a European scenario.

Posted at 8:11 PM | Comments Off on Of note