Date @ The Arboretum

As I plan out my spring garden I also make sure to go through past pictures from visits to public gardens, where the professionals have applied their magic touch. Last summer we visited the Minnesota Landscape Aboretum a few times, but the visit I'm sharing here was a real treat. My husband and I had a real, legit date night when the kids were at a sleepover. We live very far from any relatives, so this is a very rare treat! So thankful for our good friends for this night!

 

Last summer, our only date night fell on a pretty darn warm summer evening, so naturally I made my husband eat Lebanese food until we almost puked from being full, take the dessert to go, and the walk ALL the back trails at the arboretum I could find. Haha!

 

We explored the creek and I fell in love with the mossy rocks.

 

 

I honestly don't know what these are, but I thought they were beautiful!

 

Perfect blue sky!

 

 

The collection of hydrangeas was in full bloom. Such a treat. It made me excited to watch all of mine at home mature.

 

Right in the area near the shrub gardens we found a flock of turkeys. We spent a long time just watching them eat all the grass seed someone had put down.

 

I fell in love with the color of these grapes.

 

And, of course, took time to appreciate the beautiful tree bark & the trunk of one that had been recently cut down.

 

There are whole areas of natural native plants. Lots of butterflies.

I decided I need a tamarack in my life.

I stopped to watch the reflection in this creek, way on the other side of the place, for a long bit.

And I begged my husband to make me one of these at home for growing gourds/pumpkins/squash.

Whenever I get to spend time by a Gingko tree I enjoy it.

I also had never had the time to really appreciate all the details in the Japanese garden... I'm usually chasing kids.

This shot below is a water fountain, but the light was so bright in the water it looked like a mirror. So beautiful.

And of course, enjoying hosta leaves.

 

My perfect mate.

 

Enjoying all the display gardens.

 

 

Thanks for the great date night, Theo!!

 

Happy gardening!

Clematis Photos- Best of 2011: Part 1

I have been doodling and reading, searching and planning the placement of my clematis at my new home. No house picked out yet, no idea what sort of sun exposure or climbing aparatus I'll have on hand, but I know- no matter where I go, most of my clematis are coming with me. I am loving the idea of pairing this color with that, and some nodding small flowers with huge flat ones- like play time or art class for me. Way too entertaining. I seriously spend hours and hours on this folks...

In thumbing through some pictures I thought I'd like to so a series of posts showing off some of my favorite clematis shots of last year. Arguably, clematis are some of the most photogenic flowers out there! So, this is part one of a series of posts with some of favorite clematis photos taken in my Wisconsin garden throughout 2010.

Violet Stargazer:

unknown, possibly Huvi:


Polish Spirit & Pillu:

Etoille Violette:

Polish Spirit:


The President:


Violet Charm:

unknown:

HF Young:

Madame Julia Correvon

unknown:

Fireworks:

Durandii:

Rooguchi:

More to come soon.

Happy gardening!