Friday's Flowers

I cannot get enough of the gorgeous weather that we have had lately. It has been absolutely perfect, and we have been soaking up the sun by going to the park, firing up the grill, going for bike rides, walks in the neighborhood, and working in the yard which I love to do.

I am officially on lake countdown. I cannot wait to hang out on the dock and get the boat out for the first time. This beautiful weather makes me long for hot summer days spent on the water with the kids.

It is so wonderful to see GREEN leaves and grass again, and I have enjoyed coming home to the vibrant colors that are filling the yard and the smell of flowers blooming. Here are a few blooms around our yard.

Ajuga (sometimes referred to as bugleweed)is a fast-growing ground cover that usually creeps within just a few inches of the ground (the species name, reptans, means "creeping"), although when in flower (if you count the flower spike), it may reach a height of 6" or more. Ajuga blooms from spring to mid-summer. Flower color varies but is often blue to purple.

(Ajuga)

Wisteria vines climb by twining their stems either clockwise or counter-clockwise round any available support. They can climb as high as 20 m above ground and spread out 10 m laterally.

Although Wisteria is usually seen as a climbing vine, we have a wisteria that is formed into a bush in our front yard. It is beautiful.

( Wisteria)

Phlox flowers range in color from pale blue to bright red to white. Some species such as Phlox glabeerrima (Smooth Phlox) grow to 1.5 m tall, while others, such as Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox), form low mats only a few centimetres in height.

Oklahoma designated redbud (Cercis canadensis) as the official state tree in 1937. The redbud tree's reddish-pink blossoms brighten the landscape throughout the state. Iris is a genus of 260 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.