First Bouquet of Summer

Dark Columbine, Yellow Baptista, Hosta leaves, and Corkscrew Willow branches.

Now that it is spring, I'm missing our yard in Grand Rapids.  Since we lived in our home there for four summers, I learned which plants bloomed when, and gathered similar bouquets each year. 

Baptista is one of my favorite flowering plants, along with pink and white peonies.  They bloom the same time of year (now) and look beautiful together in a bouquet - the indigo purple against the deep pink.  The one here is from my garden in Grand Rapids (indigo baptista).  It would be three years old this summer.  It bloomed beautifully right before Elliot was born (June 1, 2010). The peony bloomed behind it, on the other side of the fence.

But, change forces creativity. The yellow baptista below was brought to Iowa from Michigan, by request, shortly after we moved by a good friend.  It was planted in front of the parsonage last summer.  It is even prettier than the indigo baptista.

I've never been a fan of columbine (the dark maroon). They've have too "modern" feel for my taste.  Kind of how geraniums remind me of grandmas.  But I've changed my mind. On both of them, actually.

I never like missing opportunities to share some inspiration.  I was so pleased I brought one to my aunt too.