Blue House, Blue Garden

 This is my dream house, at least for the moment. Built a century ago, it still shows its Arts & Crafts architectural roots. As a child growing up in apartments, an architectural feature like an arbor (or even a garden) seemed like something found only in storybooks. Right now, at the height of spring, the irises and wisteria harmonize, all singing notes in shades of blue. Later this summer, other colors will join the chorus. 

Ragwort Path

 A plant with a sunny countenance and some unattractive nicknames is blooming along a path that runs through some townhouses. It adds cheer to an area above a small creek. In rural areas, ragwort is not welcome. It can sicken cattle and horses. In the UK it is considered a somewhat noxious weed. But ragwort is also a welcome food source for many pollinator insects. It is the primary food source for some rare and endangered moths. So don’t feed Stinking Willie or Staggerwort to your pet cow but do appreciate its beauty and its place in our ecosystem.

Bluebells Up Close

  In April, one particular house has a yard crowded with bluebells. Stately old trees shade this house in summer but now they are just beginning to form leaves. It's the perfect woodland environment for bluebells. I get down to flower level and study the elongated bells and the tight pink buds. The half-opened flowers shade seamlessly from pink to blue. Any dyer would be proud to achieve such results. Soon the trees will leaf out and the bells will drop into the soil. But the magical bells will return next spring.  

Wisteria On A Brick Wall

 On a breezy spring day, a blur of lavender caught my eye further down the block. The spicy scent of a wisteria in full bloom drifted my way. I stood under it, marveling at the crowd of panicles swaying in the breeze. Vines of this age and sturdiness have been known to collapse fences or pull down drain pipes. This wall is the perfect companion for such a twining, twisting plant.

Bench At High Tide

 There are times when a walk along Haines Point will NOT include an opportunity to sit and look across the Potomac River. This spit of land has always been barely above the level of the river, which is affected by the tides. A short walk away is the Tidal Basin, ringed in early spring by blooming cherry trees. This spring, many tourists were surprised to find that large sections of the sidewalk were closed. The land has sunk so much that a major rebuilding is finally in progress. The benches on Haines Point remain, knowing that the water will continue to come and go with the tides.

Cherry Blossom Time

 In Washington DC, the anticipation of the cherry blossoms begins sometime in February. Professional prognosticators adjust the peak bloom date every few days. Then, for about a week, we all try to participate in the American version of the ritual known in Japan as Hanami, Flower Viewing. This is taken very seriously in Japan. It’s a time to celebrate and also to contemplate the fleeting nature of the blossoms and of life. Some wander slowly while others zoom on bicycles under clouds of pink. We all know that those blossoms will be gone in a few days.

Insect Condo

 At the Denver Botanic Gardens there is a curving wall that looks like an art assemblage. It's the largest of many such homes in the gardens meant for insects and birds. They can be used all year round as shelter and as a safe breeding area. Most of the materials are leftover garden detritus such as twigs or large sections of fallen trees. Sheep’s wool insulates some areas. Humans also created bird houses and soft felted abodes, furnished with a variety of nesting or burrowing materials. It's a beautiful example of how we can help the smaller critters that inhabit our gardens.