The first weekend of “official summer” brought a cold front with temps in the 60’s – hardly feeling like the summer we’ve been hoping for. We were in Duluth to celebrate a friends’ return to Minnesota – a new home and wonderful people to welcome her back. The roads and highways were lined with lupine, standing upright and in full bloom. Colors ranging from deep purple, to lilac, to pink, to white – they were a welcome sight from the clouds and cooler temperatures. But I was most enthralled by the lupines along the shoreline of Lake Superior. With the huge lake in the background and the billowing clouds, the lupines stood tall against the wind and the weather blowing in from the lake.
Minnesota
Hot summer evening at the lake
As our temperatures rushed into summer highs yesterday, people were resorting to the tried and true ways of staying cool. Mid 90’s and high humidity cause some Minnesotans to shelter in air conditioning, while the majority choose to embrace the weather but cool off by a lake. Whatever wind that’s blowing across the lake surface cools and becomes a delightful and welcome breeze. People were out at Lake Como canoeing, kayaking, walking, relaxing and savoring the warmth of summer; winter’s cold seemed a long way away!
Peony fields
On a brilliant summer’s day we took a drive west of the Twin Cities to Swenson Gardens in Howard Lake, Minnesota. Their gardens were open for their annual Peony Field Days, and the timing was perfect. With warmer temperatures and bright sunshine many of the peonies had come into full bloom. It was a chance to wander and dream and plan for places in our own garden for more of these lovely plants. I especially liked these America peonies – their bright red was a wonderful contract to the green foliage and the blue sky with its puffy clouds.
A burst of clematis blooms
All within a few days the clematis have burst forth. A delicate pale yellow bloom with a yellow center, this lemon chiffon clematis has climbed up the trellis and bloomed all at once. The cooler temperatures and bright sunshine of the past week coaxed the buds to open in profusion. Soon the other clematis will follow, but it will be hard to top the beauty and fullness of this one.
Lilac blooms
The lilac bushes has blossomed out, and their sweet smell lingers in the air. We’re fortunate to have both white and purple lilacs. Throughout the neighborhood there are lilac bushes and hedges, and some are over 10 feet tall. Their colors and delicateness are noticeable. After the heavy rain from a day ago, the alley was littered with white and purple petals scattered on the ground. As short-lived as their blooming season is, it makes me appreciate their beauty and their scent even more.
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