Lilacs

The garden continues to bloom, with lilacs and iris taking over where the daffodils left off.  I struggled to grow lilacs at Aspen Meadows but they never really did very well; a few sad blooms if I was lucky.  Most years, nothing.  Up here, we have perfect lilac conditions and they grow like weeds.

When my mom died, I planted three in her memory.  I’m not sure if she loved them or not, but my dad always talked about lilacs blooming when they got married at my mother’s parents’ house in Illinois.  So, I have always associated lilacs with the stories of their wedding although her stories were more about not being allowed to wear an off-the-shoulder wedding dress — so she got married in a very smart suit that she sewed.  And hated.  Don’t you love family stories?

Syringa vulagaris ‘Katherine Hanemeyer’ (hybrid)

Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’  (French hybrid). I love love LOVE this lilac.

Syringa vulgaris (Common lilac)

A few years later I added a double white lilac to cover up the corner of the garden fence by the chicken shed.

And, just this past year, I planted three dwarf lilacs in the new front planter.  They are too tiny to show up very well in the photo.  There is one in front of, and one behind, the glorious yellow iris.

Am I addicted to lilacs?  You could say so.

A Brilliant Bird Visits

Oak Creek Ranch is home to many species of birds. Some are here all the time like robins that hop around in the pasture while I do the morning chores, woodpeckers, blue jays, doves and finches.  Others are here for a month or two, stopping on their way to other places.  These include Canada geese, ducks, yellow and white crowned sparrows, juncos, grosbeaks and towhees.  Then there are the rare visitors —  sometimes a sharp-shinned hawk will stalk the garden, or we hear an owl hooting at night.

Last year, I spotted a Bullock’s oriole in the cherry tree.  It must have been late June or early July, because he was hopping from branch to branch eating all my cherries.  I love cherries but I didn’t even care that he was eating all my fruit.  He was so dang gorgeous, I just wanted to watch him forever.

A few days ago, sitting on the front porch, I caught a flash of brilliant orange in the oak tree.  I watched an oriole hopped around amongst the oak branches before flying off.  I was sad to see him go.  But, this morning, while doing my breakfast dishes, I saw him on my garden fence.  I hope he sticks around for awhile.  Maybe he’s waiting for the cherries to get ripe.

I know its silly that a seeing a bird can make me so happy.  But there you have it.  Such beauty and brilliance make my heart sing.