Lovely finds! My family was also not outdoorsy, and neither am I, to this day. But I do have fond memories of the lilac trees in my backyard growing up. It was only as an adult that I realized they only bloom for a couple of weeks in the year, and those weeks fall right around my birthday. It makes me feel like they're "my" flower, somehow. Anyway, when I saw the lilac trees in the backyard of the house we bought last year, I knew it was meant to be.
My parents had a beautiful garden at my childhood home, which they sold 10 years ago. To this day, anytime I see a bleeding heart, I think of that garden!
What a treasure so close to home! I loved to wander in the woods as a child...and still. I remember swishing pine needles into lines to form "rooms" at the edge of the grade school playground.
And I, too, was taught of the elusive pink lady slipper but l've never seen one in real life. My mother had and adored them. A spring ephemeral that I consider rare as well is the yellow trout lily (my dad called them dogtooth violets). A few weeks ago, I took a walk at a nearby mansion/gardens and came upon a feast of trout lilies scattered throughout the woodsy area. Their nodding, pointy caps and splotchy leaves left me smiling the whole walk.
Now I must return every year; who knew I was missing such a special show only a couple miles from from my house!
I love this post so much! My family was somewhat outdoorsy — I got my first wildflower field guide for my First Communion when I was seven. My dad would stop along the road if my mom or I saw a wildflower we wanted to see up close — I would identify it while my younger brothers complained in the back seat. That was the first time I saw fireweed. I have wildflowers that I “visit” every year to see how they’re doing — a bird’s foot violet in Fredericksburg, Virginia; hepatica in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland; a striped wintergreen in a park in Alexandria, Virginia; some great Laurel bushes in my home town of Erie, Pennsylvania. I’ve only seen a pink lady’s slipper once — in Maine — but I’ll never forget that, or some of the other wild orchids I’ve seen only once. Thank you for sharing!
Hepatica! My Dad loved them and yearly visited a small patch by the C&O Canal…until he couldn’t climb the steep hillside any longer. My daughter recently saw some at a nature preserve and told me. So now I get to visit the abundant hepatica there each spring. I wish I knew where in the Catoctins to find them; we visit family in Frederick several times a year. You’ve spotted treats in lots of familiar places to me! Thanks for sharing!
What a treasure so close to home! I loved to wander in the woods as a child…and still. I remember swishing pine needles into lines to form “rooms” at the edge of the grade school playground.
And I, too, was taught of the elusive pink lady slipper but I’ve never seen one in real life. My mother had and adored them. A spring ephemeral that I consider rare as well is the yellow trout lily (my dad called them dogtooth violets). A few weeks ago, I took a walk at a nearby mansion/gardens and came upon a feast of trout lilies scattered throughout the woodsy area. Their nodding, pointy caps and splotchy leaves left me smiling the whole walk. Now I must return every year; who knew I was missing such a special show only a couple miles from from my house!
I’ve been hoping to find a trout lily this year—they sound wonderful! What a I’ve never seen one! I love that sense of discovery when we stumble upon spring ephemerals. I too used to make “rooms with pine needles boarders 💚
Tiger Lilies, Lilac Bushes, daisies, and Queen Anne's lace remind me of my childhood. My parents were not outdoors folk, so no walks in the woods, but we had lots of wooded areas near us, and that is where we kids hung out.
I spent my childhood outside too — like you my folks were far from outdoorsy hiking types, though they loved basking in the sun and eating in the shade. Our large yard was filled with plants from the former owner, which we all enjoyed. A miniature Japanese maple stood like a tiny centerpiece in the front yard and a gorgeous dogwood tree hung over our side porch. The entire front and back of our house was ringed with rhododendron and azalea bushes in a wild array of color and an ancient wisteria vine dripped its grape blossoms around the back door. Thank you for reminding me to remember it all. Pure magic!
It sounds like pure magic! We had rhododendron and azalea too—I had forgotten about them until you mentioned them. I love thinking about how much you enjoyed the work of the previous owner and how he or she will never know the impact they had on your lives—a great reminder 💚
That really is another beautiful aspect of gardening, sharing with others. Whether it’s just people walking or driving by or someone inheriting your green thumb, it’s another way of sharing. Love that Louise ❤️
I agree that these are lovely photos. We have wild columbine and geranium here but neither is blooming yet. The former are starting to bloom in my rocky yard, though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lady slipper! So grateful for your posts!
We weren't an outdoorsy family either but my dad's favorite thing to do when he got home from work, weather permitting, was to have a drink sitting outside on the enclosed brick patio behind the house. It was level with the rest of the yard, which was covered in various trees and bushes. I spent a lot of my time out there; climbing trees, building forts, setting up obstacles for my friend and I to jump when we were playing horses, or just reading under a tree. Thanks for bringing me back there. :-)
My grandmother had a patch of creeping phlox that I think about all the time. I have planted some in my yard and I’m waiting for it to grow and mimic what she had. It’s such a precious memory.
We had a wall of lilacs in the backyard of the house we lived in when I was very little—I can remember snuggling into those trees. This year I finally found a lilac in the arboretum near my house that smelled like the ones in our yard and I was THRILLED. 💜💜💜
Lovely finds! My family was also not outdoorsy, and neither am I, to this day. But I do have fond memories of the lilac trees in my backyard growing up. It was only as an adult that I realized they only bloom for a couple of weeks in the year, and those weeks fall right around my birthday. It makes me feel like they're "my" flower, somehow. Anyway, when I saw the lilac trees in the backyard of the house we bought last year, I knew it was meant to be.
I love that connection to your house!
My parents had a beautiful garden at my childhood home, which they sold 10 years ago. To this day, anytime I see a bleeding heart, I think of that garden!
Bleeding hearts still remind me of one of my childhood friends!
What a treasure so close to home! I loved to wander in the woods as a child...and still. I remember swishing pine needles into lines to form "rooms" at the edge of the grade school playground.
And I, too, was taught of the elusive pink lady slipper but l've never seen one in real life. My mother had and adored them. A spring ephemeral that I consider rare as well is the yellow trout lily (my dad called them dogtooth violets). A few weeks ago, I took a walk at a nearby mansion/gardens and came upon a feast of trout lilies scattered throughout the woodsy area. Their nodding, pointy caps and splotchy leaves left me smiling the whole walk.
Now I must return every year; who knew I was missing such a special show only a couple miles from from my house!
I love this post so much! My family was somewhat outdoorsy — I got my first wildflower field guide for my First Communion when I was seven. My dad would stop along the road if my mom or I saw a wildflower we wanted to see up close — I would identify it while my younger brothers complained in the back seat. That was the first time I saw fireweed. I have wildflowers that I “visit” every year to see how they’re doing — a bird’s foot violet in Fredericksburg, Virginia; hepatica in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland; a striped wintergreen in a park in Alexandria, Virginia; some great Laurel bushes in my home town of Erie, Pennsylvania. I’ve only seen a pink lady’s slipper once — in Maine — but I’ll never forget that, or some of the other wild orchids I’ve seen only once. Thank you for sharing!
Hepatica! My Dad loved them and yearly visited a small patch by the C&O Canal…until he couldn’t climb the steep hillside any longer. My daughter recently saw some at a nature preserve and told me. So now I get to visit the abundant hepatica there each spring. I wish I knew where in the Catoctins to find them; we visit family in Frederick several times a year. You’ve spotted treats in lots of familiar places to me! Thanks for sharing!
I love hearing about these wildflowers from other parts of the country!!!!
Beth, I love your breaking for wildflowers family!
What a treasure so close to home! I loved to wander in the woods as a child…and still. I remember swishing pine needles into lines to form “rooms” at the edge of the grade school playground.
And I, too, was taught of the elusive pink lady slipper but I’ve never seen one in real life. My mother had and adored them. A spring ephemeral that I consider rare as well is the yellow trout lily (my dad called them dogtooth violets). A few weeks ago, I took a walk at a nearby mansion/gardens and came upon a feast of trout lilies scattered throughout the woodsy area. Their nodding, pointy caps and splotchy leaves left me smiling the whole walk. Now I must return every year; who knew I was missing such a special show only a couple miles from from my house!
I’ve been hoping to find a trout lily this year—they sound wonderful! What a I’ve never seen one! I love that sense of discovery when we stumble upon spring ephemerals. I too used to make “rooms with pine needles boarders 💚
Tiger Lilies, Lilac Bushes, daisies, and Queen Anne's lace remind me of my childhood. My parents were not outdoors folk, so no walks in the woods, but we had lots of wooded areas near us, and that is where we kids hung out.
I spent my childhood outside too — like you my folks were far from outdoorsy hiking types, though they loved basking in the sun and eating in the shade. Our large yard was filled with plants from the former owner, which we all enjoyed. A miniature Japanese maple stood like a tiny centerpiece in the front yard and a gorgeous dogwood tree hung over our side porch. The entire front and back of our house was ringed with rhododendron and azalea bushes in a wild array of color and an ancient wisteria vine dripped its grape blossoms around the back door. Thank you for reminding me to remember it all. Pure magic!
It sounds like pure magic! We had rhododendron and azalea too—I had forgotten about them until you mentioned them. I love thinking about how much you enjoyed the work of the previous owner and how he or she will never know the impact they had on your lives—a great reminder 💚
That really is another beautiful aspect of gardening, sharing with others. Whether it’s just people walking or driving by or someone inheriting your green thumb, it’s another way of sharing. Love that Louise ❤️
I agree that these are lovely photos. We have wild columbine and geranium here but neither is blooming yet. The former are starting to bloom in my rocky yard, though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lady slipper! So grateful for your posts!
Thank you so much Julie!!!!!!
So lovely, thank you for sharing!
We weren't an outdoorsy family either but my dad's favorite thing to do when he got home from work, weather permitting, was to have a drink sitting outside on the enclosed brick patio behind the house. It was level with the rest of the yard, which was covered in various trees and bushes. I spent a lot of my time out there; climbing trees, building forts, setting up obstacles for my friend and I to jump when we were playing horses, or just reading under a tree. Thanks for bringing me back there. :-)
Thanks for bringing me there!
My grandmother had a patch of creeping phlox that I think about all the time. I have planted some in my yard and I’m waiting for it to grow and mimic what she had. It’s such a precious memory.
That’s so lovely—it’s wonderful how plants can carry out connections to family 💜
These are lovely! Lilacs are my favorite spring flower. There are a couple of trees at my parents' house and their smell makes me feel at home
We had a wall of lilacs in the backyard of the house we lived in when I was very little—I can remember snuggling into those trees. This year I finally found a lilac in the arboretum near my house that smelled like the ones in our yard and I was THRILLED. 💜💜💜