Summer blew in today!!

Spring and I were having a stand off...who could wait the longest to get motivated.  We've had a lot of rain, which is a blessing after last year's drought, the only thing lacking was sunshine.  All my plants are really thick and lush, but the blooms are slow in coming.

The Honeysuckle Vine beside the wash tubs is loaded with blooms this year.  Normally, we see Hummingbirds feeding on them, but this year, we haven't seen one...not even at our feeder.

This is my first day lily to bloom.  Soon, the raised planter will be full of the Stella de Oro day lilies in bloom. All the other day lilies usually are all opened by the last week of June - I think it will be much later than that this year.  My Asiatic lilies will probably start blooming next week.

Remember how we always hope the peonies will be open for Memorial Day?  Mine just started opening last week.

I like the mix of purple and yellow that is coming to life here.  There will be a lot more coreopsis in another week.

My knockout rose isn't exactly knocking itself out this year.

Red Riding Hood Penstemon

These crazy daisies can really get invasive, so I have to keep yanking them out.  Regardless, they are one of my favorite flowers.

My Japanese Iris are a bit sparse this year

Interesting blooms in my Artemisia

No flower bed in Nebraska would be complete without Husker Red Penstemon 

A little village has been growing in my shade garden

I bought an Oak Leaf Hydrangea to add to my yard this year.  I'm so excited that it has started to put blooms on already - I wasn't expecting any until next year.

I'm glad that the weather has settled down a bit now.  That means the heat and humidity that we are used to will probably be around for a while, but that's ok, that's what I like about Nebraska.  We get to experience all four seasons.

What a difference a day makes!

Last Summer, I visited a garden of a school friend and posted many pictures here.  With a Winter storm predicted, I wanted to visit Cathy's yard again, along with my Mom, to see how her yard looked after all the plants had gone to sleep for the season.  What a pleasant surprise!!  Greenery and white lights have replaced the hostas and flowers.  Her fairy gardens now have gnomes and snowmen.

Carolers greet guests on the front porch

Some of the bird baths/fairy gardens have been switched out with greenery and statues

The pond and some of the bird baths still held water and seed was scattered about for our furry and feathered friends

Planters that once held annuals now have greenery in them

The fairy gardens are just as cute now as they were last Summer

The back door entrance is just as inviting as the front

I need to go by some evening so I can see the lights at night

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And the next day, the snow came. . . along with ice and wind 

These are pictures of my 'buried in snow' back yard

My two goose statues were buried up to their heads . . . at least they aren't completely buried like my turtle, bunny, and birds

The bird bath on the deck looks like an infinity pool

Everything was plastered in ice (including my husbands truck) thanks to the rain that proceeded the snow and blizzard strength winds

After the sun came out, everything was glistening from the ice

We even had enough sun to charge the solar lid on my canning jar

I hope everyone is safe and warm.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful time with your family!!