FLOWERS - One of my Favorite Things about Summer in Fairbanks

On Mother's Day, Dave (husband) usually buys me a hanging plant for outside our front window where I can enjoy it all summer from inside and out.  This year I've enjoyed a fuchsia that's still beautiful with lots of blooms.  Another Mother's Day gift I always love is a gift certificate to a local nursery which the kids most often give me - the perfect gift!








The irises were the first perennials to bloom. I love them not just because they're beautiful, but 1) my Dad gave me the start many years ago and, 2) they always remind me of my sister-in-law, Nancy, because they are one of her favorites.








Our lilac bush had so many blooms this year compared to last year.  The lilac fragrance is the best ever!  I love sitting outside in the swing or laying in the hammock and being able to smell the lilac.  I am disappointed though that the blooms only last about 2 weeks and I've never had any luck cutting them for inside.  However, every time I walk past the bush I inhale deeply of the fragrance.







My friend, Karen, gave me these yellow flowers that I transplanted from her flower bed last fall. To my amazement, this spring these beauties came up. They were so lovely next to the purple irises.  Thank you, Karen, for introducing me to a new perennial called Trollius.  Scott and Ashley, I enjoyed your beautiful bed of Trollius, too.








I love roses, but I rarely have good luck wintering them over.  I put them in the garage and then forget to water them.  One year when I did remember to occasionally water them, I had roses blooming in February, but most often they die and I only get to enjoy them one season. This year Lowe's was selling rose bushes for $10.00 so I bought one thinking even if it only lasts one summer it's still worth $10.00.  The bush produced lots of beautiful pink roses which I've enjoyed all summer.  It's about done blooming now, but I'm going to TRY AGAIN and see if I can keep it alive this winter.  I call them my "Iva Jane" roses after my Aunt Iva Jane from San Diego.  She loved roses and had so many beautiful ones.  She passed away earlier this year, but I always think of her when I see roses.  Another reason to try and keep this bush alive.






In early July I had to make a trip to the ER.  When our friends, the Hulien's, heard I had been in the ER Melissa and Isaiah stopped by with an orchid plant.  I've always admired them but have never had one of my own.  It's still blooming and I'm enjoying it immensely.  When I look at its beauty I'm reminded of loving, caring friends.  I hope I can keep it alive once it quits blooming.  That reminds me....I need to mist it with water.







Pansies are one of my favorite flowers.  We've had a fairly wet summer and apparently pansies don't like lots of water because they're pitiful looking this year.  Only a couple of them are surviving.  I've missed their unique little faces this summer.










The delphiniums did great (another transplant several years ago from Karen).  I lost some to the rain and wind blowing them over, but after I remembered to tie them up they survived well.  I do like to cut a bouquet of them for the dining room table, but when they start shedding they create quite a mess.









I love impatiens too with lobelia sprinkled in with them.  They do well on our front deck because they get only the morning sun.












On the back deck I have wave petunia's and they seem to like the afternoon and evening sun, but they do need lots of water.










I can't forget geraniums.  They're another one of my favorites and I actually had good luck wintering a couple over this year.  It took them a long time to bloom, but Nancy tells me she fertilizes them early and they bloom faster.  I'll try that next summer.  I did buy one geranium this year....on sale at 75% off.  Who can pass up a sale like that?










My granddaughter, Izzy, grew these purple flowers this summer.  I don't know the name of them, but I do have some of the seeds.  I'll add them to my flower collection next summer.








I have pink lilies that are just now opening.  I don't know why they're so late blooming.  I've seen lilies blooming all through our neighborhood much earlier so maybe it's another fertilizer issue.  These do well to cut and bring inside. They don't smell good (according to my daughter, Jami),  but they are beautiful.








 

Several years in a row I only planted one or two sunflowers, but this summer I have a row of five.  It's so much fun to watch them grow.  They don't bloom until late in the season but are well worth the wait.
So far this year, my tallest sunflower is around 8-1/2 feet.  However, I don't think it will beat the 10 foot one last year.






Walking through the neighborhood (or even driving slowly) lets me enjoy my neighbor's flowers.  I want to send a note to one neighbor to thank them for the beautiful gladioli and orange poppies they grew, which I enjoyed so much!   On the way to church we always pass gorgeous red poppies.  I've been tempted to stop and ask for some seed. They would probably share one pod of seeds, don't you think?

What flowers do I want to add to the mix next summer?  Cosmos, columbine, poppies and a couple peonies.






Fireweed is a beautiful wild flower but my least favorite......only because when they finish blooming it's not long until winter.  It's a constant reminder that summer is almost over......and they are in full bloom right now.

The flowers will be gone by mid September......
but they'll be back in the spring.