Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Bees, Too

Yesterday we visited new Bee Center at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The interactive displays were interesting and great for all ages. I learned some new things about bees and pollinators. Of course, we visited other areas, too. One of my favorites is the clever Japanese garden. That's yours truly in the second photo.

We also explored "Amazing Spaces," which are variations on a theme of tree houses. My handsome hubby posed for this photo. 

We had fun exploring. Look for twelve tree houses in all. Here are a few more photos...but not too many. I don't want to spoil the surprises.

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July! The summer of the bees continues. The above photo is a recent one of chamomile flowers. The photo below is chives from a couple of weeks ago. (Even though it's enjoyable, summer teaching means less gardening and blogging time.)

Here's a look at what I've planted in some of my pots around the garden. I've got alyssum, salvia, and dianthus. It's a good mix of colors that I've repeated for effect.  

And here's a look at Sugar Magnolia Snap Pea. The purple pods are easy to see for picking. The vines are full-sized, so I've had to pull out the tallest stakes. I might grow these next year just because of how pretty they are!

Three Bees

My garden theme this summer is "for the bees," and I observed the native hawthorn tree and found three different kinds of bees working in the blossoms. I know the first (above)  is a bumblebee. I suspect the second is a mason bee (please correct me if I'm wrong). And I think the third is a sweat bee. The flowers I've planted for the bees have yet to blossom, though today's heat will help. And the seeds I planted are growing well. I hope to share more about the bees as the season continues.

And here's a garden update since I've been busy this month. It's been a good spring for violets. Here's two varieties from my yard.

 I love the native cranesbill.

 These lilacs have finished blooming but my late blooming lilac tree is beginning today.

May Day?

A casual observer might think that I took this photo today (actually two days ago). This lovely dandelion is providing food for a bee, and my garden's theme is "for the bees." However, even though the average temperature is in the 60s now, we have snow. The heavy, wet slush has gathered on the netting I used to protect pea seeds from the birds. Instead of birds I worry about the cold (close to freezing) and snow. However, gardeners in Minnesota know spring's moodiness, and I have more seeds ready to go. 

Happy Earth Day!

There's no better way to spend Earth day than exploring the outdoors. Here are a few photos from my morning walk. Happy Spring!!!

This could be a spot for a fairy garden.

And here's a few photos from earlier...

Spring Into Gardening Presentation

At Becker Library on Saturday, March 18, at 11 am, please join me for my presentation, "Spring Into Gardening." I'll talk about a few gardening trends as well as my goal to create a garden to help support bees and other pollinators. #bringbackthebees Hopefully we'll have some fun... and definitely we'll have some chocolate! 

Summer 2017 for the Bees

I'm declaring Summer 2017 "The Summer for Bees." In my garden, I'll choose flowers the bees like and need. One thing I'll keep in mind is the timing so that there's something for the bees all season long. I'll go with my usual trick of planting alyssum extremely early with the chance it may die and have to be replaced, and I'll try to keep that alyssum going the entire growing season (and past the first frosts if I can!). I have some lilacs and irises for spring, but I'll add some annuals, too. I didn't have much luck with getting my lavender to flower last summer (my garden becomes shadier each year), but maybe I'll try cornflowers as bees are supposed to like blue flowers.  I'm lucky enough to live in the woods with a diverse wildflower population. Wild bees like wild plants. I've heard they like herbs, too, like the bee in the photo above with my lovely chive blossoms.