Blooming in the Yard

We've got perennials blooming all over the yard. Most of them we haven't a clue as to what they are. Luckily, there are books and web sites and moms to help identify them. Still, some remain lovely mysteries. And there are even more getting ready to bloom.

In spring, we thought most were weeds and were within a lazy Sunday of ripping them out. But we figured we should give it a season to identify what's weed and what's not. Of course, by next spring, we'll have forgotten it all.

Here are some:

Lilac













Lots of these little flowers in various colors around. (Dianthus?)













Bleeding Heart in foreground and nameless blue flowers in back. (I think it's wild blue phlox.)













Yellow Loosestrife and white flowers that grow like weeds













Monkshood?

















Clematis (Kilian Donahue?)













My mother told me the name of this. Promptly forgotten. (Amy remembered: Honeysuckle Vine.)

















More of the little flowers. This time in pink.













Centaurea Montana. This needs a better name. Blue Spider or something like that.

















More Yellow Loosestrife













And more small flowers, now in red

















Daylily. I think these have specific variety names. We'll call this one "Orange."













Peony

Charlotte's 1st birthday

Charlotte celebrated her first birthday surrounded by lots of friends and family. It was so much fun!
Grandma had a great time playing with her granddaughters while Will got some quality time with Great-Grandma.



Then it was cake time. Charlotte certainly seemed to enjoy her first birthday cake experience!

"Oooh, what's this? Colorful, sweet. Ok, I'll give it a try..."

"Hey! This stuff is pretty good!"

Mmmmm.....

We all joined Charlotte in trying the delicious cakes, cupcakes, and cookies that both of her grandmas made for the party.

Grandma's butterfly cookies were a hit


"You didn't see me eat that second cupcake, got it?"


I'm pretty sure we all had seconds on the treats. They were soooo good.

Then it was time for a sugar-rush-inspired game of tag

I tried to avoid the tags, but eventually I was "It"

Taking a rest on one of the home bases


All of the kids got sunglasses as a party favor. They were adorable


And then it was on to present time. Emily did a great job handing Charlotte her gifts.


Grandma with all of her granddaughters!

What a great day! Happy Birthday Charlotte!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to our moms and all moms!