After an extended winter, and an absent spring, summer finally has arrived in northern Minnesota. To see our lilac bushes still blooming (but fading fast) as the Fourth of July approaches is a reminder that our already-short growing season is likely to be even shorter this summer.
Come join in me in the garden as the month of July unfolds. . .
“There’s naught as nice as th’ smell o’ good clean earth, except th’ smell o’ fresh growin’ things when th’ rain falls on ’em.” ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
The tall purple allium stand at attention for visitors to the bird bath.
The bleeding hearts delicately dance in the wind.
A cushion of dianthus provide a welcoming touch to the fairy door in the garden.
The purple lupine bloom from bottom to top, their spiky plumes a sight just as welcome in the garden as they are along country roads.
Forget-me-nots scatter themselves about the garden . . .
. . . greeting the morning with their cheery sunburst centers.
Other flowers also reseed and redecorate the garden from year to year, adding a pop of color among dark corners where only hostas thrive.
“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Happy Fourth, Happy Summer!
Ciao! ~ Kat
Travel. Garden. Eat. 
27 responses to “Lilacs Linger”
What wonderful blooms…You really captured the beauty and joy of your spring, thank you for sharing.
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Thank you, Charlie — despite seeing these blooms weeks later than usual due to the extended winter and cold temps, they are always a joy to see again!
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Lovely photos, Kat!
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Thank you, Littlesundog — I love when the yard fills with the fragrance of those lilacs.
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Sounds like you are a good solid month behind us. We have moved on to summer flowers. I love spring flowers! Beautiful photographs…
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We are so far behind this year — hoping it means that Fall will stay with us a long time!
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There are advantages to Spring’s late arrival. These photos are beautiful, Kat. Hope you’re having a great 4th!
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Cheers and Happy Fourth to you, too, John! On to summer!
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Some of my favorite flowers…especially the lilac. Impossible to grow here. Thanks for sending me a “whiff” !
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The lilacs love our extended cool early summer temps!
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Beautiful garden and great shots – of course! I miss the lilacs now living in FL…used to have them always in my childhood up north. Happy 4th to you too!
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Lilacs are the best for filling the yard with their unmistakable fragrance!
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wonderful post and gorgeous photos!!
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Thanks, tobyo!
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Thank you for bringing beautiful flowers on the July 4th! Happy day!
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You are welcome, Amy — hope you had a nice Fourth!
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Lovely photos of your secret garden – we have many of the same plants and a season as short as yours, unfortunately our lilacs were short-lived… Now I just need a few of those glorious lupines!
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Lupines sometimes seem so fickle — we have been unsuccessful growing them at the cabin, thinking the soil is too sandy, where in our yard we have more clay-type soil. Love seeing rows of them along the roadsides in early summer!
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That’s good to know – my front yard bed tends to be more clay and hard to grow things in – lupines will do the trick!
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Lovely pictures, especially the first series..Luck to have a garden, in Istanbul it is nearly imposible to have a garden. Thus, taking pleasure of gardening with the flowers in my little balcony 🙂
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Balcony gardens can be so lovely!
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I can smell the lilacs as I wander with you around the rest of the garden … wonderful! Glad you’ve a taste of summer for the fourth – have a happy day 🙂
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Thanks, Meredith — their fragrance is one of my favorites.
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What lovely photos so evocative of spring! Enjoy your 4th of July!
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Even though it took until July for spring to arrive, it is still lovely!
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Beautiful pictures! Our growing season in Wyoming is short but sounds like yours is shorter. Enjoy!
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This year it seems particularly short — hoping for an extended summer and fall to make up for the lack of spring!
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