One third of a city lot....

That's how much room we have to work with...throw a house in there and there isn't much left. Not really. But magic works in small places, too, and when I see these treasures bloom(treasures we were a part of because you should have seen this yard when we moved in) I am thrilled! No need to chase back and forth like the waves.
The same water which ebbs is the same water that flows.
No point turning back to get water
When it's flowing around you in all directions
The heart of the Buddha and the people of the world...
Where is there any difference?

Heart Of The Buddha - A Poem by Hsu Yun

Did you know that Columbine are wildflowers that grow like weeds in some places? I have to buy mine here, though they did make it over the winter...I feel triumphant! And? I have found some wild ones out on my dog walks this year!

We didn't plant these, but they started coming up in bunches this year. Foxgloves are one of my favorites and have always reminded me of growing up around the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.

I took so many photos I didn't know which ones to use...so check out flickr later.

We have a few colours of daylilies planted around the pond, but so far only these yellow ones have shown their faces.

This is the pink flowering dogwood that I got Michael for his birthday last year. Last year it had only a few small blooms but this year is delighting us no end. It's gorgeous.

And the roses....there were several untended rosebushes when we bought this house. We had to remove some, but left three because my Grandma loved, loved, loved roses. She had a large rose garden outside her little cabin by the water. I can remember her tiny form among the tall, thorny bushes, talking gently to them about their beauty and how special they were to her, each flower on each bush a blessing.
She grew up substainance farming, living off what came out of the ground. I think she took great joy in just growing beautiful things in her later life. She could make anything grow. She was magic in a small space, too.

It is good to remember these important details before they fall away, like so many petals. Hello, out there, Grandma. I miss you.

My favorite this year has been the snapdragons. Some seem so elegant and lush, saturated in richness, grand....

and others just look like someone tie-dyed my garden.

Of course there is neighbourhood news, and I still haven't finished my trip to Washington, yet. There is still Seattle to cover, a lunch with friends, some odds and ends of Olympia, but I was so delighted with my front garden that I had to take some photos and share some "good stuff" with you all. Hope you don't mind.