A Thousand Shades of Green

Green dominated my May visit to Butchart Gardens this week. The spring display of color is almost over and summer's has not yet begun. 
 

The rain we've had has helped with the greening of the landscape, although the Gardens are beautiful and lush at any time of year with the aid of irrigation. 
 

 I took Little Miss A along with me and she sat in her cart (provided by the Gardens) and watched the fountain dance for a long time. Then, when I thought to return the way we came and not wander through the Sunken Garden, since we saw from above, she informed me that, "No, Nana, that's my favorite garden. We have to go THAT way." 

I think she's been there once before, a few weeks ago. Of course, we took a stroll through that garden since it was her favorite.

A few beds showed color, like these vivid pinks and purples that looked almost as though they had been painted.
 

You may remember my April post, where the rose plants had been pruned low to the ground, and I wondered how they would ever bloom by June. In the mid-ground of this photo you can see the rose bushes, fully leafed out, with buds forming. In a few weeks this garden will be a profusion of blooms.

Today I'll be puttering around the house, tidying, cleaning, and then running out do some errands. What do you have planned for this Friday in May?

Greens of Various Kinds

Mary's Inspiration Thursday prompt this week is green. These succulents and the little birdie in her nest are gathered together on a tray on my china buffet. I don't use many Easter-themed decorations - just things I like to have out for awhile that aren't necessarily specific to one holiday. These succulents were outside most of the winter, getting very water logged and they turned quite reddish as a result. I brought a few indoors and they thrive with the drier climate, even to the extent of beginning to shoot new growth. 

A few posts ago I showed you the kale and chard I'd harvested from my winter garden. With the kale I made Kale with Garlic and Blue Cheese. I like baking the kale until it's just a bit crispy. The Swiss Chard I added to tonight's chicken vegetable soup. Thank you for your recipe suggestions. I have lots more chard to harvest and I'm planning to use some of your ideas.

 

Here is a photo that's primarily shades of green - taken at Butchart Gardens. Soon, however, that bed will be awash with colour to delight the eye. 

In Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, one of the characters says, "The rich man gets his ice in the summer, the poor man gets his in the winter." Adapting that to green grass, we could say that those who live in our climate get our green grass in the winter, while elsewhere in Canada the grass is green in the summer. This time of year, indeed, throughout the winter, is when our grass is the greenest. In summer, it turns brown and crunchy.

So there you have it, green indoors and out. What's green around your place?