Purple Perennial Plethora

Well perhaps predominately purple perennials. There are so many beautiful perennials in bloom at this time of year. Lilac (below) is one of my favorites and this dark purple one with white edges was the personification of perfumed perfection.

 



 

Rhododendrons and irises are also prominent in purple, plum and puce tones.

 

Spiderwort (below)  with pointed purple petals has a fluffy centre and yellow heart shaped anthers.

Columbines have always reminded me of English country gardens with their beautiful perennial borders.

Pretty purple petals

 



Lupins pop up in profusion in parks and private and public gardens, another perennial favorite of mine!

I am pleased but perplexed by this next flower, it reminds me a little of bee balm and also laitrus but I don't think it is either, perhaps I can a-peal to a plant person to provide this one with a proper name.

Thanks to Carol, the above identified as Hyssop.

Cornflowers above and below; pointy, playful pastel colours.



Cransbill Geranium:

This pinstriped purple and yellow iris is stunning against a poppy.

This poppy is just  left with its purple hat and scarf, after its petals have fallen.

The look of Columbine but?

Deadnettle?

 

A rose, or is it?

Pretty, petite but alas unknown to me.

At first I thought this feeder visitor was a Purple Finch to finish off my purple post, but I think he is more likely a House Finch.  

 

Perched

posing,

 



 

prize,

 



pigging out

 



 

please

 



 

pretty

 



 

 I hope you have enjoyed my alliterative purple posy post, just a portion of the purple petals I photographed.

 

 

New from my studio this week is a pink not purple offering that I have named "Triple Crown":

 

 

 

 

I used a new (to me) colour in this one called Opera - pinky mauve perfection.

It is a watercolour of course, for more information follow this link: GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.ca

Thank you so much for stopping by, and a special thank you to all those who leave comments for me, I really appreciate hearing from you.

 Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next time ..............

April Showers

April weather can be quite a mixture, and this year we have just about everything from rain, hail, wind, snow (on the mountains) and then some glorious sunshine too. After a recent heavy rain the sun came out and I captured the raindrops.

I was reminded of a childhood rhyme:

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

Nnow the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again!

The amazing flower below is a Fritillaria:

"Fritillaria meleagris is a species of flowering plant in the family Liliaceae. Its common names include snake's head fritillary, snake's head (the original English name), chess flower, frog-cup, guinea-hen flower, leper lily (because its shape resembled the bell once carried by lepers), Lazarus bell, checkered lily or, in northern Europe, simply fritillary.
The name Fritillarea comes from the latin fritillus meaning dice-box, and (possibly) referring to the chequered pattern on the flowers, though this derivation has been disputed. The name meleagris means ‘spotted like a guinea fowl’." (Wikipedia)

April Showers (Al Jolson lyrics)

Though April showers 

May come your way, 

They bring the flowers 

That bloom in May; 

And if it's raining, 

Have no regrets; 

Because, it isn't raining rain, you know, 

It's raining violets. 

And when you see clouds 

Upon the hill, 

You soon will see crowds 

Of daffodils; 

So keep on looking for the bluebird, 

And listening for his song, 

Whenever April showers come along. 

So judging by the amount of rain we have had here lately, there should be a wonderful array of flowers coming our way in May.

Quite an assortment of birds in the garden this week too

I did not manage to get the goldfinches, crows smashing peanuts, or hummingbird with something caught on its beak with my camera, but I'll leave those to your imagination.

A new watercolour ("Japonica"), inspired by a picture I showed on the blog a couple of weeks ago.

For more information on this and other works follow this link: GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.ca

That's it for this week, happy whimsy Wednesday, thank you for stopping by, until next time ..................