Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison Wisconsin
Sweetbay Magnolia
Scallops of Pink Lupine
Does anyone remember reading the book Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney? It is a children’s book written in the early 1980s, popular when my children were little. Miss Rumphius was a woman who wanted to do three things in her life – travel the world, live by the sea when she grew older, and make the world a better place. She easily accomplished the first two, but was a little stumped on how to accomplish her third goal until she hit upon the idea of scattering lupine seeds wherever she went. Wow! She must have made her part of the world really beautiful. Certainly a better place, too.
I think these flowers are pretty spectacular, standing about 3 feet high. This is an eastern Lupine, grows east of the Mississippi River. There are about 200 lupines in the family, and many of them are strictly West Coast plants. Many more are native only to California. This sweetie blooms from now until early June, though if the plant is dead-headed it will send up a second, though less spectacular, blossom.
Boundary Line
Garden Path
I walked along a shaded path, drifting in and out of the shadows – sometimes held in the warmth of the sun, sometimes wrapped in the coolness of the breeze skipping off the water’s surface. And once I stopped and took in my deepest breath, the inhale of the sweetest scent of Spring, and stood silently, listening to the secrets of life whispering about me.
Flowers and Veggies
Another trip around the Capitol Square in Madison checking out the stalls at the Farmers’ Market.
Blanket-flowers (gaillardia) in a variety of colors – yellows, oranges, white and lavender. I picked up 8 of these annuals to fill in a space in my mostly perennial garden.
Even the onions are attractively displayed. I had to take a photo before I bought a bunch of green onions. A large population of Hmong farm and sell at the Dane County market, and the women vendors at this vegetable stall always have their produce arranged with an eye for an artistic presentation. Always a visit to satisfy many senses.
No flowers blooming yet, but the purple tags provided the color for this photograph, with lupine plants tucked in the background. More to plant – always.
Every Sunday is Green Thumb Sunday. Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers participate each Sunday; visit Green Thumb Sunday for more information.






