I feel very "behind" on some of my blogging topics. I nearly missed the lupins altogether in June! The patch I usually visit and photograph was just "not itself" this year, there are usually huge swaths with many colours, and this year there were very few. Winterkill? I don't know. Or perhaps it's just the normal progression of things.. lupins are short-lived as a perennial in your garden, so maybe they die out too in their wild setting? Did anyone else notice fewer lupins this year, or was I just not looking hard enough?
I do love lupins though, and did manage to find some to feed my obsession... I know Sara in Finland has been waiting patiently to see my annual lupin photos... that's what brought her to my blog in the first place! Imagine - a friendship over thousands of miles, all because of lupin photos! So here you go Sara- just for you. I'm afraid they're not up to my usual lupin standard, but maybe they'll be better next year... (I have used a few photos from my archives to round out the collages.)
Do drop by Sara's blog here to say Hello - she has some wonderful lupin photos for you to enjoy as well here, here and here.
Peace,
Linda
"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty." ~ John Ruskin
12 comments:
Hello, dear Linda! Your wonderful post brought the sunshine to my very rainy morning. The lupins here are now battered by rain and many stems bend down...
There are lovely colours in your photos and mosaics. Perhaps the shades in the second photo are my favourites. I'm indeed very happy to have found your blog, for your lupins, but not only! As you know, I'm crazily in love with your Crazy Quilting. :)
Hares seem to like lupins too, unfortunately, and there are other enemies as well. This year I have started creating a new area of white lupins. Someone cuts the tiny stems, protected by wire fencing, but doesn't eat the leaves. An insect perhaps?
Lupins are beautiful, sweet-smelling, and easy to grow. Till we meet again! Twelve months will go faster than we think, stitching, gardening, taking photos, and visiting blogging friends.
Big hugs from Finland! ♥♥♥
Just beautiful, I have some growing on my property and I covet them! Great pics!
What a stunning sight Linda with the jewelled colours of your lupins. I have not been able to grow them until Pam sent me some NB seeds and one finally germinated. I'm hoping it will seed around and come back next year.
I met Sara through your blog a while back and we share a love of gardening and trees. She has become a favourite blogging sister to visit.
Oddly enough, last year was our bad lupine/lupin year. This year, they were much better and, though I admired them, I didn't photograph them. Thank you for doing that! Off to visit Sara...
Lovely lupine, so of my favorite colors.
We saw a whole bunch in Moncton on St. George Blvd coming off Wheeler near Moncton Wesleyan. HUGE amount. Sadly didn't hop out to get any pics!
I love lupins and enjoy seeing them blooming along our road. I did notice that the field of them nearby wasn't as thick with them as other years then the owner decided to mow it all down the other day before they were barely gone to seed. Not sure what his plan is but I hope they get to grow again next year. At least I got pictures! I enjoy Sara's blog.
My lupins were beautiful this year. Then I saw a sticky whites residue on the leaves and the whole plant started to die. This quickly spread to all the other lupins in our garden (and there were a lot of them.) We looked on=line to see if there was any remedy, but we couldn't find anything, so with much sorrow we dug them all up and burned them. Once we have organically treated the soil I will resow with pest deterrent seeds, and hope it works, as lupins are one of my favourite English Country Flowers Blessings
I agree that our local display wasn't up to the usual standard. We had lower density, so less vibrant colours because of that. I even travelled both south and east during our peak times and wondered if I had missed peak season, but I don't think I had. I guess it makes a great year for them all the more special, doesn't it?
Perhaps your weather wasn't to their liking? I can't grow Lupins because of our climate :( I've had foxgloves which are similar, but they go all leggy and spindly. My bulbs have been fantastic this year. One of the places they grow is in the bed alongside out front path, and you come to our front door through their heady perfume. Love it.
I do live lupine and your photos are so beautiful! It's funny and comforting to follow all of natures seasonal growth. Since I've been blogging and art making it has become a habit to watch for all the familiar friends.
I've picked lupine here and noticed lots on the island this week. Maybe they just shift locations depending on conditions.
What's not to love about lupines, well, except for their short lives and short bloom time. I hardly ever see them anywhere anymore. Anywhere I have seen them they have all reverted to that pale bluish purple color. Hmmmm.
They are such a beautiful bloom.
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