I have several of these flowers in my front garden. I’ve always thought they were called “heliotrope”… but just recently learned I was wrong! I now believe it is actually “valerian” and it has such an amazing aroma with these blooms dancing on really tall stems. But when I came home from my bike ride this morning, one of the stems was broken and had fallen over. So I brought it inside, grabbed a tumbler and made this sweet little arrangement… and it STILL smells great!!!

Colorful clematis climbing & blooming in my front garden today! I would love for it to grow larger & produce more flowers… but “someone” may have planted it where it doesn’t get quite enough sun. Darn it!!!

New in the garden this morning… one of my peony bushes is finally blooming! And it’s the first year with a good number of blooms. So exciting… and the scent intoxicating!

Looks like my friend Rhonda has cut a few yellow flowers from her garden… some beautiful iris & a couple yellow peonies! Luckily, she had two of my square vases ready for simple arrangements. Thanks for sharing Rhonda… you know how I LOVE your yellow peonies!!!

Some of the beautiful iris that are currently blooming in my garden… kind of a pastel purple.
These have been in my garden for years… well-established & spreading every year!

So I remember buying this & planting it last Spring. Did I keep the tag?… of course not.
But I’m loving that it survived the Winter & is blooming in my garden right now on tall stems.
The plant looks kinda like a ‘columbine’ of some sort… but the flowers aren’t even close?!

UPDATE : Thanks to Tracy… apparently this is Columbine Meadow Rue

More flowers from the weekend art fair! Another stamped & soda-fired vase…
hoping that these have a bit more life in them! I think they’re a bit “sturdier” than lilies?!
I guess we’ll find out soon enough???

After a weekend in my art fair booth, I’m hoping that these white lilies might have a few more days of “pretty” in them?! They still smell great… so that’s a good start!!!

HUGE THANKS to everyone who came out to the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival this weekend. It was a beautiful weekend… as we avoided the overnight rains Saturday night. It was a wonderful weekend out in the park – the perfect setting with plenty of trees, the pond, a fountain & blue skies! A great start to my summer art fair season!