Lightning strikes twice in our yard

About 4 years ago, lightning hit one of the two big pines in our back yard.  It travelled through the ground into the house.  It knocked out a basement window.  It killed a printer.  I was amazed that more was not damaged.  It happened in September.  We waited until the next spring to decide if it would survive or not.  We ended up having the top 10 feet or so removed and left the rest of the tree up.

1st tree was hit 3 or 4 years ago by lightning

2nd pine tree to be hit by lightning

large strips of bark laying in the yard

Last night lightning hit the other pine tree.  I hope they survive.  The first one looks a bit worn but still strong.  The second tree seems to be missing some bark but in pretty good shape.  I guess time will tell.

<^..^> Lori

More flowers are blooming in my yard

I decided to take pictures as flowers started blooming in the yard to remind me of the beauty long after it fades away.

yellow Coreopsis

Johnson's Blue Geranium and orange Tiger Lily

<^..^> Lori

Lovely flowers are blooming in the yard

I have a few varieties of peonies in the yard that are so pretty this time of the year.  You can see the pink pewter nettles are blooming next to this peonie.

I didn't plan those peonies.  They have been in the yard for many, many years.  Our house is 113 years old.  The original owner planted those peonies.

Here are some flowers blooming that I did plant with one exception which is the climbing rose.  It was planted by the people we bought the house from so I think they were planted between 1994 and 1997.

My secret sister from church gave me the lovely basket of pink impatiens I have hanging over some chives, sage, and mint.  Those last 3 plants all bloom in purple.  I tend to lump same colors together.  It is so unintentional and irritating to me.  I want a variety of colors but over the years the plants die out and I end up left with all the same colors in the same areas.  I could plant more flowers but I am trying not to spend a lot of money on the yard.  Maybe next year or I will find someone that wants to do a trade on plants.  

Clematis on a trellis.

 I don't know the real name of this ground cover but my friend that gave me the start called it Bishop's weed.

Blaze is the name of this climbing rose.

 Yellow coreopsis I planted a few years ago is starting to spread.  Behind it is white candy tuff which is trying hard to take over.  It choked out my lovely purple phlox.

I missed getting pictures of the lilacs this year.  They were so fragrant.  There were not as many blooms as in past years but they were pretty.

<^..^> Lori