• Plants & Happiness

    Green Scene of the Day: Relaxing Summer Blooms

    Spiraea and Alstroemeria, Green Scene of the Day: Relaxing Summer Blooms, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2022/07/06/summer-blooms/(opens in a new tab), #summerblooms #plants #greenscene #greenleisure #spiraea #alstroemeria #flowers #summer #butterflies

    For today’s green scene of the day, I’ve chosen an image from my garden. My Crispa spiraea (Spiraea x bumalda ‘Crispa’) is an unusual spiraea because it grows these crinkly, toothy leaves, which is very unlike a spiraea. But what it shares with other spiraeas are those gorgeous summer blooms. Butterflies love their flat umbels. I also find this shrub sooo alluring. Plants Popping Through Each Other The spiraea all by itself is pretty darn cool but my peach Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria) are pretty heavenly too. They often poke through…

  • Daily Stress ReLeaf,  Plants & Happiness

    #17 A Bee on a Wildflower Is Wonderful Stress ReLeaf

    Bee on a Black-eyed Susan, A Bee on a Wildflower Is Wonderful Stress ReLeaf, Daily Stress ReLeaf, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2021/03/02/bee on a wildflower/(opens in a new tab), #freewildflowers #wildflowers #bees #dailystressreleaf #spring #plants #gardening #seeds #free

    You know how in summer you might notice a bee on a wildflower, collecting pollen and getting nectar? Usually the temperature’s warm and the sun’s out. The flower glows with color. You may hear a faint buzz, the song of birds. At that moment, you often feel a brief interlude of neutral relaxation. Calmness permeates the air. All is right in the world. Nature’s at work. It’s a peaceful time to cherish and a lovely slice of stress relief. Spring Giveaway So in anticipation of this summer, I’m once again…

  • Daily Stress ReLeaf,  Plants & Happiness

    #12 Memories of Summer Make Winter Fade For a While

    Purple Iris, Memories of Summer Make Winter Fade For a While, Daily Stress Releaf, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2021/02/25/memories-of-summer/ #iris #plants #dailystressreleaf #relaxation #perennials #destressing

    Today I hit a wall. It’s still rainy and cold in Seattle and I couldn’t deal with the gloom. Do you ever get that trapped feeling at this time of year? You feel like spring should be coming but it isn’t quite. So I started just flat out daydreaming of blue skies and warm sun, what my mood would be like right now if I were on a tropical beach. Who am I kidding, my mood would be awesome. Then I realized I did have those blue skies and sun…

  • Plants & Gardening

    The Easy-to-Grow Wonderful Hydrangea

    Purple Hydrangea, The Easy-to-Grow Wonderful Hydrangea, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2019/08/27/hydrangea/ #hydrangeas #shrubs #flowers #gardening #easytogrowshrubs #deciduous #garden #latesummer #blooms

    If you’re new to gardening and don’t know what to plant, consider a hydrangea. I’ve been thinking about them as mine are in bloom now in late summer. They’re graceful in form, not difficult to grow, and decorate the garden with profuse, showy flowers. Here are five reasons I love them. They’re easy-to-grow in most U.S. gardens Unlike some shrubs that need just-the-right conditions, hydrangeas are versatile. They’re hardy from zones 2-9 so almost any gardener in the U.S. or even Canada can grow them. They tolerate heavy or sandy…

  • Plants & Gardening

    A Stargazer Hydrangea to Gaze at

    Stargazer Hydrangea, A Stargazer Hydrangea to Gaze at, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2019/05/20/stargazer-hydrangea/ #gardening #plants #shrubs #hydrangeas #stargazer #garden

    This Sunday was sunny and warm, the kind of Sunday where you just want to set up a lounge chair and read a book. Instead, I worked in the garden. I weeded for a while and then transplanted my Stargazer hydrangea, a lovely pink shrub with pointed flowers.