Fertilizer Friday -- Columbines, Hardy Geraniums, Lupines and Bees

I've been working in the garden this past week, pulling weeds, planting, and taking lots of pictures. The weather has been a little warmer, and a little less rainy. Mostly cloudy, with a little sun, and a shower every so often. We are edging ever so slowly into early summer (the solstice is only a week away!), but things are starting to flower so fast and furiously now, if I hesitate, I'm lost -- I can't keep up with posting about them. Maybe I should just post every day.

I have lots of different columbines blooming.

Lovely dark ones

Pale pastels

And everything in between:

The hardy Geraniums are flowering too, some heavily, some not so heavily.

Geranium 'Biokovo' and 'Biokovo Karmina'

Geranium 'Vision Light Pink' grown from seed last year

First hardy Geranium ever planted here, name unknown

Same Geranium planted with Armeria maritima

I have Lupines in several different shades also blooming.

 

The other day I watched a bee methodically making his way around the Lupine flowers.

 

Does anyone know if this is a bumblebee? I thought I remembered bumbles being fatter and slower. These guys zip all over, and have been dive-bombing my head if they think they are about to be disturbed in their pollen-gathering. They take off for home without the slightest care whether I am between them and their destination.

He moved on to a paler pink stand of Lupines.

 

My Oriental poppies are opening now, too, and not all at once. They are taking their time.

 

One blown poppy, hopefully this means there will be seeds in the future

What else is flowering?

Salvia 'East Friesland'

 

 Centranthus ruber, grown from seed last year

Dianthus 'Neon Star'

Astrantia

I have plenty more, mostly natives. So I'm going to save those for Wildflower Wednesday.

In the meantime, check out TootsieTime's Fertilizer Friday post for more wonderful flowers. I'm glad she posted early, because we are going to Vancouver tomorrow for a little weekend trip. I haven't been to Canada in about 30 years. We are scoping out the city for an Alaska cruise that we are taking in September to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. The ship leaves from Vancouver. We are thinking we won't let on that we are Bruins fans. Have you heard about the riots there after the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley cup finals? Scary.