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My favorite Clematis is Clematis jackmanii. It is certainly one of the most common, but in full bloom there is nothing common about this profuse blooming climber. Surely it is one of the loveliest!

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When the roses are blooming, I want to enjoy them inside and out. One of my favorite arrangements is a simple handful of the same color of roses.

Because I live in a tree-lined neighborhood without an extravagant amount of sun, my roses tend to be short stemmed. They do however make the sweetest cottage bouquets.  Their spicy, lemony, rosy perfumes fill my home.

I know summer is here when the fragrance of roses fills the air inside and out!

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Every year it is a celebration when the roses bloom on the front side-walk trellis. The City of York white roses cover the whole trellis, but this year the David Austin roses of gold, corals and pink intertwined high up the sides to show off their beauty and add to the bouquet of fragrance.  The beauty and fragrance were intoxicating.

The roses are lovely, but my favorites are the three darlings; Maddie and Elle and my Caitlin taking the time to smell the roses.

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Bleeding hearts line the path and steps along the east side of the house. There are the classic large blooming pink and white flowers, pure white ones and modest pale pink, wild bleeding hearts filling in between.

I love the contrast of bleeding heart blooms with the fresh new leaves of the hostas. There is also a brilliant fuchsia azalea in the background that just matches and repeats the pink of bleeding hearts. These blossoms herald the spring and take us into summer!

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On my walk early this morning I photographed these peony buds. These images express the concept of expectancy as well as anything I know.

And in the now; the tender edges, pink veins and revealed folds of deep pink petals have no equal in beauty. It is possible to miss them, but we discover them in the careful focus and attention to detail.