Midsummer celebrations

I hope all of you, who celebrate Midsummer, have enjoyed the festive time. This year, Midsummer was very special in Estonia, because the weather was soooo very good - a perfect night! Normally, when we have this outdoor big party, it's always raining or storming... But this year, the Weather Man was kind to us!

We had a very small celebration due to my up-coming PhD defence on Friday. We couldn't even go to Muhu, because I was afraid that maybe it would be stormy and I won't be able to come back from there in time... So we stayed at home. Since our neighbours, Aune and Andres, didn't have any plans either, then we gathered together and had our small Midsummer grill and fire. In the end, the fire wasn't that small!

We stayed up until 2 a.m. and the sun was just setting... the sky was red... so this is the lighest week in Estonia.

Photographing puppies

Today, it was the first time when I went to photograph the fox puppies. I must say I haven't even seen the fox puppies in wild nature before (until last week when we discovered the nest). They are still quite stupid young boys and are curious to see humans; however, really quick to move here and there and almost never stay still to be able to make a good photo. They are really funny! :) The mom is hunting every day until sunset, so we could go and observe them and not to be afraid that the mom would be angry at us. We left before she came back home with the food for her kids. Soon, the kids will be old enough to leave the nest.

Photographed by Karin, June 2009, Harju county, Estonia

USA Independence Day

Even when Independence Day of United States is coming on the 4th of July, the American Embassy in Estonia celebrates it usually a few weeks earlier. This year, the banquet was held in June 18, e.g. yesterday. I, of course, had the eternal question - what to wear? And no summer clothes were in consideration, because it was again one of the cold-almost-rainy summer days we have had very often in this June.

But the party itself was nice (excluding the fact that I should have had a big scarf to keep me warm) - starting with American Backyard Barbeque food (hamburgers:)) and ending with nice cute American cars...

Since it is an important event, then Estonian former and present Presidents took part of it, too (see photos).

Photo: The speech about American History.

Photo: American soldiers.

Photo: A beautiful cake...

Photo: I and Erik and cute red Mustang.

Photo: I and Erik's colleague Ahti.

Photo: Our President Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Photo: Our former President Arnold Rüütel

A small scout

Photographed by Erik, June 2009, Harju county, Estonia

Birthday cards

It's been a long time since I have posted any birthday-cards I've made this Spring. Surely my friends have had birthdays and here are some of the cards:

This card went for Ragnar and he is having his birthday actually today:

This card had some more versions and I sent them to a few of my friends, but I think those two went to Piret (the Estonian version) and to Heike (the English version):

The hepatica-card had two version, too, one went to my mom and another to Erik's uncle:

And this card was for my ex-boss Anu:

Our sweethearts

Spring in our garden - Vol III

Spring has gotten warmer and warmer and all the plants in our garden are now covered with leaves (except hydrangeas which are knows as late leafers). Many of my plants have already blossomed or doing it right now or will do it very soon... Spring is so lovely - day by day, it surprises you with so many different colours.

LILACS

Lilacs are one of my favourite bushes. These are probably the first bushes I ever remember from my childhood, because we had a lilac with lilac blossoms growing next to our fence in Muhu (and it's actually still there, I have no idea how old this bush is already...). In my garden, I have 6 lilac bushes all together, but most of them are still young (3 of them I got a couple of weeks ago from my friend Kristi's mom) - so therefore, I can show only the blossoms of two of the bushes - the lilac one with white edges is called "Sensation" and I have no idea what is the name of the white one since it was here before I moved in, and no records remained.

BLEEDING HEARTS
Bleeding heart is a flower which I, again, remember from my childhood. Our bleeding heart in Muhu is still in her best shape, it has been flowering each May for decades, and it's HUGE. My pink bleeding heart (a very common flower in the gardens of Estonian countryside) is only 2 years old, but she is already a very nice flower. I do have 2 others - a white one and a "beautiful" bleeding heart (Kaunis murtudsüda), with Latin name 'Decentra Formosa'. Dicentra spectabilis (Harilik murtudsüda)
Dicentra spectabilis "Alba" (Harilik murtudsüda "Alba")
Dicentra formosa (Kaunis murtudsüda)

ALMOND TREE

The blossoms of double flowering almond tree 'Prunus triloba' are just wonderful... It's one of the most amazing bloomers in early Spring in Estonia - the wonderful romantic pink blossoms come before the leaves and you just cannot stop admireing the little tree. Unfortunately the tree is growing in Estonia in its very north line, so it is not tolerating our cold winters (especially without snow) and has to be covered if one wants to see the blossoms in spring. So it's a lot of work with this bush, but to see its blossoms, it's totally worth it.

PRIMROSES

My collection of primroses has grown up to 8 spieces, three of them which I got from my friend Kristi's mom. They are all in different colours - red, lilac and yellow. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find out their species, yet; but additionally, I bought 2 more from a garden fair - Primula Farinosa and Primula Rosa.

TULIPS

I've already presented some early bloomers-tulips; but later ones were still on good shape just a few days ago - a yellow one, a nice white one with red and green stripes and several yellow tulips.

OTHER SPRING BLOOMERS IN MY GARDEN

Meadowsweet "Grefsheim" (Tuhkurenelas)
Snowball-tree "Aureum" (Villane lodjapuu)
Gypsophila (Kipslill)
The Dill Daisie (Hõbekakar) The blossom of June berry (Lamarck) (Lamarki toompihlakas)

Thunberg burberry "Harlequim" (Thunbergi kukerpuu)