Continuation

In my last post I mentioned what everyone else was doing,
but I forgot to say why I had my camera out.
 I was trying to capture some shots of one of my favorites in the garden.



Some of the shoots were in a jar on the table,

a mere copy of the little tree planted just beside the patio.

This dwarf lilac tree is one of the first to show off it's clusters of flower heads,
 soon after the camellia.
The first color that appears is a deep purple, fading in color as it opens,
 from a dark mauve to a lighter mauve.

I can never quite decide which stage I like best.

Once the blooms open, there is only a small window of time to enjoy them. This photo was taken a few days later, from our eating area window. It was a late afternoon and drizzling . . . giving the garden a lush look . . . but also a reminder that the season for this tree is almost over.

Soon the faded blooms will need to be removed
 and by Fall this little tree will need a few good prunes to keep it small.
Small is good.
But it takes pruning.