Yesterday we had to drive back to Michigan to get a few things that it turned out we needed. So, getting up a little earlier than usual we drove with my dad to the plant where we works to get our other car. In the parking lot we switched cars and left immediately for the house in Michigan.
The drive back took just under 4 hours, which was alright. It didn't feel that long, though everyone was a little tired.
We got to Michigan in record time, finished a few errands and stopped by the house to retrieve the forgotten items and drove back to Chicago.
We got back at a good time, about 7:30 and picked my dad up at work.
When we got back to our neighborhood in Michigan we could see our landscaping from the entrance! Everything was a in full bloom, the trees had leafed out fully and the woods behind us were thick with deep green foliage.
So while we took a short break before getting back into the car, I walked around the house to take pictures since dad couldn't go with us.
There are many, many strawberries growing, still green, hanging beneath the leaves. And many more flowers. Though all the fruit will go to the birds as their the only ones there to pick them. The raspberries too.
That's the only thing I miss, the gardens.

Weigela flowers.

 The roses.

Irises that we transplanted from my grandmother's gardens.

The thyme growing as a ground cover, you can cook with it too.

The smoke tree, in full bloom. This in one of my favorite trees because of the deep colored leaves (purple is my favorite color).

Violets. They can nearly conquered the area around the lantern, they seem to be more invasive than the mint!

The chives' light purple blossoms are beautiful, though they smell like onions.

 Ichigo! The strawberries have filled their bin and are spilling out of it, spreading the ground beneath the pear tree and in between the cracks of the walkway.

Future raspberries.

Even the geraniums have sprouted this year, intertwined with the mint.

The mint has spread splendidly, though that cursed fungas Septoria leafspot is back. I can't win. I don't know what to do. Should I give up? Or try something else?

This mass of green is the lavender stretching itself outward which will be the sweet smelling flowers.

Growing together nicely, it looks all the hard work we did last year has paid off! In no time there will be no room left.

じゃね。
また長いのを書いちゃったな…