It's lupine season again!

The Maine Lupine has actually been in full bloom for a couple weeks now... far ahead of schedule at least in comparison from last year (the only year I can use as a reference). I do not mind this at all because we're heading back to visit Iowa soon and I was actually fretting about missing the Lupine! Yes, I'm loopy for lupine.

Anyway, this photo is from last year but it's a good representation of the splendor of lupine...

Lupine grows abundantly in the ditches, through the forest, across the rolling meadows, and is well represented in cultivated gardens as well. I love it. When it blows in the wind it sort of wobbles and jiggles all around in a goofy fashion. I absolutely love the blues but there are also pink, red, and white varieties as well.

Mainers pronounce it "loopin'" ... I can't help but say "loo-pine" which  makes me sound even more like I'm 'from away' but I don't mind if Mainers don't.

I'm so glad I didn't miss the lupine before we head back to Iowa! I used to feel this way about missing the crabapple blossoms in Iowa... we always seemed to be out of town when our huge amazing crabapple tree in our back yard was bloomed out.... and also during the 10 day span that Iowa seems to be in peak fall foliage.

I guess I'm just attached to my surroundings and it feels good to be getting that way with my new home as well. It's fun that we now can look back on 'this time last year' which we constantly seem to be doing.

All that said, we're beside ourselves excited to go home to Iowa in a couple weeks. As much as we love Maine and are happy to be here, there's just simply no place like home.