Flowers Make Me Happy

In the field on the corner of our property, I planted some sunflowers. Some little critter ate the seeds, and I again planted sunflowers. This process was repeated 3-4 times, and finally a few sunflowers sprouted and grew. I love to look up and see the big happy yellow flowers against the bright blue sky. The day I took this picture it was very windy, and some nice fluffy white clouds were floating by. I thought I had better get a picture while the opportunity was there, as the birds have already begun helping themselves to one of their favorite meals-sunflower seeds.

Diagonally across the field are the cosmos that I planted in the corner of the field. They were blowing in the breeze, and the temperatures were perfect as I walked past the wild flowers and got a few pictures of their pretty pink, fuchsia and white blooms.

It would not have been right to not include a couple photos of the lovely wildflowers that are growing in our pasture field. Below are pictures of a type of milkweed ( which is the host plant for the monarch butterfly) and the royal purple iron weed.

Sunday evening as we were out for a drive we saw the balloons from Centralia's Balloonfest.
They had not been able to fly earlier in the weekend, due to the winds, but filled the sky with bright colors, and interesting shapes. I was fascinated by the 2 bees that are separate balloons, but they met in the air, and then floated in their own directions. They were so sweet, must have been "honey bees."

This morning when I got up and saw the sunshine, and remembered the morning glories on our fence, I knew it was time to take a walk and get a picture before they close their petals for the day. I love all the flowers, but morning glories are one of the first flowers I have a memory of. As a child, we always had a garden. Actually, we always had 2 gardens, one planted early and one later, and one of my jobs was to help hoe in the garden. I remember seeing the little morning glories blooming in the rows and I knew Mom wanted them cut out, and I felt it would be more appropriate to pick the flowers first, and put them in a vase before cutting down the plant. I always loved the blue morning glories, and I do understand now how they can take over the other crops, and can be considered "weeds" by some, to me they truly are "glorious".

Yes, it was a wonderful morning to soak in the sunshine, and spend time among the morning glories. I hope you too have enjoyed my journey.

A Horse is a Horse, Of Course, Of Course

"Okay, Blue-eyes, just smile for the camera and then she will go away," the gray mare whispered into S.S. Silverlace's ear.

What a fun day it was discovering different horses, their personalities, and surroundings. I did have my favorites, and the white one below, I nicknamed "Freckles" is about 27 years young and such a photogenic soul. I have never spent much time around horses, although I did have one memorable incident around 10 years old, while spending the afternoon at a friend's house, who spent all her waking hours with their horses. She convinced me to ride a horse with her across their pasture field. She put an English saddle on mine, and I knew nothing about riding a horse. When we got into the field, both of our horses took off in a gallop and then across a small ditch and I was trying to hold on for dear life. When she finally got our horses stopped, and me calmed down, I decided what I liked best about horses was brushing them, talking to them, and giving them treats, from on the ground, not on their backs.

One of my favorite horses~

We were going from one barn to another, while listening to the stories of each of the horses by their caregiver, and as we approached the entry to the next building, their "guard-cat" was holding the gate shut. Of course, who could resist such a pose? Not I!

When we got inside, we got to see the perfect epitome of youth! This little colt had more energy than you can imagine. When he and his mom were let outside, he ran in a gallop and kicked up dust galore. It was quite a show! You can just see his high-spiritedness in his eyes!

No posting about horses would be complete without this 30 year old beautiful addition. Even with cockleburs in its mane and bridle, from roaming the pasture with the cattle, doesn't it steal your heart?

"Yes, I decided to start a new trend and wear one blue and one brown contact today. Looks great, right?"

This handsome fellow's name is Cherokee. He was the instigation for our trek to photograph horses. I had seen him a couple years ago and thought he was so distinguished that I wanted to see him again. After talking with the man that had had him, we learned where he lives, and went to see him. He certainly is well-cared for and living the "life of Riley". ( Side note: Does everyone remember that TV show? I just vaguely do, but somehow remember it was a comedy! Blast from the past!!)

One last footnote, to today's journey. As I took my daily walk to the mailbox, I spotted the cutest little terrapin. He was all shiny and clean from the morning's rain, except he had the biggest mess on his face around his mouth, as he had been eating white mushrooms/toadstools. I did not have my camera!!! But it was a picture! Have a wonderful day, and Enjoy your Journey!

A Walk to the Mailbox

Six days a week I take a walk to the mailbox. It is such a delightful journey, and makes for an exercise routine, that although not very extensive, yet it is pretty consistent. Each day as I stroll to the mailbox, I see so much beauty, and it is always an uplifting trip. Many days I take my camera along and capture a few images of the day's highlights. I wanted to share some of Wednesday's scenes, and hope that they bring a smile to your face, as you imagine the butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, and listen for the quail in the distance with his "bob-white" call.

This little flower is called "snow-on-the-mountain". One of our neighbors gave me seeds to start this plant, and this is the second year it has returned. I love the dainty little blooms and the white-on-white coloring of flowers and leaves. It grows just down from our mailbox, and can be seen in the above photo just to the left of the flag.

These are the lantana planted beneath the mailbox, and they were being visited by a monarch butterfly.

My zinnias are a favorite place for the butterflies to gather and partake of the different colored blooms. This is a spicebush swallowtail butterfly. I am just now learning to identify the different butterflies, and have found a website that is very helpful. It is www.gardenswithwings.com . You can put in the wing color, and other identifying marks, and it brings up pictures of various species to compare your butterfly and see what kind it is.

In the corner of our pasture field I have planted some cannas and sunflowers. I love the big blooms on the sunflowers and know that my days for photographing them is limited, as the birds will soon be dining on the seeds. They are such happy flowers. This year it was difficult getting them started, as some little critter ate the seeds before they could sprout. After 3 plantings I finally succeeded in getting a few to grow. They are very showy above the red cannas.

Here is a silver-spotted skipper on a fuchsia colored zinnia. That website is a big help!

I planted this bittersweet about 7 years ago. Last year was its first year to have berries. I do have another plant (which I assume is a male) as it has not had any berries. I am hoping it becomes more fruitful so I can gather the vines and berries for a wreath in the fall.

One more butterfly, appropriately lit on a butterfly bush. This is a swallowtail butterfly, and a very friendly one, I must add.

Before walking back inside the house, with mail in hand, and camera around my neck, this lovely single blossomed rose-of-sharon caught my eye, and I knew I had to take its picture. It is a bush I brought from my Mom's yard and somehow it managed to bloom without the beetles discovering it. I have some purple ones too, but love this white with the deep red center. Thank you for walking with me to get the mail, and I hope you Enjoyed our Journey.

"Let Me Tell You 'Bout the Birds and the Bees.."

Our pileated woodpecker

Yesterday afternoon when we returned from town, I looked over to the east of our house in the front yard and saw this rare pileated woodpecker. I did have my camera with me, and cautiously, quietly I tried to get it out of the bag. I managed to get some pictures, and am thrilled that we have this species of woodpecker right here in our yard, and I got to see it.

We do have lots of bees this year. They are busy in the flower beds, but also have been buzzing around our hummingbird feeders. Here some on the coneflowers.

Let me introduce you to this little bird, which has taken up residence in our woodland since April. He is a summer tanager. His mate is a muted yellow. They are very friendly and talk a lot. Their favorite food in our bird garden is the suet. We have really enjoyed them and hope they return next year (or stay through the winter.)

"Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come." --Chinese proverb

Don't you just love the Sweet Peas! I love the pretty pink ones and their cute little tendrils that curl around the fence to hold on and climb. This one is growing behind our flower garden and is extra-special as it came from Leon's Grandma Harned's home place.

And last but not least, is a picture of these "Naked Ladies" which have been dancing all around our yard.They can be seen where you would least expect them . Over night they seem to jump up on their long slender legs and like pretty ballerinas sway in the breeze and move to the sound of the birds and the bees.

Enjoy your journey through the last few weeks of summer and take time to examine the flowers, and listen to the birds and bees.