No Deadheading

Well it is the end of summer and seeds are ripening. I was removing some plants spilled into the walkways this morning and noticed, after I had been working for some time, a  busy goldfinch nearby taking little notice of me. Usually they are so shy.

I decided to take a chance and go for the camera. Sure enough, when I returned, he was still there.  

Not only do they provide food, but the flowers have there own distinct beauty at this time of year. In this case, Mr Goldfinch is being very selective.

"No deadheading please. We'll take care of the preliminaries for you," he seemed to say.

Well, I'm choosing to feed the birds and there will be 

in this garden for a while.

Keepsakes

 Everything is new again with Noah.

Keepsakes from when Rachel was a baby are for Noah now.

Have a brandied peach coke for your trip down memory lane.

We must always have old memories and new hopes. Arsène Houssaye

Male Blue Dasher Dragonfly

Male Blue Dasher Dragonfly

With water gardens, comes a host of beautiful creatures brought ever closer to our attention with our macro shots where we can see detail better than in person actually. Roger passed this capture on to me.  


The male Blue Dasher, with his pruinose blue tail raised high either as a threat or to combat high temperature, has a black tipped tail. His large compound eyes are green and he has a white face that distinguishes him from similar looking dragonflies. His clear wings may have an amber cast close to his thorax  The blue may develop over the top of his thorax, as well, but the sides appear vertically striped with black and yellow.  The Blue Dasher may typically position his wings forward and down while resting. The one pictured looks like he's adjusting his wings upon landing. You may see one soon.


Learn about the very different female Blue Dasher here.

Trellis the Sprawl

Should you, for some reason, have spindly lilies sprawling or leaning into walkways, a good temporary solution is a wire trellis.

There is plenty of room to ease them into position without damaging the plants.

Flowers previously facing the ground and potential victims of the weed eater or lawn mower are now visible for your enjoyment.

But who will watch my lilies, When their blossoms open white? By day the sun shall be sentry, And the moon and the stars by night!  Bayard Taylor

Half White Doe With Fawn

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,

My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;

Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,

My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go


Robert Burns

Magically Delicious

I'm almost as enthusiastic about dinnerware as I am plants. I added square chef plates to my collection of Eat On Art on the way home from visiting Noah.

Lately, I always find myself in the baby boy department. Lucky me just in time for a sale.

$3.48 More later. You know I bought more than one.

Hubby shopped on our way to visit Noah also. He is more interested in things to go on those plates. Fresh peaches do not last long around here.

I awoke this morning to find they had magically turned into a pie.

 Chef Roger is a great magician. You can find the recipe here to practice your own magic.

Foodie Friday

Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.  

Mother Teresa

Rudbeckia

Surprise Lily, Resurrection Lily, Naked Ladies

Lycoris squamigera

No trouble bulbs that have beautiful pink blossoms in the middle of summer. Plant them and forget them. Their noses should be planted just beneath the surface.

These bulbs can take a lot more cold that most people think. Since the foliage comes up with daffodil foliage, I have mine planted where they get winter sun and are well drained. Mulching would probably be a good idea in colder zones. Our coldest Zone 6 winter was last year and mine were not mulched and came up bigger and better than ever. We usually don't get much snow here so the foliage is never covered completely or for very long. After a few years, the foliage can become very lush, robust, and about two feet tall.

 

When they bloom they are in dappled shade.

Here is a picture of Christmas hiding in the Lycoris foliage earlier this year (April). Learn more about Lycoris from the Pacific Bulb Society. The foliage dies back in June about the time my daylilies begin to bloom.

Succession planting here is daffodils, daylilies, Oriental lilies, Southern Shield Fern, Naked Ladies.

I have noticed the terrestrial Eastern Box Turtle a couple of times lately. His red eye and concave underside denotes male.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. John Muir