A New Appreciation

The poppy has been gorgeous, but like the peonies it is a fleeting beauty. I noticed this evening that the petals had already begun to drop.


I usually sit on the patio swing in the mornings, but yesterday morning my husband and I decided to sit on the front porch to enjoy our coffee. The curbside trees in our front yard are in bloom.



I noticed quite a few butterflies at the tree. After I finished my coffee and conversation, I quickly grabbed my camera to get some pictures.



I have no idea what kind of tree this is, I've searched and can't identify it. Maybe a Linden tree? It is very fragrant with a strong sweet smell. Do any of you know what it is?



There were several Red Admirals on the trees. I am excited to see so many butterflies this year! I saw precious few last year and I missed them.


I can't believe that I had never noticed the pollinators on this tree before now. I never really liked the two trees so I payed very little attention to them. Every spring I would be disappointed because the city placed these in front of my house rather than some of the prettier
spring flowering trees that all of my neighbors have.


These little bugs look like lightening bugs and they were all over the tree mating.



The bees were covered in pollen!

After today my opinion of the two trees is totally different. I have a new appreciation for them and I'm so glad that I have trees in my yard that attract so many wonderful pollinators.

Thank you all for you comments, regarding my parents. Your thoughts and prayers for them mean so much to me. My mother is continuing to improve but her recovery will be long and difficult. Please keep her in your prayers.

I hope everyone is enjoying this Memorial Day weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Yesterday's Walk in the Garden

I went outside Friday morning to fill the bird feeders and take a walk around the yard. Of course I had my camera with me! A couple of the Japanese anemone buds had opened! This is my first year to have this flower in the garden.

The hummingbirds are still here. I'm seeing quite a bit of activity at the feeders. They must be fattening up in preparation for their flight south.

I saw the neighbor's cat prowling around in the yard heading toward the bird feeders. I stepped into the garden to get closer to the sunflowers and just as I was taking a step I noticed the preying mantis peeking up over the lamb's ear.




While the butterflies have been scarce, I've had bees in abundance this year. For that I'm grateful!



I love to see the pollen covered bees!

We had a lot of rain yesterday, so the ground should be nice and soft, (hopefully not too wet). I hope to be able to do some much needed edging and weeding in the garden today. I did quite a bit last weekend but I have so much more to do.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

It has been a beautiful day today and thankfully much cooler than the last few. I spent a little while this evening just walking around and checking on things in the garden. I must have a chipping sparrow nest in my arborvitae because these chipping sparrows were quite busy going in and out of it. They are such sweet little birds and stayed close by while I walked by the arborvitae. They were so close and I was trying not to move too much, so the pictures aren't very clear. I'll have to try again another day. I've not been able to get a good picture of the hummingbirds either. I have volunteer sunflowers growing and they are blocking the view from the patio. You can barely see him between the leaves.


The Japanese beetles are back...enough said.


I don't know what kind of critter this is, but it has been on the lambs ear for several days. It chases away the bumble bees and flies in a frenzied and angry pattern. Anyone know what it is.



The first sunflower has opened and now the liatris is beginning to bloom. I had such an annoying cough today and stayed home all day, I rested and read and watched for wildlife in the backyard. I was disappointed that I didn't see a single butterfly. Hopefully soon.


I love Verbena bonariensis and welcome it in my garden, but this is ridiculous! I've had it in my garden for about six years and it has always been very well behaved and actually is a perennial in one area of my yard. For some reason it is out of control this year and it's coming up all over the place. They are like weeds! As much as I love it, I can't have it smothering other perennials and plants. Maybe if the butterflies were all over the place and bringing me pleasure I might tolerate it, but since they aren't, some of it has got to go!

I spotted my first dragonfly in the garden today. I quietly stepped outside and snapped a few pictures. I wanted to get on the other side and get a better picture of it, but the movement startled it and it flew away. I've seen some really amazing pictures of dragonflies and damselflies on other blogs. They are such interesting creatures. Hopefully next time I'll be on the right side of the garden for picture taking.

The black-eyed Susans are in bloom. They are like little rays of sunshine in the garden. They instantly cheer me up.

The bee population has exploded and bees are all over the place right now. I don't mind the big ol' bumble bees or the honey bees, but there are also wasps and some kind of angry looking bee that keeps chasing away the bumble bees. I've wondered if killer bees are this far north!

I'm still on the lookout for butterflies. I've seen only a few of them so far. A monarch and black swallowtail quickly fluttered by but didn't land on anything. The butterfly weed and bee balm are passing their prime, I hope they show up soon.

Bee on Bee Balm

Bees on Echinacea

I've not been seeing many bees or butterflies in my garden. It's been a rainy and unseasonably cool spring, that may be a factor. I was pleased to finally see a few bumblebees this morning. Maybe the butterflies won't be too far behind.

Every once in a while I see a hummingbird sip from the feeder and off they go. They aren't staking claim to them yet. Hoping this will change soon too.


Me and Nell, November 2004

Yesterday I was back at the Emergency Room with Nell all day. It seems that the fracture in her shoulder from the fall two months ago is worse and has splintered. No one at the nursing home seems to know what what caused this new injury. I am taking her to see an orthopedic surgeon next week. She is so fragile and frail right now, I just don't know how she will be able to handle surgery. At this stage in her Alzheimer's it is so difficult to transport her, everything frightens her, especially removing her from her familiar surroundings. Ambulance rides and strangers, (really anyone) touching her are quite upsetting. It is so sad and depressing to see her like this. Alzheimer's is such a terrible disease.

Hanging In There

I went to Cool Creek Park a few days ago to walk the trails and observe the birds and wild life from the nature center. They are having summer camp there and lots of little hand prints were on the glass, in fact, it was nearly impossible to get a picture from the windows due to the smudges. This was the only window shot that turned out even half-way decent. There was a hawk sitting in a nearby tree and the squirrels were laying low and the bird activity came to a screeching halt.


This squirrel picture reminds me of our situation right now, as we are just hanging in there waiting to see what happens next. Right now, things are looking very good. My husband has had two job interviews that have gone very well. He also has a couple of other interviews lined up for next week. We are hoping to hear something positive in the next week or two. Please continue praying.

(You can click on the pictures to enlarge them!)
I sat outside yesterday morning trying to get pictures of the hummingbirds. Every time I would lay my books aside and pick up the camera they would zip away. They were so fast! They are such curious creatures! As I sat on the swing one of them flew right up to my face to check me out. I wish I could have gotten that picture! Amy, From High And Dry commented a few days ago that one had done the same thing to her husband. She said, "Would you believe that tonight my husband had a hummingbird fly right up to him and hover in front of his face, about an inch from his nose? They looked at each other for a bit and then the bird flew away. Amazing! Wish I'd been there to see it." That is exactly what this one did to me, Amy.


The bumblebees are interesting to watch on the petunias; instead of going inside the flower, they go to the base and cut the flower.

When I stepped outside yesterday morning there were several ducks in my back yard. I guess it is the momma duck that frequented my yard early spring. She came back and brought her young with her.

Crossing the street and heading back to the pond.

The goldfinches are enjoying the sunflowers. They'll soon be feasting on the large sunflowers that are about to bloom. They were scarce for a while, so I'm very glad to have something during the summer that is drawing them to the yard. Usually in the fall they eat the seeds from the echinacea, cosmos and zinnias, so I rarely deadhead my flowers.

Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Early yesterday morning I sat on the swing reading, well, I sat on the swing attempting to read. It was kind of hard to read with a hummingbird close-by. This one was very busy guarding the feeder and was flitting around chasing all the birds away. It didn't even want the sparrows in the yard. Here is the shot before cropping...

and here is the shot after cropping.

I'm beginning to see more of them now, usually they come early in the morning and in the evening.

Another sunflower bloomed by the birdbath. There have been several of these already and they all seem to bend towards the water as if they are gazing at their reflection.

Last year I tried so hard to get a good picture of the delicate flower on the sweet potato vine, but never could get one. I don't know why it is so hard to capture. I still can't get a good closeup shot.

Yesterday was a very good day for butterflies. I saw monarchs...

a painted lady...

and the red admiral.



I think something was wrong with this bumblebee. It never moved away even though I had my camera within inches of it.

I went to Cool Creek Park a few days ago and saw this posted on the bathroom wall, I thought it was fitting for today's post.

The bee is not afraid of me,
I know the butterfly;
The pretty people in the woods
Receive me cordially.

The brooks laugh louder when I come,
The breezes madder play.
Wherefore, mine eyes, thy silver mists?
Wherefore, O summer's day?

Emily Dickinson

A New Camera and a BIG Thank you!

I wanted start off by thanking you all for your kind words, your thoughts and especially your prayers regarding my husband's job loss. The initial shock has worn off and a deep sense of sadness has taken its place. We are trying to have faith and not give in to fear. A little fear is good, however, because it tends to make us very proactive.



My husband traveled frequently and always put expenses on his Rewards card. He graciously let me use the reward points on my photography hobby. Last year I used them for a 75-300mm lens for my Sony Alpha 100. My beloved Sony F717 was not performing very well anymore and I wanted a new camera to replace it. I recently purchased a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 and it was delivered right about the time that we found out about the job loss. Needless to say, my enthusiasm about the new camera was dampened.





This afternoon I tried to nap but soon became restless. Instead, I went outside with my new camera and sat in the swing. There is something very satisfying to me about holding a camera in my hands. I love the way it feels. Taking pictures is far more restful and refreshing to me than a nap. I'm sure that may sound strange to some people, and I can't explain it myself. Hopefully I'm not totally crazy and there are a few others who love photography who might understand. Anyway, I sat there swinging and watching for anything that might catch my eyes. There really wasn't much going on. Just a few bumblebees and a brief glimpse of an American painted lady.

This bumblebee was huge!

I took a few pictures of the flowers. I marveled at how different and interesting the flowers on the echinacea looked.

This is my favorite container planting.

The highlight of the afternoon was seeing this large dragonfly land on the 'Veronica' speedwell. It flew around the garden several times and would light on this every time. I wonder if it was the color, the stalk, or something else that attracted him to this particular plant.

I'm still learning the camera and it has been so windy that it has been difficult to get good, clearly focused pictures, but so far, I think I'm going to enjoy it. It has a 15x optical zoom lens which is equivalent to 465mm. This will come in handy for capturing pictures of birds. Now I'm getting antsy for a field trip!

I hope you all have a marvelous Monday!

Bumblebee and Grosbeak

Yesterday was a little cool, but thankfully the sun was shining. I have a cold right now and feel lousy, but I was determined to work outside anyway. I transplanted some daisies and lambs ear. I did some much needed weeding and planted a few of the plants that were grown from seed and the red salvia that I purchased.

I'm enjoying the allium that I planted in the fall and so are the bumblebees. It is wonderful to see the little creatures enjoying the fruits of my labor.

I had a new guest here today at Robin's Nesting Place. For the first time ever I saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I was in the kitchen putting something in the crockpot and saw a flash of red. I saw just enough of the bird to know it was a grosbeak and ran to get my camera. I took these pictures through the patio door.

Thankfully he stayed for a while at the feeder, so I could get several pictures. I love attracting new birds to my feeders and this was a thrill for me.

I didn't see a female, but hopefully she is around here too.


It is always thrilling to see the bold little chickadee. I love to hear them too.