MY POOR DROOPY SUNFLOWER…

 but they have put on quite a lovely show this week. I bought Baby’s breath too. Not exactly Fall-like but they appealed. Years ago I found small glass vases, and I put a few sprigs in each. They are all a bit past it, but I like them as they still look cheery on the kitchen table. The petals on the sunflowers have started falling off but later I am going out and will look for more.

I don’t have many Fall decorations, so decided to add Mr. Gnome this year. He was holding a sunflower, and could not resist. I will share more of him and his two companions in later posts. In the meantime I have more sunflowers on the shopping list. 

"Happy Leaf Falling Time Everyone!"

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE! PUBLISHED EARLIER THAN INTENDED AGAIN BUT LEAVING IT HERE.

 

I am sharing a photo I took the last time we were at one of the gardens at the beginning of last month. The original settings were a little bit off, and it came out way too bright. I tried to darken. This is about as good as I could do, but I was happy I caught the bee enjoying itself, and another ever so faintly.

I broke the cardinal rule and took the photo when the sun was at its high point, around noon. It makes such a difference. We don't usually go out until later in the day, just so that we can get better lighting for taking photos. And because it's less heat during the summer months.

I also read that photos of flowers should be taken when it's cloudy? Anyone heard that? I really should learn more about settings but these days I take a lot of photos with my cell phone and don't think about it.

I hope you all have a great Sunday, and thanks for dropping by.

THE SUNFLOWERS ...

Come with me 

into the field of sunflowers.

Their faces are burnished disks,

Their dry spines

Creak like ship masts,

Their green leaves,

So heavy and many

Fill the day with the sticky

Sugars of the sun.

Come with me

To visit the sunflowers,

They are shy

But want to be friends;

They have wonderful stories

Of when they were young -

The important weather,

The wandering crows.

Don't be afraid

To ask them questions!

Their bright faces,

Which follow the sun

Will listen, and all

Those rows of seeds -

Each one a new life!

Hope for a deeper acquaintance.

Each of them, though it stands

In a crowd of many

Like a separate universe.

Is lonely, the long work

Of turning their lives

Into a celebration

Is not easy.  Come

And let us talk with those modest faces,

The simple garment of leaves,

The coarse roots in the earth

So uprightly burning.

The Sunflower by Mary Oliver

BITS AND BOBS

I am sharing a few photos that I have had in my folder and hopefully there are no repeats.  I haven't been to any gardens lately, so I am glad I can share these.  Hopefully there are no repeats.The bridge, the Canada Goose and the reflection of people, was taken at Meadowlark Gardens on our last trip.  I love watching the few geese that take up residence.  I don't think too many are encouraged but it's very nice to see the few.The Golden Ragwort is always very pretty.  I am not sure what the white blooms in the middle are.

I am thankful that we still have a few trees at home.  We hope to replace the ones we had to take down last year.  I saw a hawk sitting on a branch a couple of weeks ago in our neighbor's yard, but nothing since.  I always keep my camera with the zoom lens on the table next to where I am sitting, just in case.  This was the only photo I could get before it flew away seconds later. Unfortunately, its face was obscured. You may remember I stopped filling the bird feeders and the smaller birds have been scarce.  The photos of our feathered friends are before I stopped feeding them during the summer months.  I find myself eager for the autumn as I miss them. 

 The Catbird is always a welcome visitor.  I cropped the one above and here is a closer look.The Mourning Doves were enjoying the rain.  At least I think they were, they didn't seem to want to seek shelter.Enjoying a good preening session too, still raining.This is a female Rose-breasted Grossbeak.  I never did see her mate.  The first time I have ever seen one in our garden was this year. 

Family stayed overnight recently. We enjoyed catching up as it had been a while and it was a fun visit.

I got these last two from Pinterest.

That's about it. Thank you for your visit.  I hope you are staying happy, healthy and I wish you all a great weekend.

A SLOW MORNING...

 I wasn't quite awake yet and hadn't fed the birds.  The Starlings were already waiting and getting a bit restless.

Yes, yes, I know!  It works for the squirrels!  

Where have I heard that before?

(photo of squirrel from pixabay.com.  I added the sunflower on paint shop pro)

GOSIA AND GOOD FENCES

These photos are taken of my neighbor's back yard, and the fences that separate our gardens are just what I needed for Gosia's Good Fences.  

They have a real pretty yard and I love the birdhouses and wind chimes. 

There are signs that the season is changing.  It has been the usual hot and humid summer,  but we have had enough rain this month to keep the grass from going entirely brown.  The rain has sometimes come with heavy thunderstorms.  Yesterday's was  a deluge but no thunder or lightning.

For the first time that I can remember we had mushrooms growing in the back.  I was happy to see them.

"Never lose your sense of wonder!"

~Author Unknown~

 I found a brand new flower also, one that we had not planted.  A small sunflower.  

I am taking part in Good Fences hosted by Gosia.  If you would like to see other fences, or join in with your own, you can go here.  Thank you for hosting Gosia!  

And thank you for looking at today's post.  I wish you all a great weekend.

AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES AT REYNOLDA GARDENS IN NORTH CAROLINA

One of the nicest memories from our trip to Reynolda Gardens, apart from being among all the flowers and the butterflies, which will be in tomorrow's post, was the sight of these pretty American Goldfinches enjoying the sunflowers.

Gregg took all of what you see today.  He didn't have long as they were soon off into the trees, but he was able to get several photos in a short space of time.

 You can read all about our pretty bird if you click on this link.

There are two Goldfinches in the photo below...

and there were several in the garden.  They really loved those sunflowers.

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by.

SUNFLOWERS, SMILES AND FITZGERALD

SO WHAT DID WE DO TODAY?

We have had some yard work done and are enjoying it all neat and tidy. We were rescued after a terrible time with poison ivy that was totally out of control, but it is finally being handled.  In the photo above is a coneflower that came back this year, brave little thing.  One of us pulled it out when they were weeding, not realizing it was a newly planted coneflower. It was tiny when I bought the pot and there wasn't anything to identify it as being anything other than a weed.  The marker I stuck in the ground next to it disappeared.  After replanting it was a sad looking jumble for the rest of its blooming season.  I am happy to say I found it sprouting out of the ground a week ago.  Another weed I thought?  But no, I left it well alone, and after a few days I allowed myself a little dance of joy. I was also hoping for a bloom.  Wouldn't you know it here it is, and there is another one coming.

We went to the supermarket around 2.00 p.m. and the sky was very pretty, full of clouds.  The temperature was 90 degrees F. but low in humidity.  

It is our favorite place to shop and we made our main grocery run for the week.  We have been coming here for several years now. 

I passed by the sunflowers but kept my hands away from my purse. Aren't they gorgeous? I managed to get Gregg in frame before he disappeared around the corner.  (The Peruvian Lilies are still hanging in there on the kitchen table.  I have been babying them with fresh water every four days, trimming the ends as recommended, and feeding them with the food packet which came with the flowers.)

The succulents were being sold outside.  The ID on them said they were called Hens and Chicks and are members of the Sempervivum group of succulent plants.  They are commonly called houseleeks and grow well indoors and out, in cool or hot temperatures.  Hens and chick plants are so called because of the rosette shape and habit of the plant producing numerous babies.

Not too far from the Hens and Chicks there were Zinnias on sale.  I took a double take at this one.

When I looked closely I saw that the petals hadn't opened up completely and caused this strange look.

I am trying something new today, for me its new.  I bought a packet of Halloumi.  It is an unripened brined cheese that is meant to be grilled, according to what I read here.  A lot of recipes I have browsed through lately have had it in their ingredients.  Curiosity has been peaked.  There are recipes and tips on how to cook Halloumi at this link.

The day went by quickly.  When we got home it was time for dinner.  By the time we cleared away the dishes, it was time to do a little relaxing.  I turned on my laptop, Gregg turned on his iPad.  This was my screensaver that greeted me.  I have a different one sent to me every few days, scenes from here and all around the world.  This scene was in San Francisco.  

Lastly but by no means least, it is our son and daughter's wedding anniversary today.  

Happy Anniversary My Sweet Babes.  

A quiet day but a fun one.  I hope yours was too, and that the rest of the week will be equally so. Thanks for listening to my rambles.