Home Sweet Home

I was trimming some bushes in our hedgerow when I found this
abandoned nest. I always love seeing what birds use to build their
homes with :)

Goodbye Sunflowers!

The sunflowers in our garden were picked clean and dying out.
Saturday morning I cut them down and cleared them out of the
garden. I'm sad to see them go :( Already looking forward to
planting them next year!

Hummingbird Moth Part Deux

Hummingbird Moth

I was very excited to see this little creature in the garden this past
July. It's called a Hummingbird Moth and it's the first time I had
ever seen one. They look alot like a bee.


Another one of God's amazing little creatures :)


I hope he visits our garden again next year!

Late August Sunrise

My hubby, Terry, took these pictures this morning as he was
getting ready for work. Good job honey!

Creepy Crawly

I've never seen an insect quite like this before! He was sunning on
our deck rail. I was almost afraid to get too close to it for fear he
would attack me. Looks like a fly on steroids!



View from above. Notice the hairy legs. Ugh!


What big eyes you have!


When he started to bow up on his back legs, that's when I backed
off :) If anyone knows what this is, please let me know. I just did
some searching on the internet and found out this insect is called
a Robber fly.

Last Full Moon of Summer

The last full moon of summer is referred to as the "grain moon." I
took this picture last night. So beautiful!!!! Makes me kind of sad
knowing this is the last full moon of the summer :(

The next full moon (September 23rd) will rise the first evening of
Fall. Labor day is 13 days away, the Fall equinox is 29 days away
as the change of season draws near.

Summer Postcards

Summer Roses

Roses must love this summer heat! They're like
the energizer bunny...they just keep going and
going :)

Anniversary Sunset

Yesterday was mine and Terry's 28th wedding anniversary. We
had a wonderful day which was topped off with this gorgeous
sunset!

Ah, Sweet Nectar!

Happy Friday everyone!

The Bees Knees

The meaning of the phrase "The bee's knees "

Sunset Clouds

Sunset cloud on August 12th. Gorgeous!

Fast Food

I took this picture out our backdoor. Because it's been so hot and
humid lately everytime I take my camera outside it fogs up. This
cardinal was chowing down on one of our sunflowers. It was funny
because seed hulls were flying everywhere :)

Bee in Flight

Deciphering the Mystery of Bee Flight

A little sidenote...Elvis Presley died 33 years ago today. It's hard to believe it's been that long! I was 18 and had just graduated high school :) RIP Elvis!

Butterfly and Friend Part II

Catbird

Once you’ve heard its catty mew you won’t forget it.

“I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free.” ~ Charles Dickens

I'm not sure what kind of butterfly this is, but he sure is pretty!


I can't believe the amount of butterflies we've had in our garden this year :)

Busy Bee

“The busy bee has no time for sorrow.” ~ William Blake

Butterfly and Friend

Wren Nest

I cleaned out our little bird box the other day and this
is what I found inside. Two families of wrens were raised
in the box this year :) It's always fun to see what a nest
consisted of.

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and
the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk
or an evening saunter . . . to be thrilled by the stars at night;
to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these
are some of the rewards of the simple life.
~John Burroughs (1837 - 1921)

"Bee to the blossom, moth to the flame; Each to his passion; what's in a name?" ~ Helen Hunt Jackson

Bumble bees carry pollen in what is called a pollen basket on
their back legs. This is just one interesting fact I learned when
I was researching info on bees. You can see the pollen basket
in this picture. Isn't that the coolest thing?


~Circle for a landing~


In at least a few species, once a bumblebee has visited a
flower, it leaves a scent mark on the flower.

"That buzzing-noise means something. If there's a
buzzing noise, somebody's making a buzzing-noise,
and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that
I know of is because you're a bee. ....

And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is
making honey.....

And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat
it." So he began to climb the tree.”

~ Winnie the Pooh quotes

Waning Days of Sunflowers

Sunflowers are still pretty awesome even after the birds have
picked them clean :)


The sunflowers in our garden are pretty few and far between
due to recent storms, but they're still hanging on.


Waiting for the sun.

Okra Flower

Butterfly Kisses

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

"Butterflies are self propelled flowers." ~ R.H. Heinlein

Don't Fool With Mother Nature

Two bad storms moved through our area last night. I woke
up this morning to three sunflower stalks broken off at the
middle of the stalk :(


Our Jack and the Beanstalk sunflower as I liked to call it was
one of the casualties of the high wind.


This is whats left of the sunflowers that
were knocked over in last night's storms.
At least I have this beautiful bouquet to
enjoy for awhile :)

"After a storm comes a calm." ~ Matthew Henry

Free Food

Sunflowers are not only beautiful, but they attract lots of
birds to our garden. This cardinal was enjoying a midday
snack. I snapped this picture from our backporch with my
long lens.


Wearing it out :)


So many sunflowers so little time.



"No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same
in one garden." ~ Hugh Johnson