Lifting your spirits with Flowers..

A Dark and Dreary day but my Rose of Sharon drenched in rain is just as beautiful as on a sunny day.

The obedient plant looks stately tall and beautiful in the morning sun.

One of most favorite flowers is the Four O'clock. I lost the seeds to my
antique ones and bought a couple packs of new ones. They are very different.

I didn't have white ones.

or Red ones for that matter.

the yellow ones looked very much the same.
But what I love about the four o'clocks is the scent they give off when they open after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. (Hence the name) These new flowers do not open until almost dusk making them very different from the antique seeds I had before. If I could just 'bottle' this scent that I love so much. If you see a four o'clock as it opens, sink your nose into the trumpet shaped flower for a delightful fragrance.



The hibiscus is a hybrid for our zone that they can survive the winters. A tiny bug finds it way across the petals of the flower.

Another favorite is the 'tropical' hibiscus. These plants have to be brought in when the temperatures drop below 50. I have wintered this one for 5 years in my basement with grow lights.

Hopefully the flowers have brightened up your dreary day here in PA where the rains just keep coming down.

My new 'hummer' feeder

Found this adorable feeder at Tractor Supply and couldn't resist bringin' it home.
The Hummingbirds took right to it.

There was a time I didn't get more than one or two hummingbirds in a season. This year was a good year for me. I had two and then they brought their young and altogether there were 5.

I'm guessing this is a 'young' one by the way her feathers look. She's keeping an eye on that bee on the feeder.

The male is always very wary. Always flying in and out.

Females seem to be more trusting.

a little Butterfly happening

I haven't seen too many butterflies in my yard this year. A lot of my flowers have died out and Maybe host plants too. I did see this single swallowtail way back in the middle of May on my lilac.

Then in July I started seeing these sulfer cabbage butterflies when I watered the flowers in the beds. I didn't think much about how pretty they are until I took some close ups. They are pretty little things.

Couldn't resist this bee covered with pollen.

Then into August I decided to leave the yard in search of monarchs. I went to VA Home where they have the "Freedom Fishing Pond" and tons of white and purple butterfly bushes.

There weren't a lot of butterflies but of course they were all on White butterfly bushes versus being on the beautiful purple ones.

The pond is really quite beautiful with a great view of the grounds.

Even the Koi looked beautiful in the water that was blue from the reflection of the sky..

Well atleast I got a little 'dose' of butterflies. I hope you enjoyed it!

The sounds of baby wrens.... It's quiet with them gone.

Feed me!

Cultivating some 'Wrenship"

It seems I never have time to just sit and take pictures of my wrens, and so Sunday after Church I decided that is what I would do. Glad I did because they are now gone!!
You all will probably be glad, that my 'wrenship' has come to an end. Howbeit I feel saddened that they are up up and away.

Here baby #1 waits for mama to come and feed him. She's sailing in on the right.

Hurry up MOM!! I'm starving in here.

What? You came and didn't bring food!

Whatever mama gave baby it's down the hatch!

When the parents wouldn't come for more than 10 minutes this baby would lean out and look up and down and all around.

Now this is excitement when baby sees the treat in mom's mouth.This has to be my favorite shot of all with baby coming out of box. I have one on video too. Don't forget to view them.

This look looks like "yearning to be out in the world".

Oh goody another treat coming up. Looks like a carpenter ant... not a very big treat!

Now that's more like it, a moth!

I call this one 'the big stretch'. Look how he has his feet locked onto that limb. Try doing that sometime.

Double click on this one and see how gentle this baby takes the moth from the parent's mouth. How cute is that?

The end of the wrens for this season... Next year I am going to fix up this ugly box or buy some new ones.

The Deer went to visit my mom

My "Deer Adventure"

Saturday night I went out to the milky way for a little treat and thought why not go look for deer. So I headed up toward blue knob and came down to dry run. It was almost like 'old times'. First I saw this doe and fawn along the road.

And then there were a bunch of deer by the pond, but only got a picture of these two cause there were cars stopping to look and they hightailed it out of there.

Down towards my dad's this doe was in her usual place by the grape vines

As soon as she saw me stop, she went to check on her fawn hiding in the trees.

Since I was in the vicinity I decided to visit my mom.... I go there sometimes and was I in for a BIG surprise...




I always think there should be deer in this cemetery, but this is the first time I saw them grazing so lazily along.

The fawns seemed to be enjoying the newly mowed grass.It seemed odd to see them in among the tombstones.

And right there was Mr. Buck. Wow, it was a deer adventure for sure.

He looks quite beautiful with a heart shaped stone in the background.

All among the tombstones were deer. I think this may be 'your family' Aunt B. Sure looks like it to me.

My mom is laid to rest where you see the purple wreath.. It was quite nice to have some company when visiting mom..... even it was the four legged kind.