Category Archives: flower

Autumnal Gold

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We’re a couple days past Labor Day.  For most Michiganians, That means summer is over.  Astronomically speaking, we have a couple of weeks left, but the air is cool and it’s time to wear a jacket when you go outside.

I’ve always liked this time of year.  The earth is still warm–though the air is cool and fresh.  Since my last post, I celebrated another birthday.  Later this week, Sylvia and I will celebrate another anniversary.  What’s not to like?

Step out the door, and find Stella’s gold.

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If that’s too “gold” for you, let’s add some orange and red.

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Now bring in the full orchestra (of colors).

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Perhaps this last picture captures the way I feel today.  Blue.  How can that be with all the motives for joy?

Tonight, we’ll meet with Sylvia’s sibling to celebrate 100th anniversary of her father’s birth.  It had been a long tradition to gather to celebrate with him.  So we’ll do it on this milestone–even though he won’t be physically present.  Also.

Last evening, I learned that my good friend, Cliff, (age 55) has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  I can only pray for him, his wife and two grown children.

Speaking of Plants, Around Here They Have Grew Some

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The veggie garden is doing great.  We’ve been enjoying its bounty since April.

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Outside my office window, lovely blossoms are keeping the pollinators busy.

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In the flower garden, Stella has opened up in a most lovely way.

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Critters

Last evening, I sat on the end deck enjoying the quiet spell that surrounds the end of the day.  I’m not sure if I first saw the doe running or heard the ripping sound of her flight through the wheat field.  Soon a younger one appeared in the hay field that was our lower lawn and she followed.  They ran toward shelter.  Moments later, they sauntered back.  Were they thinking, “Now wasn’t that silly?”  In a couple of minutes, they disappeared behind a stand of pine trees.

I hope you are enjoying the start to this summer.  I am.

In the Flower Garden

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Our favorite rose is now in bloom.  Sylvia and I particularly love that deep rich color.

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A short distance from the rose, the first lily of the season opened to display its beauty to all who pass.

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As I’ve recovered from my recent foot surgery, I’ve been last active and mobile.  This has, unfortunately, limited photographic productivity.  More on that and critter stories tomorrow.

New to the Flower Garden

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With a gift card from Mother’s Day, Sylvia bought a deep red bearded iris.  Unfortunately, I was not able to capture an image of it for a few days after she brought it home.  I’m posting this to keep a promise to those whose gift of love made it possible for Sylvia to bring home this amazing example of beauty.  Most of the iris around here look like this.

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I’m still recovering from the latest foot surgery.  That makes it difficult to spend much time in this office chair, and it is even more difficult to walk any distance.  Sylvia and I are in good condition and even better spirits.  Life is good.

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More Spring Beauty

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Mild temperatures and plenty of rain has made this season a spring to remember.

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Lots of daffodils and tulips add plenty of color to the flower gardens.

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I particularly like the tulips.

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This red, yellow and black may be my favorite.  Looks almost like an insect there in the middle, doesn’t it?

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Lots more yellow out on the lawn where dandelions blossom.  Cherry and apple trees are also blooming.

I have tilled the vegetable garden and Sylvia has planted peas, parsnips and radishes.  We have the first picking of asparagus.  It is very tasty and went well with our evening meal.

Love Those Spring Flowers

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I love spring flowers.  Don’t you?  I recently saw these growing on the lawn.

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Not too far away (just a few steps) I also saw these.

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While I was looking for signs of life a pair turkey vultures were searching for something else.

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Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera with me yesterday as I carried the trash down to the side of the road.  I actually saw a pileated woodpecker for the first time in my life.

More Sightings

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During a cleanup session, Sylvia and I noticed that the crocus was more open.  I grabbed this shot and then went back to trimming branches and picking up sticks.  Heavy spring winds have brought down a lot of smaller branches.

About a week ago, in the evening dusk, I saw eight deer in the small field beyond the lawn.  (The neighbor uses this area for a hay field.  I don’t have to mow, and he gets feed for his cattle.)  Those deer were enjoying spring.  The young ones would run as fast as the wind and turn quickly and do it some more.  Soon they disappeared into the thicket and disappeared from sight.

Last Thursday, Sylvia was at the wheel as we exited the expressway at 36th St in Kentwood.  As we approached Kraft, I looked and on the slope beside this busy street (five lanes) I saw a number of large lumps.  It took a moment for me to realize it was a group of wild turkeys.  They had their heads tucked under their wings to protect them from the wind-driven near-freezing rain.

Spring Flowers — A Beautiful sight

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The snow drops are looking great.  Appropriate for today.  Starting last night, we had snow.  Fortunately it wasn’t the three to five inches indicated in the forecast.  With above freezing temperatures, the snow is not lasting long.

Earlier, I managed to capture these images.

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Daffodils have begun to blossom.  These are miniatures–very nice.

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I can’t remember the name of these beauties that grow on the lawn near the barn.  Can you help me with that?  Later, the center will develop more yellow.  They bring joy to those who view them.

April — Do You Love Her?

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It was April 1 and coming out of the barn, I decided to check on spring flowers.  The snow drops looked great.  Then I saw a splash of rich color.  Was it possible?  The previous two years the crocus had not appeared.  I had feared it was dead.

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As you can clearly see in the photo, the crocus lives on.  It seems even more alive being surrounded by dead leaves and stalks.

That “find” made my day.  And to top it all off, the sunset that evening was gorgeous.

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I slept well that night.

Purple

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I went out to check the flower gardens.  Yes, we have three of them.  The theme seemed to be the color purple.  So many beauties clad in royal purple.  It started with the cone flower.

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This year, Sylvia decided to go with purple salvia instead of her usual red.  While not as bold, the purple has added a bit more elegance in my opinion.

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The purple that is most apt to attract your attention as you approach our door is the petunias.  I’ve always had a fondness for these and this year even more so.

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No pictures of the vegetable garden today.  It’s not very pretty but we’re still harvesting carrots, beets, jalapeños and a few green beans.

The forecast shows no frost for us in the near future.  First frost could come later that usual, which is okay by me.