ANN'S AUGUST GREETING CARD

You are getting two posts in one day for a change. I didn't want to let August leave before sharing Ann's sweet greeting card that she sent out. 

Thank you so much Ann!

The sentiment is lovely and so true. I value our friendship very much and my box of happy mail from you is full of the ones you have sent me. 

Happy mail indeed!

Ann, if I haven’t mentioned it before, you sure do have a pretty handwriting. I have always thought that about your handwritten signature.

And so to Ann and to you all,

Happy First Day of September!

Thanks for visiting and may the month give you plenty of things to smile about. I am sharing my first smile right now, just a little bit early.

 

 

HUMMINGBIRD PHOTOS

We were delighted to see a hummingbird going back and forth to this feeder. 

Gregg had the camera with the longer lens and was not as close as he would have liked, but close enough to get these quick shots. I was super happy that he did and so was he.

This is an adult male Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), easily recognizable by its brilliant red throat patch, also known as a gorget.

They flap their wings roughly 53 times per second during regular flight. 

They are incredibly lightweight, weighing only 3 grams - roughly the same as a penny. 

They can fly forward, backward, upside down and hover in place by moving their wings in a figure-eight pattern.

They fly up to 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico to winter in Central America. 

A Ruby-throat's heart beats over 1,200 times per minute when active.

To survive cold nights without starving, they can enter a deep hibernation-like sleep state called torpor, drastically slowing their heart rate and metabolism.

Their legs are so underdeveloped that they cannot walk or hop; they can only shuffle sideways along a perch.

They have among the fewest feathers of any bird, averaging only about 940 feathers total.

Females build tiny nests out of plant down and lichen, bound together using stretchy spider silk so the nest can expand as the chicks grow.

Males are entirely solitary, they do not help build nests or raise the chicks, and they aggressively defend food sources from other birds.

I have more to share from Walney soon. 

Have a great day 

and thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - MORE FROM THE GARDEN CENTER

I started outside first. I was looking around for plants to purchase, not just plant pots. I headed this way after looking at all the ones I shared in my other post. 

I found a bee that caught my attention.

A closer look. My attention span and I are easily distracted, especially when it is hot and muggy and there are bees around.

All the plants on display were delightful, but I thought this was a particularly beautiful plant below. It is a Panicle Hydrangea.

The bench called my name. I sat there for a few moments...

and it wasn't long before I went inside. Gregg had already gone off to purchase the two red geraniums I had picked out.

The 4th of July items were still on sale through to the end of July.

I didn't see anything to buy, but it is always fun to browse.

I thought a bit about this puzzle. I still have a couple of unopened ones at home. It stayed on the shelf.

I skimmed through lots of items, not really with the intention of buying anything. By this time I was ready to leave, and Gregg had texted me to say the geraniums were in the car. On the other side of the aisle is my favorite gift shop area. I didn't go on this visit but I'll start there next time. I enjoyed what I did, though had reached my limit and was glad to get into the car. 

Thanks for spending time with me, and I hope you are having a great day whatever you are doing.