BACK TO THE GARDEN...

 I am sharing Gregg's photos today. He wanted to change to black and white and adjusted his iPhone. We both liked them very much and I would like to try my own next time we go out.

It was a wonderful day, started out at 83 degs F (28 degs C), not too much humidity that I could detect. However, at the end of our walk it got up to 88 degs F (31 degs C) with high humidity. I was glad to be heading to our air-conditioned car by that time. I probably walked a bit too far again - tsk, tsk I can hear Gregg saying. He always warns me, but those flowers and bees you know.

We had a delightful time chatting to a lovely couple, which I will go into more when I do another post. 

We were at what has become our favorite walk-about place, Green Spring Gardens, and more later.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

GREEN SPRING GARDENS 7-10-26 - GREGG'S PHOTOS

We had a lovely walk on the 10th at the garden. It got a bit hot and humid the longer we were there though, and we knew when it was time to go home. In the meantime, we took lots of photos of our surroundings. I thought I would share what Gregg took today. When I got home and downloaded his photos, I saw a small bug on one of the flowers. I tried to identify it but didn't see any that had its exact pattern of markings. Maybe someone might recognize it. I cropped it for a closer look, a bit fuzzy.

These are supposed to be False Sunflowers, maybe these?  I have added links for more information. Below there is a milkweed plant at the bottom.

We found another bench nearer the greenhouse area and sat for a while. This was the pattern on the back. I will have the whole bench in one of my other posts. A shady area that was very welcome.

More White Coneflowers. It is called White Swan Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'), native to North America, a cultivated variety of the common purple coneflower, a species naturally found throughout the central to southeastern United States.

Here is another skipper. I didn't see a lot of butterflies again, maybe one cabbage butterfly. Hopefully there will be more as the summer progresses.  I asked Google about this one and it said it is a Sachem (Atalopedes campestris), a type of grass skipper commonly found in North America. Another interesting bit of information was that I read it appears to be a female as it is darker with lighter markings in the center of the wing, lacking the prominent stigma found in males. I was also given the information on the flower it was feeding on - a Globe Amaranth, which is commonly planted to attract pollinators like butterflies.

Next is the house we both love and always take photos of and share. It's not a cottage but this would definitely be imaginary home. I have always loved this place.

Purple Coneflowers

There will be more from this garden sometime.

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by.

THE HAWK FROM YESTERDAY

 

This is Gregg's photo of the hawk that got our local crows all agitated yesterday.  I need an expert's help for a definite ID, but from photos I saw online, I thought it might be a Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  You can see more information at this website. 

(Added note: 8-24-23 at 3:41 p.m.  Cloudia from Comfort Spiral thinks this might be a Cooper's Hawk and also sent a link.  I am sharing it here.  Thanks so much for the help Cloudia.) 

He hasn't returned and we have several smaller feathered friends visiting.  They are enjoying the bird bath.  The clever little things seem to know when a bird of prey is around.  I loved seeing it and it needs to survive, but am glad our local crows objected and it moved on.  

It was a wonderful morning when I went outside early.  It actually felt like Autumn was on the way, so cool and fresh.  The lowest temperature was 65 degrees Fahrenheit and it certainly felt like it, even a little cooler perhaps.  It is going to get up to 81 degrees today.  

My Snickersville Turnpike post will be shared tomorrow, where you can see the original photo of the red barn from the ArtCard result here.  

Have a great day everyone and thanks 

so much for stopping by.

GREEN SPRING GARDENS - GREGG'S PHOTOS - PART 1

 I am sharing a few of Gregg's photos today.  I enjoy looking at his.  He sees things I don't see and then we sometimes find that we have taken photos of the same plant, like this one.

We decided to wander around the two ponds on this visit.  We go to the top part of the garden also, but not today. Here things are allowed to be less manicured.  The deeper into the woods there are lots of wild plants and flowers, and the various trees are interesting to look at.  We enjoy this area as much as the other.There is a stream that runs along the pathway.  The ponds on one side, the stream on the other.This outing’s doggy fix!

This path is just before we get to the second pond.American Robin

It was another splendid walk, and that evening what a surprise!  I look out the window before I went to bed, and there were two young fox kits playing in the front garden.  We have had foxes making a home nearby for several years now.  It is my first sighting in 2023.  

The two I saw were playing with each other and running around in circles, play fighting, jumping and yipping, having a lot of fun.  It was a sweet end-of-the-day gift to see them.  Perhaps their mother was hunting for food, or they could have been out on their own.  They didn't look as young as the ones I have seen before.  No photos, way too dark but a lovely memory.  

EXTRAORDINARY MAGIC IS...

"Extraordinary magic is woven through ordinary life.  Look around!"

~Author Unknown~

Do you see the tiny hearts all over those blooms?  Magical!  The photo has not been manipulated in any way and is as it was taken.   Gregg took these photos of a neighbor's Redbud tree.

IT REALLY DOES....

Tempus fugit - Time flies

HAPPY NEW YEAR

For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

~Chorus of Old Lang Syne by Robert Burns~
(All lyrics can be found here.)

Wishing you and all your loved ones the happiest 2019.

ADVICE FROM A GREAT BLUE HERON

Wade into life
Keep a keen lookout
Don't be afraid to get your feet wet
Be patient
Look below the surface
Enjoy a good reed
Go fish

~Author Unknown~