Snow Storm - 12-12-10

The snow is still falling here in Michigan and we have several hours of it to come.  It is really beautiful.  If this doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, I don't know what would!  Here is a little Hairy Woodpecker (it could be a Downy too, it's hard to tell) coming into our suet feeder.  Stay warm!!

Beautiful Alaska

We've been so blessed to have been to Alaska three times.  Each time was a new adventure.  If you watched the Sarah Palin series on Alaska tonight, they were salmon fishing at the same place we were a few years ago.  We took a fly in trip to do some fishing and bear watching.  We were lucky enough to see two young bears come in to the exact spot that was on the show tonight.  They attempted to catch some fish but didn't have much luck (similar to myself).  You could tell they were probably only a few years old and still needed to master their fishing skills.  After watching the show tonight, we couldn't help but take a look back at our trip.  This is just one of the great pictures and experiences that we will treasure and always remember.  We LOVE Alaska!!!

Next Year's Milk Weeds!

The Milk Weed plants have burst open and their seeds are on the move! Doesn't it look a little like ghosts or spiders? Or is it that Halloween is just around the corner??

Pumpkins!!

Here are a few pumpkins from our garden this year. It's hard to believe the garden is done for yet another season. Where did the summer go??

Bees...Bees...Bees....

The bees are everywhere this time of year. We have this beautiful blue flowering bush (sorry I don't know the name of it....shame on me). It flowers late in the summer into early fall. It has the most beautiful striking blue blooms. The color you would expect to see in the spring. The bees love it. It's not very big, but I think I counted at least 20 of them when I took this picture. I'm not sure if these guys sting or not. I was stung once this year and that's enough, thank you!!

Fall is just around the corner

The gourds and pumpkins are busy growing. They are busting out of the garden and venturing into the yard. There are still new buds blooming hoping for a chance to grow before the cold frost comes.

Morning Glory

Now I know why they are called Morning Glories. I've been trying to get a picture of my Morning Glories and I always miss them. By afternoon they are all closed up. So I took a day off work and finally got a shot of one (any excuse to take a day off work). I wish I could get them to bloom all summer, but they seem to bloom when everything has stopped. That way they will stand out in the crowd!!

Seed Pods

These are seed pods on some Milk Weed plants we have growing out back. They are weeds, but are supposed to be a food source for butterflies. Our Lord even made weeds interesting. He is amazing!!

It's No Butterfly!!

It's not a butterfly, but I thought a good looking moth!! It landed on my Butterfly Bush. There have been a few beautiful butterflies, but they seem to be camera shy. I'll keep trying. Thanks for stopping by!!

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The color of the red hot chili peppers is just beautiful isn't it? Reminds me of Christmas. Which by the way is only 125 days away, in case any one needed to know!! Thanks for stopping by!

July 2010-After the Storm

After a storm one afternoon and just before dusk, it looked like God had turned on a neon light. Even the mulch in the flower gardens seemed to glow.

Baby Raccoons

My in-laws have 4 small baby raccoons that come and visit a couple times of day. They have lost their mother and they are feeding them until they can stand on their own. They are adorable to watch. Thanks for stopping by to look at my photos!!

Black Eyed Susans

The Black Eyed Susans are starting to come out. When we moved here from our first house, I dug up a pot and brought it with us. Well, now we have a ton of them. But I just love them. They stay in bloom for at least a month or so. And they are usually one of the last things to bloom in my gardens. Wow.....where did summer go.

The Daylilies are Blooming!

Here are just a few pictures of the daylilies that have started to bloom. There are still more to open. I love all the colors.

Flower Buds

This is a flower bud from one of my big hostas that will be blooming in the next several days. I just thought it was so beautiful. You just have to "stop and smell the roses" to see all of nature's beauty. Hope you are enjoying your day!

Bluebirds Nesting!

We have bluebirds nesting in one of our bird houses! Finally...we have been trying to get them to nest for years. We usually see them in the spring but they go elsewhere to nest. She is still on the nest, but I was able to get a couple of pictures of the male today. We have an old dead tree stump. I saw in a magazine that if you don't pull it out, just decorate it. So I did! Here he is coming out of a hole in the trunk. They are so pretty (oh...I mean handsome)!

Here is a shot of the entire tree trunk. The vines and flowers should start to trail down soon. And yes that is the "backside" of the bluebird just below the plants!!

And here he is standing guard over the house.

It's Strawberry Shortcake Time!!

Our first pick from our strawberry patch. There is only one word to describe them.....Yummmm!!!!

Here's a closeup that will make your mouth water!!

It's Begun!!!

The blooming season has begun!! At least in our yard that is! With the warm weather that we've been having, I knew it was just a matter of time. The peonies have started to open. Again this is one of Grandma's many plants that she gave us. I love the color and the smell.....well there are no words to describe it.

(Just ignore the weeds, I have no problem growing those!!)

The Iris' have started to bloom too. These were always a favorite of my Dad's. He always wanted to have a big flower bed with every color.

Baby Chickadees

We have baby Chickadees in our birdhouse that is right in the middle of one of my flower beds. Tonight I got to sneak in and take a look. There are I think five babies. They are little miniatures of their parents who by the way do not like me working near the house. For such little birds they can make quite the noise! Aren't they sweet!!

Corydalis Lutea

Corydalis Lutea are the most petite little yellow flowers on such an airy type of foliage. They do tend to decide for themselves where they want to grow, but I don't mind at all. They are really beautiful. Enjoy!

Love the foliage!

Since there is not much in bloom, I decided to take a few pictures of some of the foliage plants in my gardens. The Hostas and Lambs Ears are getting so pretty. The Hens and Chicks are from grandma's garden. I sure do miss her. All of our grandparents were great gardeners. Thanks for looking.

Hostas

Lambs Ears

Grandma's Hens and Chicks

I almost forgot about the Lillie of the Valley

Tony the Toad

I love toads! I do. Since we've had so much rain lately they are everywhere. I found this little guy in one of my flower beds tonight. He is only about 1 1/2 inches long. All toads are named Tony. I'm not sure why, but ever since we saved one from the mouth of a snake, they have always been called Tony. We have a pond out back and it isn't spring until you hear the sound of the spring peepers! You have to admit he's cute!

Lilacs

The smell of lilacs takes me right back to my childhood. We always had lots of lilacs in our yard. My mom would cut a big bouquet for the table. Maybe that's why the smell always reminds me of my Mom (that and Jergens Lotion. The sense of smell is a powerful thing). There is just nothing better then the first smell of lilacs in the spring.

We have 4 different varieties in our yard. The original (or what I consider the original) light color purple, white, dark purple (Monge Lilac) and then one that looks like each petal is outlined in white (Sensation Lilac-Syringa Vulgaris 'Sensation'). They are all just beautiful. Hope you enjoy!

Here is a close up of the Sensation Lilac. Aren't they just beautiful!!

First Blooms of My Garden

These are the first things that always bloom first in my flower gardens. The white Bleeding Hearts, Grape Hyacinth and Candy Tuft. I like these because they bloom for several weeks. That's always a bonus. The Candy Tuft will spread in unwanted locations. But I just dig them up and move them to another garden. Thanks for looking!!

Fruit trees are blossoming!

We have several fruit trees in our yard. Two kinds of apple, peach and cherry. They are all in bloom. I hope that means we will be eating lots of fruit later this summer. I just love the early blooms of spring!

Apple

Peach

Cherry