BEAUTY...IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER...

We've all heard the saying, and isn't it true? What makes beautiful? I think it involves more than just one of our senses...a combination of senses...something beautiful moves us. Not only with "nature"...even with human "nature"...we all know someone who isn't considered your socially accepted beautiful definition...but everything else about them far exceeds that definition of beauty. That's beauty. On the other hand...there are those physically beautiful people who that everything about them makes them...well...ugly! That being said, maybe you can see why I find this little guy a thing of beauty. I can be
walking around, admiring my flowers, or taking photos, and this little guy has just got to do his acrobats. It's almost like a child acting up until he gets your complete attention...then he's happy! I can be right up to a plant...and zoom...he's between me and that plant. He is definitely an interesting little guy. The second photo is just one of many shots that I have of reflections on the pond...it is something how the color of the sky, a little breeze or absolutely still waters can alter the reflection and even the appearance of the color of the water itself. Those little buds just beginning to blossom are from my Clethra "Ruby Spice" shrub, I took this photo last week...as of today, the majority of my mature blossoms are in shambles from those Japanese beetles! I love the freshness of a blossom just beginning to open. This very small golden dragonfly is a hard one to photograph. I would love to capture a dragonfly on a waterlilly. And then there's the white Echinacea among the ferns...perfect! P.S.- That top photo is the little guy who let me pet his wings that I referred to in my post titled "A MATTER OF TRUST"...and I believe he is the same one who always demands my attention and lets me touch him since that day....I know...Nutcase!!

When I ordered this "David" white phlox, the catalog claimed that it was hardy and a very prolific bloomer...they were right on both accounts...and they don't flop either! I need to get more of these! Speaking of hardy...this was the last bloom on this daylilly plant pictured growing in front of my Ponderosa Pine tree. I enjoy the contrasts of textures in my gardens. The third photo I thought was just beautiful close up. Then there's the reflection of our cabin on the pond...I really like the cattails...but they do need to be thinned out...not just for the health of the pond...but for my view! Just last year, you could see the entire cabins' reflection. We used to have all different types of butterflies fluttering around, this year there has only been a few varieties. I'm assuming the outdoor cats that I took in might have something to do with that...I've also read that dragonflies will go after butterflies. Now I ask...why can't they just all get along?!...so I can be amused by all three species!

A MASTERPIECE...

ON THIS LAST DAY OF JULY...

Summer is surely slipping by fast, it does seem that the older you get, the seasons just starting flying by...remember when you were in elementary school how long the summer seemed to be? In all honesty, I don't care for the dog days of summer too much. I enjoy the mornings and evenings. This is the time my gardening duties slip. Thought I'd post my version of the bee on the coneflower photo and a couple of my Marguarite daisies. I've realized that not only do I love the Daylilly...I love the strap-like leaves to photograph with other flowers, foliage and insects...as shown here with the Damselfly. The Hibiscus was a freebie that I recieved from a nursery while ordering some Japanese willow trees and a flowering dogwood bush. I placed that clear across the pond on the edge of the woods because of its' growth habits. It is one of the main feasts for my Japanese beetle visitors, that, and my weeping cherry tree are their favorites. Everything else are the dessert I suppose! I have 16-1/2 acres here ... can't they spread the love?! The Endless Summer Hydrangeas are also a favorite of mine...I like to play with the fertilizer and create some of my bushes in pure blue and some in pinks and purple. I also have two of my bushes in full sun and this variety does fine with that. I just saw that heart shape and had to photograph it! On one of my walks, while gazing into the pond, I happened to catch this Daylilly reaching out over the bank. The reflection of the tall tree next to the Lilly I thought was worth taking a shot. And last, but definitely not least...this daylilly, along with the majority of my others, came from an elderly woman who sold them to me. She has an extensive collection of daylillies, but can't remember the names of all of them...this one she said she remembered because she got it from a young hybridizer...supposedly he called it Georgie Jetson??? I don't know if that's correct or not. This beauty is my husband's absolute favorite.

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER!!...

Right here in Wishnik wonderland...kind of neat, huh? Now, when I start telling you about the talking rabbit with the pocket watch and the deck of cards chasing me...then it WILL be time to make that call! My family always tells me that I'm spending way too much time by myself back in the woods!! This year, despite plenty of rain...I've seen no slug damage on my hostas...now I know where they are hiding out!...Check out the last photo. Well...I really must go...I just saw a huge stripped cat with this enormous grin on his face, sprawled high up on a branch staring down at me!

Just one more?...

This climbing rose isn't the perfect rose...it's just one more rose...I've already had my two rounds of bloom that this plant normally produces for me during the summer... this was a late straggler(hmm... is that a word?). As the last bloom faded, I remember thinking well maybe I'll get just one more...a few years ago, my husband, mother and I built this rustic arbour on my late fathers' birthday...I think he would've loved it! Who knows, maybe this was handed down to me by him! The white flower is growing among the base of the roses...I can just look into that small flower forever and stare at that little star. Can anyone tell me what it's name is? The daylillies are shown just because... I can, and speaking of fading blooms, this is the last flower on my Houttuynia. Though this creeper has its' place and I enjoy the variegated leaves and white flowers...I just wish that I hadn't planted quite so much! And then there's Bandit...old faithful who follows me on every walk. Here she is playing some sort of cat and mouse game sneaking on me along the damn. I just wanted to share this photo of her, can't you almost(o.k. - really stretch your imagination!) see her as a panther in the jungle?!

MORNING HAS BROKEN...

I am a very early riser, so I'll start off with the moon saying good-bye. Last night, I went to bed with worries floating in my head. My husband drives an hour and a half to and from work everyday...rising gas prices are threatening my one true "calm". Sooner, more so than later, we will probably have to move back closer to his work( I am thankful for what we do have)... and then I laid in bed thinking of some of the other blogs I've read just before bed. Some mention their worries...disabled children, role reversals with elderly parents, depression, discrimination and even animal abuse. Needless to say, I needed my "calm" this morning. Even after an evening of horrible thunderstorms...morning still survived..mustering up all her energy... and I thought how nature survives...no matter what. I tried to capture the mist caught in the sunbeam over the waterfall, the hummingbird anxious to start a new day, and the fact that the most delicate flowers held their own through the night and still hold themselves up proud. And so to those few who read this post, I hope you find your "calm" on the days you need it most. My thoughts are with you...we all have to remember there is promise in the morning...and a new day begins....