Garden Smilies

I believe this little guy was as excited by the signs of spring as I was. His smile....made me smile!!!!!

Itsy Bitsy

This really is a very small little aster that, again, caught my eye because of the daisy like sunshiny face it has. Found when hiking a new trail.

Totally amazed that the picture came out as it did.

I continue to find that the best ones...are just...by chance...simple....serendipity. (Remember that...as it will...be seen again.)

FREE???

It's true. Periodically. You can find. Something free.

A local fishing tournament to encourage the young....and the old....to fish.
For four hours....actually for the entire day...statewide....anyone could fish without a license. To promote the sport.
Regardless of the fact that it was overcast and a cool June day with the threat of storms....and some actual drizzly moments......
The riverside was packed...with young and old.....
Fishing poles, chairs, jackets, umbrellas....worms....minnows.....laughter....support....encouragement.....

Where are the Butterflies

I highly recommend adding some of this bronze fennel to your landscape if you are looking for a variety of texture and color to add to a bed. Be sure you put it behind things that might be shorter as this one can get....well let's just say down south, I've seen it 5 feet tall. A couple in herb bed are 2 feet tall right now and the weather is just now warming up. This one gets a bit more shade and hasn't grown quite as much.

My main purpose for planting it though has been to try to entice in the butterflies that I so miss from down south. This plant is known to be one they will lay eggs on and their larvae will enjoy dining on it.

The 'Ugly Duckling'

It pops its head up amidst the beauty of the other wildflowers....insisting on being part of the ooo's and aahh's....shedding its seedlings....insisting on thriving for continued generations.

Dreams, Faith, Wonder of....What Next

A hope, a dream....to be an artist.

With a painter's pallete at her side, surrounded by a wonderful MidWestern public botanical garden filled with wonderful late spring/early summer blossoms of every size, shape, color and fragrance, her canvas reflects the first 'growth of her artistic garden'.

She wonders....which flower to add next, what next color, what next stroke....

What wonderful surroundings to inspire that artistic creative spirit in all of us.

Not What it Seems.....

It really isn't what it seems.....a tulip with fernlike foliage.

I visited with my mom a bit today and was excited to see that the bulbs I planted for her in the fall were coming up in places that we didn't think they were going to come up. They were just a bit slow due to a location with a little less sun to warm them up and urge them out of the ground.

This one looked so happy and comfy...in the midst of the soft fern bed...peaking its sunshiny face out...singing it's "Warmth is finally here" song to all.