orchid

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars. Martin Luther


$12 flea market orchid.

I think a pure snow-white spray is needed in the bedroom and the living area needs a slim shower of sunshine-yellow.

Yes, indeed.

September flowers

calling all botanists...

what are these lovely orange things?




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Usefulness of the day: When making rice, add 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the boiling water to improve the texture. Also, coupon for a free lunch.

Red paint, rust, blue skies

Rhododendron

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Usefulness of the day: Free Friendly's ice cream tomorrow, noon to 5pm.

Barn

The sky blue against the red was irresistible.

Lilacs

I opened the large central window of my office room to its full on the fine early May morning. Then I stood for a few moments, breathing in the soft, warm air that was charged with the scent of white lilacs below. Angus Wilson

These lilacs are not nearly as fragrant as they were last year. I'm not sure why. Anyone?

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Usefulness of the day: Use code LUCKY to get a $25 gift card for only $2 at restaurant.com. I use these all the time! Just be sure you understand any conditions; some gift cards are not valid on Saturday nights, others require you purchase 2 entrees, etc.

the first tulip

Taken in early evening light. I'm still trying to figure out lighting and exposure, and my best photos come either from a day with gray skies, gray late afternoons, or sunny evenings.

And then, one day later...

lake & mountains

Now, I am just in the very beginning stages of getting to know my camera. I haven't even begun to learn about lighting and things like that. The weather this past weekend was rather fickle, alternating sunny and gray in rapid fashion. I took a whole bunch in a gray evening, and I think that's my favorite time and color of day right now. The first photo is from that batch.

Sittin' on the dock

Behind my parents' home. Don't jump in - there is still ice on the lake.

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Usefulness of the day: Use code J89LA2 for a free Redbox rental.

Earth laughs in flowers

Anyone know what kind of tree makes these lovely coral flowers? I am trying to identify flowers, trees, and plants by their proper name this year as opposed to "those tiny little white upside-down bell-shaped things by the stairs."* Irises I know because they're one of few flowers that look as though they lost a fight with a lawnmover. Tulips, too, as my mother irritated the neighbors by planting black* tulips next to purple irises and some kind of neon yellow flower. I got to know peonies and lilacs last year, too. The rest? I just shrug and remark how pretty they are.

* That would be lily-of-the-valley.
** Actually a very deep, striking eggplant.

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Usefulness of the day: Toss an apple in with your potatoes to keep the latter from budding. (spudding?)

because I am trying to learn how to use my camera...

More daffodils...

For some reason, a little clutch of daffodils decided to spring up right in the corner where Jack prefers to relieve himself. They most certainly were not there last year, so I'm rather curious as to how they arrived in that particular scrap of dead grass. I snipped and brought them inside, leaving the ones who had the good sense to root themselves elsewhere to remain.

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Usefulness of the day: Free Dunkin' Donuts coffee and one free small coffee from Seattle's Best on Monday.

A cautious and tentative announcement...

I do believe that spring is upon us.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come...

Spring?

After a week bitter, biting cold, it is now surprisingly warm here in the Mid-Atlantic. Just for fun, I'm posting some Spring 2008 pictures. My balcony turned into a home for unwed mothers for birds, and I enjoyed seeing two mama birds prepare their nests, care for their little hatchlings, and wish them well in the world after a two weeks.

This is Mama 1. I captured this scene on Mother's Day.

So hungry!I added the wood base when Mama kept trying to build her nest on that little ledge.The prior owners warned me that birds always try to build on this small space! Bird brains, indeed.

This is Mama 2. She was born to Mama 1. These are Mama 1's grandbirds. As you can see by Mama 2's small size, she was practically a baby herself!

Young Mama 2 had only two hatchlings. One hopped down and flew away on his own. This little one took almost a month to leave the nest.

And when he finally did leave the nest, he only went so far as my flower pot. He remained there for day, feasting on bugs brought to him by his mother. Eventually, he made it out into the world.

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Tip/trick/lesson of the day: Afterschool kit to help kids learn to make responsible decisions.

October Flowers

Evidently, the phrase "October flowers" is not an oxymoron.


These are soft, fuzzy grasses. They remind me of Charleston's palmetto trees. Or Sideshow Bob.

A single cosmo in a milk glass vase. Cosmos and morning glories were actually the first flowers I grew. I transplanted them to a small corner and use them for cutting. Cosmos look like spiky weeds - but just when you get ready to dig them up, pink blooms explode on top. Loveliness.


Fragrant sunny mums. These are from the grocery store. I accidentally lopped off a few branches with the car door. They join rich red mums on the front steps.


Grasses, ferns, and what I suspect are weeds. I know ferns are common fillers, but I think they are beautiful on their own. These ferns are shabby and small, but at the height of their glory they were massive green fans.

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I made approximately forty more gallons of tomato sauce tonight. I can't even recall the last time I ate pasta - but something tells me I will be eating plenty of it soon!