Butterfly in my Garden - Camera Critters #120

We were just pulling into our driveway when I spotted a huge butterfly fluttering around the perennial garden.  I mean, it was HUGE!  I whipped my camera out of my bag and crept up as close as I thought I could without startling it.  I needn't have worried...it was so absorbed in its task it didn't even notice me.

Got a couple of nice shots, I think, as it flew from flower to flower.

So as luck would have it, this is just in time for Camera Critters #120.    There are lots of wonderful photos of butterflies out there in blogland but I am throwing one more into the mix.

Climbing Flowers at Lake Mary

This is not a garden blog although I've posted more than my share of flower photographs!  But summer is fleeting here in the upper midwest so it's important to enjoy the color while it lasts.

Climbing perennials are favorites...here are two of ours.  These orangey-red blossoms are called honeysuckle dropmore.  Silly name (dropmore) for a beautiful blossom.  They climb up the side of our deck.

And these light purple blossoms are, of course, clematis.  Each year there are more flowers than the last.  One of these days we'll have to cut a path through them to get to our front door!

I've read that there are more than 3,000 varieties of clematis!   Some are scented and some aren't.  Lucky for us we have the scented variety and let me tell you, the fragrance is just gorgeous.  I've tried to pinpoint the fragrance because it's reminiscent of another flower scent but I'm at a loss as to what it might be. 

Minnesota Natives - Butterfly Weed, Royal Catchfly, Coneflowers, Etc.

Just a few photos capturing the current stars of our lakescape.  I took these late this afternoon.

This is Butterfly Weed.  It's part of the milkweed family.  Our milkweeds haven't started to bloom, yet.

I just learned that much of the plant is toxic unless it's boiled but it's edible if you boil it.  Who do you suppose was brave enough to figure that out?  I dunno...not so sure I'd want to eat it even if it wasn't toxic.  You can also dip the blossoms in batter and deep fry them.  That might be good...maybe I'll even try it.  Will keep you posted.

This shrub with the berries is Wolf Berry or Wolfberry.  From the little bit of research that I've done, it's possible that this is in the same family and possibly the same exact shrub as the Chinese Goji berry bush.  If so, we've got a dandy little pharmacy right in our lakesacape!  Goji berries are known for their cancer fighting properties.  And the leaves are supposedly delicious in salads, etc.

Am going to get the facts straight as soon as I can but don't quote me on this...yet.  

The purple Coneflowers (Echinacea) are really prolific, this year.  They're pretty even when they go to seed. 

And then we have Royal Catchfly with its vivid red blossoms.  The only really red flower we've got in the lakescape.  They took a little longer to spread than the other native flowers so we don't have as many of them.

That's it for now...stay tuned.

San Francisco Botanical Gardens Photo Contest!

There are many, many bloggers who take amazing photos of pets and wildlife and other animals for the Camera Critters meme.  I generally can only visit a few each week.  I try to visit new posts...it's a great way to meet other like-minded animal lovers!

That's how I "met" Joanne of Poetic Shutterbug.  She did a Camera Critters post on some of the animals at the San Francisco zoo and the photos are just outstanding.

You can see the photographs HERE.

What I'm leading up to is this...I'd like to share another post the Poetic Shutterbug did about a contest that's being sponsored by the San Francisco Botanical Garden.   I've just entered it and I'm thinking that so many of you post gorgeous garden photos and you might like to enter, as well.  Sounds good, don't you think?

The photo I entered is this one.  You might remember it from a post I did while on Bainbridge Island.

Jack and I spent a day at the very beautiful Bloedel Reserve and this is one of the plants in the Bird Marsh...it's called Swamp Lantern (also Skunk Cabbage).  I thought it was gorgeous and was amazed that it has a not so pleasant smell and emits enough heat to melt snow!

So check out the contest and spread the word.  I think it's a great idea and I know lots of you have taken beautiful pictures that would be perfect for entering.

NOTE:  The photograph does not need to be from the SF Botanical Gardens.  Here's what the post says:

"Now we realize many of you have not visited our gardens. That is okay, you can still enter to win. Upload a favorite garden inspired photo with your own inspirations."

Let me know if you do enter and good luck!

Bob and Eva

We are petsitting this week.  Daughter Jen's cat, Eva, and her pet dove, Bob.  Bob is 20 years old (at least).  She got him when she was 14 from a school teacher who had several in the classroom and at the end of the year several lucky students got them as pets.  Who knew they live this long???

Eva is 15 or 16 years old.  They are her children (or "kids" as she calls them).   "Mom, can you watch the kids while I fly to New York for a week?"  Sure.

So Eva and Bob are friends as well as "siblings".   They actually play.  Bob chases Eva and pecks her toes and Eva rolls over on her back and bats at him with her paws.

She could send him sailing across the room if she wanted to but she never does.  She bats at him gently.

I guess in this shot Eva is keeping an eye on Bob.  He's headed for her food dish in the kitchen.  That's a definite no-no but he's naughty, sometimes.

 Sometimes they just visit a little.  Probably wonder where the heck "Mom" has gone, this time!

This is my submission for Camera Critters #118 this week, which will be a unique post, I think!

Messing around with blogger, again

It's not as if I don't have a million things to do...we're putting up knotty pine in our downstairs family room, we have an art fair this weekend, I'm supposed to be studying my A-List Blogger Club lessons, we have to go to Minneapolis on Tuesday,  and we're getting ready for more company.

But I'm messing around with the templates on Blogger.  So....what do you think of this template?  Is it easy to read?  Is that raspberry header background jarring or jazzy?  Do you think the photos stand out as well?

I love the new looks I'm seeing on some of your blogs...I guess we just can't leave well enough alone!

We're working at an art fair on Saturday but I've scheduled a rather amusing/interesting post (I think).
Stay tuned!

Summer Sangria

One refreshing beverage which the grownups enjoyed over the Independence Day weekend was a delicious sangria recipe from my daughter Stefani's collection of party treats.   It's colorful, full of fresh fruit and easy to prepare.

I don't know the origin of this recipe (pre-Stefani) or I'd give credit where credit is due but it's a keeper.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup brandy
2 Tablespoons orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier.  (Triple Sec works, also.)
2 Tablespoons Amaretto
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup sugar

Fresh fruit which you have cut in pieces.

I used 1 Granny Smith (tart green) apple, 1 peach, 1 kiwi and a handful of freshly picked strawberries.

Stefani used 1 granny smith apple, 2 peaches and a handful of cherries cut in half.  You could use grapes or any other fruit that appeals to you.

1 bottle of red wine (use a good one that you would drink just as it is).
1 bottle sparkling strawberry flavored water.

Method:
Mix the sugar, brandy, Grand Marnier and orange juice.  Add the fruit and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

A couple of hours before you are ready to serve, add the wine.  Chill again.  Remove from the refrigerator about an hour before serving (although you can certainly serve it cold).  When your guests arrive, add the sparkling water and serve.

Garnish with fresh fruit on little skewers, if you like, and serve!

An assortment of cheeses and crackers plus a glass of sangria is fun and festive.

Rock on!

NOTE:  This would probably be just as good using white wine although I'm not sure what variety you'd use.  I've had white sangria a time or two and it's excellent.

Lazy Days of Summer

Fishing off the dock on a perfect July day is the ultimate summer fun at Lake Mary.  Here are Jack, MJ and two young fishing enthusiasts enjoying a little bonding time.

If you enlarge this photo you can read the back of Jack's shirt..."Old Guys Rule".  Jen bought this for him when we were in Los Angeles a couple of years ago.

Then there's the annual Strawberry-Picking-With-Grandpa Event.  Every year they hop in the car and spend an hour or so at a strawberry patch.   I then spend an hour or so cleaning and trimming them.  I put them on large trays, cover them with wax paper and set them in the freezer.  After they're frozen we put them in freezer bags.  I'll be making strawberry jam at some point.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.  For those of you in the United States...have a safe and happy 4th of July.  Be careful with the fireworks, please.

A Thoughtful Prayer

I don't know where I first read this little prayer but I copied it into a little black notebook that I carry with me.  Yesterday I was looking for a phone number in that little black book and as I was leafing through the pages, this caught my eye.  So I thought I would share it...enjoy.

Dear God,

So far today, I am doing alright.

I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self-indulgent.

I have not whined, complained, cursed or eaten any chocolate.  I have charged nothing on my credit card.

But I will be getting out of bed in a minute and I think that I will really need your help, then.

For some reason or another, it just tickled my fancy.  (I wonder where that phrase originated.)   If anyone knows the origin of this clever prayer I'd love to hear about it.

Here's hoping today will not be a struggle in any sense of the word!
 
Photo courtesy of Fr Atunes' Flickr Photostream through Creative Commons

Flowers and Water Fowl

It's Saturday and I'm off preparing for out of town guests.  But I photographed some of the flowers in my perennial garden and thought I'd share them as a quick post, today.

This is a view of my perennial garden.  I should have taken more shots, today, because I think it's even more in bloom.  Perhaps I'll have time later in the day.

I love these yellow lilies.  Their color is just so sunny...you can't help feeling sunny, yourself!

These are mostly Gallardia with a few daisies scatterd throughout.  They're a long lasting flower which makes for a nice addition to a perennial bed.  There is a bee on the second blossom from the left in the upper left corner.  If you enlarge the photo (by clicking on it)  you will have a better view.

These are probably  my favorites.  The color is so intense and everything else looks better because of them.

A wood duck family swimming by our property.  Took this one through the window and then cropped it to get a closer view.  It's not very good but it's still better than no picture at all!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I've lots to post about...stay tuned!