Butterflies

A few years ago, Mr. Wiggins, a man in my neighborhood, started to clear an overgrown area adjacent to his home.  It was an unsightly lot filled with palmetto bushes.  I watched with awe as he worked and I occasionally wondered about his sanity.  It was a BIG job.  But now, it is a haven for butterflies and birds.  I spend a lot of time last summer visiting with Mr. Wiggins and asking a myriad of questions.

I was so inspired, that I wanted to make a sanctuary for the butterflies, bees, hummingbird and all birds.  In my search for plants, I found some wonderful attractors for the visitors I hope to have.  One very interesting one was a butterfly plant.  Now there is butterfly bush with large purple flowers and there is a butterfly weed that butterflies lay eggs underneath the leaves and when they hatch, the caterpillars eat that weed.  But I found a special butterfly plant.  Not only does it attack butterflies but it looks like a butterfly.

 I'm constantly amazed at God's handiwork and ever grateful for the beauty all around.

Til Tomorrow,
Sandra

My Virginia Garden

It's been a great year to plant and work in our yard. As I was out searching for new and interesting plants, I found myself being drawn to plants from my childhood. I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's (Mamma's) house as a child and I have such fond memories of waiting for the four o'clocks to open in the late afternoon and collecting the dried zinnia blooms, saving them in a brown paper sack and crumbling them in my hands to plant in the spring. I'm sorry most children don't have these wonderful nature experiences. My grandchildren do. We wander around looking for wonderful interesting things and never know what we'll find.

 Now, back to the point. I now have Mamma's favorite flowers planted in my Virginia Garden (Jewel Virginia Jones was her name.) Those were Zinnias, Four O'Clocks and Moss Roses.  And I feel such joy and comfort in these memories.

Until tomorrow, remember, we don't always have to be looking forward, sometimes its really nice to look back,
Sandra

This was the most interesting picture I took today.  I promise it isn't photoshopped although it really looks like it is.  This is a Red Bay Tree in my back yard.  This tree leans so far over the water that it actually touches the water.  A few years back, a special Japanese Beetle made it way through Florida and killed almost all of the Red Bays.  I lost 4, but the others survived.  This particular Beetle was untouched by the typical insecticides and caused quite a panic.  It is a lovely tree.

Tweetles,

Sandra

I'm Back!

Well, I'm back.  And where have you been?,  you might ask.  This is a rather embarrassing confession I'm about to make.  The week of my last post - of what I perceived as perfectly marvelous examples of photos, I decided that having my photos on a stock site would be so exciting and rewarding.

Alas, as we all know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and when my photos were rejected, I was, shall me say "devastated".  I know, it was childish.  After all, I was taking the pictures for my own enjoyment.  I guess I thought I needed some validation.

So now, I'm back and with a newly uplifted attitude.  I've been validated.  I entered one of my photos in the Clay County Fair and am now am the proud winner of a BLUE Ribbon AND $3.00 cash.  So, I'm back and here's my winning photo!

Tweetles,
Sandra

What a remarkable master plan!

I wrote last week that the Moon Flower was so special because the moths that feed at night can see them since they are bright white.  And then I showed you the Morning Glory that is in the same family but blooms in the morning.  Now take a look at the pink ones.  They are called Four O'Clocks.  They bloom in the late afternoon around 4 o'clock.   It occurred to me that with this family of flowers, we have blooms round the clock.

See, it is a remarkable master plan - this creation of God's.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

A different way to handle succulents.

The San Diego Botanical Gardens found a different way to grown succulents.  Take a look at the Mexican musician.  He's almost completely covered with plants.  That's a pretty innovative way to grow plants and decorate your garden.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Feeling Good!

I don't know about you, but this picture just make me feel HAPPY!  I love the mixture and the naturalness of these flowers.  Its like God's little painting that changes daily.  Pretty cool I think.

Til Tomorrow,

Tweetles

What is this bird?

I have searched but haven't found out what this bird is. It's so interesting with the black protrusion on its head. Because of its feet, I think it is a type of duck. But after all my research, I can't find it. Anybody know?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetle

Cork Oak

This is a cork oak tree. Wine corks and cork floors are derived from the bark of these trees. This one was located in San Diego. Very interesting if you take a close look.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Hooded Merganser

This was a cute little duck I saw at the safari. They were quite prolific. They lay 10-12 white eggs and reside in wooded areas. Interesting how the head is two-toned.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

A Pair of Parrots

This pair of parrots greeted up as we entered the San Diego Safari.  They were very colorful as you can see and seemed to be serving as our welcoming committee or were they merely inspected those who entered?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Artichoke

I was blown away by this plant.  I had never seen artichoke growing before.  I'm not sure if the purple comes before the artichoke closes up or if it is the result of an artichoke that is not harvested and then it produces the bloom.  But it is beautiful.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Morning Glory

Earlier this week I shared a photo of a moonflower and said it was in the same family as the morning glory so I thought I would follow up with this morning glory so you could compare the two.

I will be home tomorrow and can write more lengthy blogs. It's a little more difficult on the iPad. I don't have quite the control.

So Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sleeping Duck

At a beautiful resort called Paradise Point in San Diego, I saw this duck sleeping. I had no idea they tucked their head under their wing to sleep.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Real Deal

Since I've talked so much about the "flamingos" in a couple posts lately, I wanted to share this picture I made in California. Now this one is the real thing. He lives in the San Diego Zoo Safari Area. Did you know that the shrimp a flamingo eats is what gives him his color? I think this one hasn't had much shrimp lately.

I have a lot of great photos to share in the upcoming posts. So,

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Moonflower

This beautiful blossom is a moonflower. It opens at night and is pollinated by night flying moths. There are other flowers that night moths pollinate and they are all white so they can be seen by the moth. The moonflower is in the same family as the morning glory but it is pollinated by bees and butterflies during the day.


Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Buckeye

This is a nice example of a buckeye butterfly.  They are called that for obvious reasons.  The spots on their wings look like eyes.  Those eyes serve as protection for them against birds.  I guess the birds think they're larger or more fierce than they are?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Moss and Holly

You may remember that sometime back I mentioned how much I love the moss hanging from the trees.  This is such an interesting contrast in texture - the holly leaves are shiny and stiff while the moss is dull in color and blow easily in the breeze.  Nice.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Great Blue Heron in Summer

This majestic Great Blue Heron has remained in and around the pond in my back yard - despite the presence of a gator.  In the past, they usually move on to safer territory, but this one seems to have control of the situation and continues to walk the perimeter of the pond each day to find his food.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Lantana

If you're looking for a drought resistant plant that comes back year after year and attracts butterflies, Lantana is the plant for you.  Commonly called "Choke Weed" this is one plant you don't want in your pasture.  They are quite showy and come in various shades of yellow, orange and red.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles