Glimmer

taken:
day forty one
07.31.2014

After a morning shower from the sprinkler the baby's breath in my garden glimmer with shiny water droplets.

Draw You In

taken:
day forty
07.30.2014

It's always a lovely day when the stargazer lilies start to bloom. 

They draw you in with their divine scent,

their striking pink spotted petals and 

their prominent stamen and pistil.

When near a stargazer

a closer look and a deeper breath

is surely a good idea.

Monarch Caterpillar

taken:
day thirty nine
07.29.2014

I was so excited when I noticed two monarch caterpillars on this late July day. Here's one of them. For several days after, every time I walked through my garden they were there, gradually munching away on the leaves of my butterfly weed. Then one day they were gone. Maybe it was time for them to crawl away to find a safe place for their transformation? I searched around trying to find their chrysalises but didn't have any luck. It would have been so fun to find them and watch for a monarch butterfly to emerge.

Ruby Eclipse

taken:
day thirty eight
07.28.2014

One of the most stunning sunflowers, a 'ruby eclipse'. They have the most beautiful burgundy colored petals with pale yellow tips. Pretty in any light but especially show-stopping when backlit by the evening sun, illuminating their rich ruby petals. Their name couldn't have been more perfect.

Peekaboo

taken:
day thirty seven
07.27.2014

Peekaboo, little tree frog, I see you! 

I caught this cute guy hiding out in one of my daylilies. 

A daylily must be a comfy spot for a tree frog since I seem to find them there often.

I think they like lounging in the shade of the petals, sheltered from the hot summer sun.

Peachy Pink

taken:
day thirty six
07.26.2014

A peachy pink zinnia in the hot July sun.

County Fair

taken:
day thirty five
07.25.2014

On this day we went with some good friends to our local county fair to watch the tractor pull. After the tractor pull we walked through the rest of the fair and let the kids play games and ride rides. The lights of the rides always catch my eye. I love the look of this colorful little county fair ferris wheel against the dark night sky.

Graceful

taken:
day thirty four
07.24.2014

A graceful little hosta blossom.

Showy

taken:
day thirty three
07.23.2014

The 'hoary vervain' is a showy wild flower. They sprinkle prairie grasslands with their eye-catching lavender flowers on tall attractive spikes. Pollinators find them irresistible and so do I.

Abundance

taken:
day thirty two
07.22.2014

An abundance of echinacea growing at one of our favorite parks.

Rise And Shine

taken:
day thirty one
07.21.2014

Rise and shine dear little sunflower.

Sweet And Happy Life

taken:
day thirty
07.20.2014

Pink honeysuckles live a sweet and happy life. 

They are bright and cheerful, attracting beautiful creatures like hummingbirds, butterflies and bumble bees.

While they sprawl across fences and trellises they become draped in trumpet shaped joyful blooms for three seasons.

That's the sweet and happy life of a honeysuckle.

Anticipation

taken:
day twenty nine
07.19.2014

The bud of a 'yellow disk' sunflower. At this point one can only imagine the beauty that will emerge in time. Anticipation builds with each day and then the moment arrives when the sunny yellow petals pop open and reveal all that the world has waited for. 

Dreamy

taken:
day twenty eight
07.18.2014

A dreamy look at some wild grasses that grow nearby.

Brief Break

taken:
day twenty seven
07.17.2014

A little dragonfly taking a brief break on the tip of a lily bud.

Swirly

taken:
day twenty six
07.16.2014

I'm not sure what's more pretty, the bud or the blooming flower of a morning glory. I love their swirly buds, they always remind me of a twist ice cream cone. This morning glory bud will bloom into a deep purple flower with a pinkish center.

Delicate Detail

taken:
day twenty five
07.15.2014

Another dragonfly, this one resting on a wild vine growing along my garden fence. Aren't dragonfly wings fascinating! I love the delicate detail and the way they catch and reflect light.

Nestled

taken:
day twenty four
07.14.2014

A sweet little tree frog nestled on a billowy annabelle hydrangea bloom.

Fiery

taken:
day twenty three
07.13.2014

Last summer I planted some rudbeckia 'Moroccan sun mix' seeds. Since it was a seed mix I didn't know what to expect. Some of them bloomed for the first time this summer and this rust colored variety was so beautiful all season long. All the blooms were very long-lived and vibrant. I love the addition of this fiery color to the garden.

Texture

taken:
day twenty two
07.12.2014

A rudbeckia center boasting some impressive texture.

Blazing Star

taken:
day twenty one
07.11.2014

Just some feathery wispy petals of a blazing star flower spike.

Irresistible

taken:
day twenty
07.10.2014

With the abundance of dragonflies this summer I've become a little obsessed with photographing them. When they are cooperative subjects in interesting lighting they are irresistible! This one sat perched on a hosta bud near some yellow flowers in the background which created a magical golden glow from behind. 

Among The Clover Blossoms

taken:
day nineteen
07.09.2014

Another dragonfly, this one I spotted among the clover blossoms at one of our favorite parks. It sat confident, letting me inch closer and closer with my camera. These common tan dragonflies are docile and usually don't get startled away easily. They make lovely little models!

Here Come The Cosmos

taken:
day eighteen
07.08.2014

The wait is over, here come the cosmos! This cosmos bud is one of the first of hundreds more to come this season. Behold a summer garden bursting with cosmos in shades of pink, white, orange and yellow. This cosmos is one from seeds I harvested from last summer. It's so fun to carry on a bright and cheerful legacy from gardens of the past.

Making It Easy

taken:
day seventeen
07.07.2014

My butterfly weed was extra popular with the grey hairstreak butterflies this summer. I've never seen more of them gathering in my garden before. Sometimes butterfly observing can be a real challenge. But not with these sweet little butterflies, they always took their time going from tiny bloom to tiny bloom. Making it easy to sit and marvel them. 

Withered

taken:
day sixteen
07.06.2014

After it's short life and an overnight rain shower, this peach hibiscus blossom withered. 

Droplets clinging to it's wrinkled crepe paper like petals. 

Still delicate and beautiful.

Burgundy Lily

taken:
day fifteen
07.05.2014

Just a simple burgundy lily on a warm summer afternoon.

A Pop Of Pinkish Red

taken:
day fourteen
07.04.2014

Here's some pretty pinkish-red yarrow in my friend Lisa's garden. She has the most beautiful gardens and landscaping! I fell in love with this bright yarrow that really popped with color on the 4th of July.

Raspberry Blast

taken:
day thirteen
07.03.2014

An abstract view of a 'raspberry blast' petunia petal.

Some Days

taken:
day twelve
07.02.2014

Some days I struggle to get a good photo. Like windy days or rainy days or just plain busy days. On this day the wind was breezy and this butterfly was swiftly bustling among these pretty white flowers. I tried my best to get a good focus on it's face and antennas but blurry is what I got instead. Blurry has to be good enough on some days.

Side View

taken:
day eleven
07.01.2014

Just a simple side view of a black eyed susan.