A Match Made In Heaven

taken:
day seventy two
08.31.2014

A match made in heaven, a bee and a zinnia.

Glowing

taken:
day seventy one
08.30.2014

A 'bright lights' cosmos glowing in the morning sun after a shower from the garden sprinkler.

Delightful

taken:
day seventy
08.29.2014

I'm always thrilled when I see a hummingbird in my garden but I rarely have time to snap photos of them before they zip away. Luckily when I spotted this one I was standing close to a tall sunflower and I think I blended in with it enough so the hummingbird wasn't startled by me. I stood as still as I could, gradually raised my camera and was able to take many photos. In fact this guy flew so close to me a couple of times that I got a bit freaked out and was worried that he was going to fly right into me. It was so delightful!

Early

taken:
day sixty nine
08.28.2014

One must get out to the garden early enough in the morning to witness the blooming morning glories. As soon as the sun gets high and warm the morning glory shuts and hides until the next morning. Sometimes on a cloudy cool day though, you'll get lucky and they'll bloom all day.

The Old Church

taken:
day sixty eight
08.27.2014

A bit of the old world is still nestled along a secluded unpaved road in a suburban Minnesota town. It's a place I grew up passing by often. This place, an old historic Swedish church founded in 1872, is near my parents home. It's a cherished building to many, so much so that it's on the National Register of Historical Places.  

An August afternoon walk with my mom and my boys brought us to the grounds of the church. It's the first time we brought my boys there.

With the graveyard surrounding the church you immediately know it is a sacred place and as we strolled through the grounds we read several of the gravestones, many of them are very old dating back to the early days. It's easy to let yourself imagine the lives of those people, what their stories were and become mesmerized by what it was like long ago when the church was first founded. 

I felt grateful for this day and this serene summer walk with my boys and my mom. It was fun to introduce my boys to a bit of the old world and show them this special old church that is so full of history and beloved by many.

Hiding

taken:
day sixty seven
08.26.2014

I spotted this wispy 'rough blazing star' growing wildly in the empty lot across the street. A tiny bit of purple beauty hiding among tall neutral native grasses.

Alluring

taken:
day sixty six
08.25.2014

The alluring petals of a sunflower.

Feasting

taken:
day sixty five
08.24.2014

One evening while walking through the prairie area of my yard I spied this dragonfly feasting on a large long-legged type fly. This fly was not much smaller than the dragonfly itself. See, I told you, despite the darling and dainty persona dragonflies are known for, they are actually ravenous predators, with large appetites, always on the hunt for their next meal.

Dreamy

taken:
day sixty four
08.23.2014

A dreamy view of the center of a 'tropic escape' hibiscus.

Weathered Metal

taken:
day sixty three
08.22.2014

It was 8:00 in the evening and we had been at the MN State Fair for about 12 hours. We were finally making our way through the newly remodeled Heritage Center, when I looked up and noticed this windmill. The sun was setting and I loved the way the sunlight gleamed off of the weathered metal.

Pretty Pink Profile

taken:
day sixty two
08.21.2014

The profile of a pretty pink zinnia.

Dazzled

taken:
day sixty one
08.20.2014

I'm always so dazzled by butterflies. Especially when I spot a 'eastern tiger swallowtail' fluttering through my garden. I feel giddy and humbled by their visits. My tiger lilies are always a favorite for these butterflies.

Growing Roadside

taken:
day sixty
08.19.2014

Some wild grasses growing roadside across the street from my house.

I'm Not Afraid Of Bees

taken:
day fifty nine
08.18.2014

I'm not afraid of bees. Not one bit. When I'm in my garden they buzz inches from me and I'm simply fascinated by them. Wasps and other stinging meanies, well, that's another story. I can live without those nasty guys. But beautiful pollinating bees, I adore them.

Ruffly Abstract

taken:
day fifty eight
08.17.2014

Sometimes I don't get around to taking my daily photos until evening and sometimes I only make it as far as the front porch. Which was the case on this day. Good thing I have a few potted plants to choose from in the case that I've had one of those days. I tried to get a good abstract shot of the ruffly petals of this pink and white variegated geranium but shooting in 8:30 p.m. lightening is sometimes a challenge.

Center Of Attention

taken:
day fifty seven
08.16.2014

It's just a given that cosmos end up being the center of attention this time of year. The 'picotee' cosmos are filling my garden with glorious petals of white with striking pink edges. 

More To Come

taken:
day fifty six
08.15.2014

Another darling cosmos. There's more to come, I'm sure of it.

Tenderness

taken:
day fifty five
08.14.2014

As usual this time of year the cosmos are rippling through the garden with ambition and tenderness. Always one of my favorites. 

Exquisite

taken:
day fifty four
08.13.2014

An exquisite 'eastern tiger swallowtail' butterfly enjoying a pretty pink cosmos. I love having these beauties visit my garden!

Entwined

taken:
day fifty three
08.12.2014

Entwined morning glory vines backlit by the golden late day August sun.

Adorned

taken:
day fifty two
08.11.2014

Another sunflower. This one adorned with some water droplets after a shower from the garden sprinkler.

Uneven Beauty

taken:
day fifty one
08.10.2014

A feathery frilly poppy growing at my in-laws cabin. I don't know what variety of poppy it is but I find it very interesting with it's irregular shaped petals in various sizes. It's erratic, sporadic, uneven beauty.

Minnesota Evening

taken:
day fifty
08.09.2014

You know the scene.

It was a fabulous Minnesota evening.

A sunset pontoon ride.

A bright full moon rising.

A shoreside blazing camp fire.

Kids fishing off the dock.

Toasted marshmallows and s'mores.

Lounging back in an adirondack chair.

Serenity.

Until . . . MOSQUITOES.

They have a way of ruining everything!

Lovely

taken:
day forty nine
08.08.2014

The profile view of a lovely black eyed susan. I love the details in the flower center and the way the petals gently curl back at the tips.

Snack

taken:
day forty eight
08.07.2014

Here's a tiny blue eyed damselfly. If you look closely you'll notice he's having a bit of a snack. No doubt a tasty little bug morsel.

The Best

taken:
day forty seven
08.06.2014

A tipped look at the graceful petals of a 'bright lights' cosmos. These cosmos, they're the best! Truly the best. They're vivid and dynamic and just plain cheerful. A garden is not a happy garden without a 'bright lights' cosmos to cheer it up.

Lounging

taken:
day forty six
08.05.2014

I caught this adorable little tree frog lounging on one of my pink oriental lilies, soaking up some late morning sun. Tree frogs are always a fun little surprise in the garden even though I see them in there almost every single day. I never grow tired of these tiny green visitors.

What Is It?

taken:
day forty five
08.04.2014

What is it? A dragonfly, or a damselfly, or something completely different? Whatever it is, I love it's lustrous wings and it's iridescent eyes.

Snow Puff Cosmos

taken:
day forty four
08.03.2014

This is my first year growing these, 'snow puff' cosmos. They are sweet and delicate with layers of frilly white petals. I enjoyed them in the garden and I do believe I'll be growing these again year after year.

Welcomed And Loved

taken:
day forty three
08.02.2014

A wild vine leaf. This vine appeared all on it's own, taking over one whole side and corner of my garden fence. Something wild and unplanned has become welcomed and loved. It may be unruly at times but all it needs is a little tender loving care to tame it and keep it in shape.

Split Second

taken:
day forty two
08.01.2014

It's a blue sky, 

a cloud with a window,

rays of sunlight,

birds in flight. 

It's one perfect fleeting moment, 

a split second,

a glimpse into heaven.