Aged To Perfection

Who says aging isn't beautiful! 

I couldn't help but fall in love with this withering daffodil earlier this month.

As time went by the petals became more dimensional.

The texture, more dynamic.

The color, more vibrant.

Past it's prime but more perfect with each passing day.

Fading Sunflower

taken:
day ninety two
09.20.2014

As we round out the last couple days of summer we see the sunflowers fade. What once was towering upright, facing the sun is now drooping, facing the earth, becoming food for song birds. Another three seasons will pass before new sunflowers will be brought to life once more, bringing back cheery sunshiny days in the garden.

I Wonder

taken:
day eighty three
09.11.2014

Well hello, little grasshopper! Does the world look different from up there, I wonder, at the top of that tall sunflower?

September Sunflower

taken:
day seventy three
09.01.2014

A super sunny sunflower on the first day of September.

Alluring

taken:
day sixty six
08.25.2014

The alluring petals of a sunflower.

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!

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.

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.

Rise And Shine

taken:
day thirty one
07.21.2014

Rise and shine dear little sunflower.

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.

Texture

taken:
day twenty two
07.12.2014

A rudbeckia center boasting some impressive texture.

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. 

Side View

taken:
day eleven
07.01.2014

Just a simple side view of a black eyed susan.

Revealed

taken:
day seven
06.27.2014

Emerging a few days ago this double gold gloriosa daisy is now revealed.

All It's Golden Glory

taken:
day five
06.25.2014

There's a variety of rudbeckia in my garden and they're all beginning to emerge with vibrant color. This one is called a double gold gloriosa daisy. It won't be long and it'll be fully displayed in all it's golden glory.

Brilliant Colors

taken:
day three
06.23.2014

My yellow honeysuckles are in full bloom this time of year. The vine explodes in brilliant colors of yellow, gold and orange. This variety of honeysuckle only blooms for a short time, maybe a week or two at the most. Unlike my other honeysuckle vine, with coral blossoms, that blooms from early spring to late fall.

Dynamic

taken:
day sixty eight
08.27.2013

I'm so excited about this 'salsa' sneezeweed that I picked up on clearance at a local greenhouse. It's incredibly bright and dynamic with tons of blooms. I can't wait for it to add abundant color to my garden year after year.

Far From Mammoth

taken:
day sixty seven
08.26.2013

This emerging sunflower is supposed to be a 'mammoth' sunflower. It's far from mammoth though. It's shorter than me and the bloom is only abut 6 - 8 inches. It's supposed to be 9 - 12 feet tall with a 12 inch bloom. Not sure why it's so small. Maybe it's because the seeds came from the dollar store or because I planted the seeds a bit late? Sometimes I feel like my green thumb is a little off. Ok, I feel like that a lot actually. Gardening is hard and tricky work! Things don't always turn out as you envision. Oh well, this sunflower is still pretty and cheerful and makes me smile.

Any Moment

taken:
day forty three
08.02.2013

Just a lonely wild sunflower growing among some other prairie flowers. 

It's about to pop open at any moment now.

Adorable

taken:
day forty
07.30.2013

Another tiny bee, this one on a small creamy yellow wildflower blossom. I see these cute little bees lingering on flowers everywhere lately. I'm not even sure if they are technically bees but they look like it to me so that's what I call them. They have huge buggy eyes, sweet little iridescent wings and a striped behind. I think they're adorable.