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.