Monarch and Bee

Monarch
New England Aster
Bee
My yard
Wheeler Lake
North Alabama
2009

This sassy bee zizzed right in front of a Monarch sipping on an aster. That likely happens more than I think. Flowers are very close together and there are always a plethora of diners at any given time, plant to plant. This was 2009 on a day when the butterflies returned. It was late summer and temps finally warmed enough for them, I suppose. Last year was relatively cool as summers go, especially considering the desert droughts we'd experienced three summers in a row beforehand. Personally, I preferred it but clearly the butterflies thought otherwise for we didn't see any at all the first few months of summer. I can't speak for this year as I'm not there, in my garden, photographing bugs. Here, there are no asters or lantana so I cannot judge.

Are there lots of butterflies your way? How are weather patterns where you are? Here, it's been HOT, in the 100's.

Clouds

The view
from my mom's Sunny Beach Porch
July 2010

Sometimes, there are simply no words to describe the sky. On this day cotton balls floated amidst bridal veils backed by cerulean blue and cobalt. And this show was for free. No charge. It was enough to simply pour the wine, sit back and enjoy. Life Is Good.

Gardening Gone Wild Photo Contest Entry

Italian Rooftop Garden

Florence, Italy

We were in Italy for a 2 week stay the summer of 2006. Italy completely captivated me, my imagination and creativity, opened my heart and brought great joy to my spirit. Our first day there we traveled by train from Rome to Florence. To say Florence, Italy is beautiful would be like saying the sun is hot. Florence must be experienced first-hand for there are no words and no photos that convey how it really is. However, this missive is not to tell everyone about Italy, though no doubt I could fill my blog with tales and photos the rest of the summer. This missive is for my first ever entry into Gardening Gone Wild's Photo Contest. Thought I would give it a go this time ... just for grins.

But to set up the scene you must know that we walked from the train station straight to the Cathedral of Florence, beside which stands Giotto's Campanile. Giotto's Campanile is a free-standing tower residing alongside the Cathedral of Florence along with a host of other buildings. There are 414 steps up a narrow, winding passage. Trust me ... I counted every last one. Thankfully, windows come often, allowing any breezes. Landings allow one to catch one's breath. We climbed up, up, up, pausing at the main landings along the way to peek out to the city below us.

Giotto's Campanile;
Florence, Italy

Taken from the top of Giotto's Campanile;
The red rooftops of Florence, Italy

Once we reached the top we walked around the rooftop, astonished at the sights before us. The red tile rooftops of Florence spread all around us like a tapestry. Gentle green hillsides surrounding the city were dotted with villas and olive gardens while distant landscapes were shaded in blue haze. We enjoyed the scenery and especially enjoyed seeing how people landscaped their rooftops with gardens, one of which is my entry.

What a special memory. This makes me all warm on the inside and smiley on the outside. I hope you enjoyed my little tale of Florence and enjoyed the photos.

Sunday Photo

June 9, 2010
Sunrise

Saturday Photo

Great Blue Herons capture radiant heat in the bay
January 25, 2007

Once upon a time one of my jobs was to drive the offspring to school and back. The trip was 25 minutes each way. The morning ride was into the sun, blinding during the autumn-to-winter mornings when the sun changed its angle and blasted into our faces. Chilled to the bone, steam rising from the coffee in my travel mug, heater going full blast and defroster not doing a good job, we would join the fray of car riders going into town from the country.

The way back was magical for the sun was at my back, sharply angled casting deep shadows and layering fields and trees and waters in gold. This was a January morning. The air was snapping and cracking, temps were in the 20's and the winds weren't kind. Crossing the bay I see herons standing together in a nook, clearly outlined against the trees. The first day I noticed them I counted a dozen herons. The following day nearly 20 herons, but this time the camera was with me on the way home. Most were scattered throughout the bay in small groupings, but this little grouping of 10 seemed to have the best spot.

Great Blue Herons gathering in Turtle Bay, enjoying the radiant heat of a frigid January sunrise. One of Life's special moments!