Day Two Hundred Thirty Five 2012

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
~Albert Einstein

Day Two Hundred Six 2012

When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life.
~Monty Python's Life of Brian

Day One Hundred Eight 2012

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

~Hans Christian Andersen

Day Two Hundred Nineteen 2011

My little hummingbird friend came back again this afternoon. Even with my long lens, it was hard to get a really good shot of him. I didn't want to stand any closer and scare him away. In some of the pictures, he looks like a butterfly or maybe a stealth aircraft. He was crazy fast. I wonder if he ever stops.

Day Two Hundred Eighteen 2011

I was on the deck this afternoon, ready to snap a picture of my colorful Lantana, when this little hummingbird suddenly appeared in my viewfinder. I was already focused on the flower, so I got off one click of the shutter before he was gone. Pretty cool. I think they call this serendipity.

Day One Hundred Ninety Five 2011

Another pretty butterfly visited my potted Lantana this afternoon. It never did spread its wings to show off its beautiful markings. Maybe next time.

Day One Hundred Ninety Four 2011

The Lantana is attracting butterflies (as advertised) and the bees seem to love it, too. The last picture is a little pink Dahlia blooming in the back yard. I love these (this one didn't want to show its pretty face), but they aren't doing too well this summer. Hubby Neil says you have to dig them up and separate the bulbs. I think that might be a job for the gardener in the family (Neil? Hello?).

Day One Hundred Fifty One 2011

Eye candy in a pot on my deck. Lantana. Supposed to attract butterflies. That remains to be seen. They seem very hardy because they haven't wilted in the recent heat wave. And I keep forgetting to water them. Oops.

Day One Hundred Thirteen 2011

A time to plant. Neil and I were planting fools all day today. I haven't potted flowers in a couple of years. Forgot that it's hard work, but kind of fun, too. Neil planted all sorts of things--hostas and ferns and some flowers all around the yard. He even moved a huge flowering bush from one end of the yard to the other to fill in the hole where a dead cypress tree once stood. Needless to say, we are pooped! It's always worth the effort, though.

Wishing Christians everywhere a very happy Easter!

Day One Hundred Twelve 2011

Picture postcards from a local greenhouse. He sets up shop here every spring and, as you can see, has quite a colorful selection of any plant you might want. I haven't set out any flowers in a couple of years and wanted some Geraniums--one of my fave container plants. These are the ones I chose (in the last picture), plus some plants called Lantana. They're supposed to attract butterflies. I like that idea.

Happy Good Friday to Christians everywhere!