Field Day

Granddaughter Alivia was here earlier today...

Guess what she wanted to do...pick the sunflower!

It sprouted after being dropped by a bird...

eating at the feeder on the back porch.

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-all photos enlarge-

The feeder hangs extra low by the kitchen door...

I convinced her not to pick the sunflower just yet,

but to watch the birds come to the feeder...

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while she played with some bubbles in the sink...
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Later we went out toward the field to pick
the few remaining raspberries.






One day after going out and heading
to the field...




I came across this turtle in the drive...




after moving him to a safer place in the grass...




near the bed of day lilies...



by the large oak tree...

with the friendly face...

I went into the tall grass to look for changes...

every few days it looks different.

-all photos enlarge-

There were plenty of grass seed heads forming...

several different types...

-Umbrella Sedge on right-

different wild flowers were blooming...

some pink...

-Field Milkwort-

some yellow...

-Virginia Yellow Flax-

some white...

-Virginia Mountain Mint-

if one didn't look close one might miss...

many different types of insects...
some spotted brown...

some black with stripes...

some golden brown

and some bees and butterflies...

of all sizes...

There were more types of bees than butterflies...

but the butterflies were prettier.

The bees had a special beauty though...

they looked large and healthy.

I often wonder...

do the deer who love playing in the field...

and hiding in the tall grass.....do they ever get stung?

Here's a video where I think that just

might have happened...

Light.....Day and Night

Being nestled here in trees...does have it's drawbacks...

One being not enough sunlight for flowers at times...

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making it necessary to use shade loving plants like

Hosta and Astilbe in the circle created by the drive...

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I did manage to find a spot in the circle that receives
just enough light for this Morning Light Maiden Grass.



Our early morning sunlight first hits this spot...

up by the bridge, that leads to Alivia's house...

...at the beginning of the drive. .

The light slowly works it's way into the field

by the barn...

Then it progresses even slower down the

front side yard along the fence row and drive.

Finally the sunlight makes it's way to the gazebo

at the end of the flower garden...the only place

besides the field that gets enough sunlight

to grow flowers.

The side yard stays in shade almost all day...we

have a birdbath there for the birds...although

squirrels and deer use it too, even a fox one time.

Lily of the Valley, Bleeding Hearts, Fern,

and "Rocks" grow fairly well here!

The birdbath does reflect the sky light as

the sunlight makes it's way around back...

to the garden...where we removed several large

trees last year in order to grow squash like this...

in order to have blossoms like this...

in order to have light salads like this!

So with our numerous cloudy days lately and a

thunderstorm again last night...the flower garden

is less flamboyant than usual...I'm lucky to have
these Daisies...
.

and the Bee Balm...which does it part to attract...

bees to the Coneflowers...

and a few Butterflies...

of different types which light up the yard.

As the day ends, the last lights I see are some

of my favorite things...this one made by my

son in law Rick stays on all night.

as well as this owl that gives light to the night...

Another favorite thing that gives light to my days...
...Books...

...as well as...

Alivia...seen here at her Dance Recital!


That's just a few of the Lights I appreciate!

Garden Party

Maybe I should name this lone little fawn....

who I just happened to look out and see.....

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having himself a party....in my garden...

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He was standing in the middle of some wild daisies.

I approached slowly and he didn't appear frightened...





but he did hike his tail.....





and ran away....




leaving my garden a little empty and boring.....




except for yellow lilies and yarrow...I just have
a few purple flowers in bloom...

Most of the Coneflowers still look like spiky buds....

so the garden is a little plain...well, except for a

mysterious face in the ornamental grass...My

son discovered it Sunday...while enlarging a photo

on last week's post....Can you see it?

After clicking on photo to enlarge...the statue like

face appears half way up...just below the plumes

of the tall ornamental grass...

-enlarge to see-

While some of the family was leaving Father's Day...

we saw the Mother and three fawns in the field.

Remember them?

The fawns kept her there several minutes....

nursing...and then they too...went away!

At least they aren't eating my Hostas this year....

not yet anyway.

Even with all the rain and moisture in the air...

I still have to water the potted cherry tomatoes

on the back porch every day...sometimes twice.

This end of the porch takes you to the back yard...

where the other tomatoes are planted and a small

water fountain for the birds is located...

You may be able to see a Finch sipping water in

this blurred photo...I took through the window.

-enlarge-

A birdhouse is located back here too...

the Carolina Wrens use it...

they are working on their second nest...

of the season.....

also back here....sometimes we see

Woodpeckers on the trees.....

-photos enlarge-

...and in the trees!

sometimes you may also find.....

Alivia...in a hammock!

Doesn't she look like she's day dreaming.....

...maybe about a "garden party"...