Sea of Day Lilies

It's officially summer now and officially the season of the day lily.  We have waves of the bright orange flowers flowing across our yard, their large blooms glowing in the sunlight.

In addition to the common orange lilies, we have a variety of other colors, like the yellow Stella Dora lily pictured above, the only day lily with a scent.

Salmon colored day lily

 

Burgundy colored day lily

 

Even though they are the most common, the orange day lily is still my favorite.  The paths in the woods behind my house when I was a child were lined with these beautiful flowers in summertime.  I always looked forward to their arrival then, and it's so nice to have them gracing our yard now!

 

Bee Balm Buddies

For over an hour today, the black swallowtail and the bumble bees shared the sweet, spicy nectar of our bee balm flowers.  The butterfly was stirring up so much pollen that its wings got covered with the powdery orange grains.  The butterfly continued fluttering and the bees continued hovering in a choreographed dance that left them both satiated and happy :)

Beetle & Nightshade

Today, Kevin and I discovered this brightly colored beetle crawling along the posts on our deck.  It was a new one to me, and, always curious about new sightings, I went to look it up in our insect guidebook.  Turns out it's a pretty common beetle called the Colorado Potato Beetle.  It's found across the US and Canada in mountain meadows and potato fields.  As you might guess from its name, this beetle feeds on potato foliage ... and also on foliage of  nightshade plants which are poisonous weeds that grow wild around here. Nightshades belong to the same family of plant that the potato plant does.

 

Nightshade Plant

The nightshade is a scrubby looking plant.  Its leaves, stem, roots, flowers, and berries are all poisonous to humans and other mammals.  We discovered a few of these plants growing under our rhododendron bush out back.  The flowers are quite pretty, but the plants are thorny and their leaves are very bug eaten ... perhaps they'd been munched on by the Colorado Potato Beetle! 

Bee Balm & Butterflies

I planted two bee balm plants this spring that are doing so well in the bright sunlight.  Their flowers opened just a little before our first day lilies sprung forth in bloom.  True to their name, they've attracted a lot of bees ... and also butterflies.

 



A tiny skipper butterfly and the larger fritillary enjoy the bee balm flowers

Our Special Day

Today is our wedding anniversary.  Much like it was on the day we were married, today was a picture perfect sunny day of low humidity and gentle breezes.  The sky was a bright blue and it was comfortably warm.  When Kevin and I looked out in our backyard this morning, we discovered that the very first daylily had opened. We have daylilies all over the yard ~ front, back, and sides.  Daylilies are such bright and happy flowers.  It was so sweet to find that the first day lily chose our special day to open :)

Beauty on the Wing

In just a few minutes outside today, I was approached by a male ruby throated hummingbird, buzzed by a magnificent tiger swallowtail butterfly that flew right over my head, and kept company by a dragonfly, who politely obliged to pose for the photos below.

The graceful, fairy-winged adult dragonflies live for just a few months, yet they appear so carefree.  There is much symbolism connected with the dragonfly.  Perhaps their most important lesson is to, as much as it is possible, enjoy life and fully live in the moment.  Given the big picture, life is fleeting and short for us all. Making the most of each day and being kind, generous, and authentic in our relationships is a most worthy everyday goal! 

Wildflowers

I absolutely love flowers ~ all flowers ~ but this morning, Kevin presented me with my very favorite kind of bouquet, a simple one of wildflowers which he placed in a plain glass vase ... Beautiful!!!

And How Was Your Day?

Bunnies & Beans

We've been enjoying the antics of our resident cottontail rabbit population.  Yesterday Kevin and I watched a pair of young bunnies at play.  At one point one of the bunnies leapt into the air and the other dashed right underneath it ... so funny to see.  Today, a larger bunny was nibbling in the yard.  Our yard is full of clover, a favorite treat.

 

 

I've gotten our vegetable garden planted, and, so far, the bunnies have left it alone, preferring to munch on the clover.  I planted tomatoes, various peppers and green and yellow beans.  My favorite garden veggies are the beans.  I'm hoping for a good yield!

 

 

 



 

Saturday in Shenandoah

Our Saturday Hike in Shenandoah National Park

In the first photo I'm standing at the beginning of our ascent ~

   

 

    The sun dappled trail

Sights along the way~



 

Wild Geranium

Squawroot

                       





Sun-kissed Ferns

 

Kevin takes a break at the summit

 

Our view from the mountaintop