Yellow and Blue

This spring our focus was on showcasing bold blues and unique yellow hues.  You put these together with the shades of green leafage, and you create wonderful eye candy wherever you look.  

Today's Photo Opportunities

Up at the pond a dragonfly basks in the sun atop the swan's neck!

 Nesting chickadees in this home-made birdhouse hang from a hemlock at the trail entrance.

 Mr. Owl guards the trail entrance from his perch on the old stump!

"Pre-Storm" Skies

As the warm air pushed out last evening, the storm clouds approached looking like heavy rain, lightning and winds.  Sure enough - we got it.  But before it happened,  this looming weather front brought with it these amazing colours, all wrapped within undulating clouds which triggered an amazing sunset !

Fruits & Veggies & the Camera!

Even though the fruits and veggies start to proliferate the garden (like now), and the first thought is to toss everything together into a wonderful salad or stir-fry, I want them to inspire me first.  I want to find the picturesque in my fruits and veggies.  This is why I have taken to carrying my iPone with me at all times in the garden to capture a special moment or stage of growth.   (and to share on instagram)!

Did you know that gooseberries could double as tree decorations?   Well this tells me they can!!  And the gooseberry bush is loaded!!

 And look at the beetroot!   I’m big fan of growing beetroot. It’s one of my favorites to grow – it’s easy, it is rarely troubled by pests, and it’s pretty much always a success.    And – not only is it extremely good for you and yummy, it is also photogenic.

Just Hanging Out

Today was a slow day - just wandering about and puttering.

Spent some time at the pond just listening to the birds and water fountain.  

Sat under the willow tree and tried to get shots of the birds at the feeder but they all were blurry.

 Just had to take this photo of the trunk of a cedar we have.  It always reminds me of the behind of a giraffe!   

 

 Then Gypsy and Smoke were caught red-pawed in the act of sharing a 'mouse" in the driveway. 

There is so much joy in the flower gardens, especially the rainbow of colour.    Heaven is really all around us if you are looking.

 

And lastly, my new Tiki man has found a special home near the woodland garden.  Thanks for the gift Jill!

Eat What You Grow

Today's walk around the garden revealed much progress in the "edibles" department.

 

 All the huckleberry bushes are loaded like this and ready for picking.  Who will help to pick?

 

 The Braeburn apples are loaded as well  but still have a ways to go to ripen.

 The strawberry patch is beginning to bear its juicy fruit.

And our russet potatoes are starting to get their blooms!!!

The beans and tomatoes are also doing well and so are the leeks and beets.

Shades of the Homestead

 Black and white is a nice change!

This view of home is taken from Chris's workshop looking south west onto the patio.

Chris's workshop looks quite retro in B&W with his motorbike and shed out front.

A Wonderful World of Colour

Up at the pond, the Rose Campions and Shasta Daisies are putting on a real show.  If only they would last all summer long!

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Dragonfly Day at the Pond

You never know when a "nature" moment might present itself, but today was one of those days.  Dragonflies!!!  We aren't sure if it was a feeding frenzie or mating day, but there were so many dragonflies over the pond and so many sorts of varieties.   Each seemed to love to rest on little bamboo stakes I have for some plants.

Below is a simple pond skimmer dragonfly

 A female black/blue skimmer

 And her mate.

Colours of the Garden

Its all about colour this year - shades of pinks, orange, blues, purple - you name it.   And the weather is treating the blooms well.

Bell Flowers against Valerian

Honeysuckle

Patio garden collage!

I Love Bees

Like this honey bee on my Campanula!    Did you know that when aging bees do jobs usually reserved for younger bees, their brain stops aging. In fact, their brain ages in reverse. (Imagine if riding a tricycle didn’t just make you feel young—it actually made your brain tick like a younger person’s).   How cool is that?