This blog is about my garden and the outdoors. I am new to photography but I am trying to show some of the pretty things that grow here in Michigan. I love the wild things who visit me and I dont mind if they eat a bit here and there. I like it more if they let me take their picture. As time goes on I think I will try to show you around the beautiful area that I live in as well as my garden. I try to use my own pictures as much as possible but will also use pictures from the web. If I inadvertently use your photo or work without permission please email me and I will remove it or give credit if you prefer. I will give credit when I know who the owner is. I would ask that anyone using my pictures do the same.
... I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.......Psalm23:6
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Thursday, July 31, 2014

A few Birdie visitors...........

Today after I did a little work in the garden, I sat on the deck and read. I had my camera and watched for birds. There had been a couple of Cardinals hanging around most of the day. I don't know if he was courting or not but while she was feeding, he was watching. Another came around and there was a sort of squabble in one of the trees, I couldn't see what was happening.
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Blue Jays were abundent.
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We actually had a few visitors today. The little ones had flocked together. Does this mean that winter wont be far away? I didn't get good pictures of all of them but the Titmouse, Nuthatch were hanging with the Chickadees. Mrs Cardinal was wondering where the old man had gone
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I couldn't get any good ones of the little birds, they were flitting around hither and yon and the kids kept coming over or the dogs would bark........something or other. Now they are around maybe I will have more luck tomorrow.
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The Mr and Mrs were playing peek a boo
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It was a peaceful day sitting in the warm air, not too hot just right in the shade. I have not read a book in awhile I am always busy doing other things so it was nice. Everyone was happy..............
Sharing with Fishtail COttage Garden Party
sharing also with a delighsome life
And again with Lavender Garden cottage Cottage style Party
I am going to party with Adorned from Above
and with Mosaic Monday

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Around the neighbourhood...........

Tristen wanted to go for a ride up the ally, so I told him we would do that. I took my camera with me. Of course I did. So we took a loop around the front walk and back down the ally. Then over the road and to the church parking lot. He loves to ride in there but some girls was practicing driving. Well parking anyway. So we continued on. I figured that some flowers other than mine would be nice.
This one though was at the doctors office this morning and I had to fit it in. Lovely aye?
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So on with our walk. Some of the neighbours have some lovely Lillies. I love this shade of yellow, almost got a greenish tint don't you think?
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These look lovely against the white.
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So then we stopped at what will be Tristen's school. He wanted to play at the playground but ended up riding his bike.
I took pictures of the school garden. It is not so well tended this year.
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There were still some nice flowers blooming but it was all overgrown this year and I wanted to rescue some of the plants. I would love them in my garden
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I want these really red Bea Balm...........I have 3 colours in my garden but not this colour. Maybe I can go back and get some seeds later.
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After I was done there we continued on. We have some nice gardens in the neighbourhood. I was also happy to see that some one besides me encourages wild flowers.
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We continued up and down some of the back alleys, because that way I can see the back gardens as well as the front.
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About this time my little charge was getting tired and not listening so we headed home for today. I do love to look at other peoples gardens and get some ideas. Puts me in the mood for working on mine. Today I picked up some more stuff and some mulch so with luck tomorrow I will be in the garden. I want to paint some signs. I AM IN THE GARDEN..........that sounds nice right.




Thursday, July 24, 2014

My garden in July..............

It has been so dry, I have needed to water every day just about. There is more colour at the moment and it seems quite pretty for a change.
We had some visitors today, Mr and Mrs Cardinal were in for a snack.
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She had her mouth full and he was flitting hither and yon.
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I zoomed in to see what she had......probably for her babies somewhere.
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I will show some views, but I wanted to show some close ups of the Lillies. I call them all Day lillies but they are not, so just bear with me OK.
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Look at that perfection. I love the way they glow inside. The pollen for the bees is sitting there for the picking and the pattern on the petals lead the way inside the flower. If you notice a lot of flowers have stripes like little runways leading the critters in to the polen.
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Its nice when several flower types bloom at the same time. I usually miss out on that but this year the Bee Balm and the Butterfly plants are blooming together. As well as many of the daisies.
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You cant really see here but there are 3 different colours in my Bea Balm.
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This is an old farm plough hiding behind the lillies.
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My New daisy that Dan got for my birthday
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The white was backlit slightly so made a nice shot
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More close ups
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This is a view from Buds side yard looking towards our front garden.......
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The next view from our front steps
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They are spreading and doing well. I put the painted daisy in front and will soon transplant some of those yellow things.
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Well those are a few of the blooms at the moment. No roses in sight. It was a very long winter and what roses did bloom came and went in a hurry. I should find somewhere else to plant them. I will have to plan for next year.
I am sharing with Ivy and Elephants
also with Inspire Me Monday create with Joy
Sharing with Lavender Garden cottage Garden style Party
Going to Creative countrymums garden

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Barn Swallows.............

While we were out the other day, we stopped in Glen Haven to show the kids the Blacksmiths shop. I saw the Swallows going in and out. It was not long and I saw the nest just above my head.
Mum and Dad were busy feeding the new family. One would stay while the other hunted.
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There were at least two babies that I could see.
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I tried to get a few pictures so I could edit them if not clear, so I was able to get some close ups. They were so busy, poor things those kids are so demanding.
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That is unless one was running back and forth. Arn't they cute?????
Just had to show them.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

DayLily..........

One of my favourite garden flowers.........the Daylily. I like it becaue it comes in all shapes and sizes. The colour range is incredible. So this page will be mainly pictures of some in my garden and some I have seen in other places.
These are from my garden. The deep pink one was one I got last year
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The white one is not mine, its a lovely creamy white and I think I will look to add that to my collection.
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This yellow beauty was out in Alden and I want one........I will have to actually go to a greenhouse I think. Maybe ordering one from a catalogue. Has anyone done that? What are the results, do they do well? I am a bit wary about catalogues because they are usually really whimpy specimens and do they actually grow????
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Orange lights up the garden
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This one is also very pretty.
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I have shown this one before and its still blooming and doing well.
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This one just bloomed.
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I will have more blooming soon. I am not sure what still has to come out but they make my garden much more interesting and I will never think twice now about buying more.
The Dedicated House
Also at Dedicated Little Red House Mosaic Monday
And with Ivy and Elephants
Also sharing with fishtail cottage