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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Sunday, July 31, 2016

Got some flowers for ya......................

Well its coming into the dried out season, the Bea Balm has been very active with all the bees buzzing around.Some of the flowers planted last year have done well this year and probably will do better next year. I now remember why I don't work in the garden after the Spring clean up. It's been too bloody hot or humid. One or other.
Pansies in my porch planter are not happy. Not the best place for them.
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Bees are very happy in my front garden. I will have to tidy it up if we get some nice Fall weather
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It's time for daisies, but some have not shown up yet.
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The Day lilies seem to pace themselves, blooming at different times.
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Tiger Lily
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More Day lilies
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I think I need some pale yellows, I saw a pretty lime sort of flower. I do have some pretty ones though and I will need to separate some out from among other things. I need to get rid of some of the ferns, they take over. Maybe I can find a better spot for them. I will need something under the pine next Spring.
I will also plant Sunflowers, I love them.
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I think I will put some along Bud's fence hehe
The Butterfly bush is blooming. Its a few years old now, each year there are a few more blooms but it's not too impressive.
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I have been much happier with the roses this year. Having a bit more light has done wonders and next year they will have more after I trim the end pine tree.
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I do still have one to move this Fall. I think the little garden with the stones where the other two live will work. They did so well in there. I may get another pale pink knockout rose. It is so pretty but I don't want to move the one I have its established even if it doesn't grow much more. So in the hope of cooler days to come I will get through this weeks 90 degree crap that is forecasted. Ugh................Stay cool.

Got some flowers for ya......................

Well its coming into the dried out season, the Bea Balm has been very active with all the bees buzzing around.Some of the flowers planted last year have done well this year and probably will do better next year. I now remember why I don't work in the garden after the Spring clean up. It's been too bloody hot or humid. One or other.
Pansies in my porch planter are not happy. Not the best place for them.
 photo DSCN7161h_zpsdytxrs6e.jpg
Bees are very happy in my front garden. I will have to tidy it up if we get some nice Fall weather
 photo 103_4853h_zpsybkyluyt.jpg
 photo DSCN7156j_zpslf8lgf3k.jpg
It's time for daisies, but some have not shown up yet.
 photo DSCN7100h_zpsgunztg76.jpg
 photo DSCN7138g_zpsc3lbryzt.jpg
 photo DSCN7132g_zpswpfy2cyv.jpg
 photo DSCN7130a_zpsm8kihghe.jpg
The Day lilies seem to pace themselves, blooming at different times.
 photo DSCN7133h_zpsxndw6ibs.jpg
Tiger Lily
 photo DSCN7121j_zpstnkdthpk.jpg
More Day lilies
 photo DSCN7103j_zpsf0oijwuz.jpg
 photo DSCN7098k_zpsobhcksvi.jpg
 photo DSCN7101_zpsqdsckk4p.jpg
 photo 103_4941j_zpsm2ytcs8o.jpg
I think I need some pale yellows, I saw a pretty lime sort of flower. I do have some pretty ones though and I will need to separate some out from among other things. I need to get rid of some of the ferns, they take over. Maybe I can find a better spot for them. I will need something under the pine next Spring.
I will also plant Sunflowers, I love them.
 photo 103_4942_zpsxfoxrxlq.jpg
I think I will put some along Bud's fence hehe
The Butterfly bush is blooming. Its a few years old now, each year there are a few more blooms but it's not too impressive.
 photo DSCN7145_crj_zps1qhg1eww.jpg
 photo DSCN7143j_zpsh1l1lv20.jpg
I have been much happier with the roses this year. Having a bit more light has done wonders and next year they will have more after I trim the end pine tree.
 photo DSCN7136h_zpsar36bxpw.jpg
I do still have one to move this Fall. I think the little garden with the stones where the other two live will work. They did so well in there. I may get another pale pink knockout rose. It is so pretty but I don't want to move the one I have its established even if it doesn't grow much more. So in the hope of cooler days to come I will get through this weeks 90 degree crap that is forecasted. Ugh................Stay cool.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

A guest this morning.......................

Look who showed up this morning. He was sitting on Bud's lawn. I just know Bud will not like that at all but doubt he saw him. It's a wonder this bunny has not been in my garden. So far I have not seen any damage.
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That is one big bunny.
The bees have been very busy. They love the Bee Balm. I love watching them, they don't squabble among themselves as far as can tell, all sizes and many different Bees all bustle around together. They ignore me. I feel comfortable around them and they are not angry at my observation. Now wasps are a different matter. Some are fine but those big buggers are not at all, they will chase me away.
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It takes a bit of patience to capture a picture of a bee that is not blurry.
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These bees must have good breath because they are working on mint. Then there was this little ant and I have no idea what he was up to.
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This guy I stayed away from just in case he got pissed off. He was enjoying a drink off of a leaf.
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This little guy also wanted a drink. I think he was thinking about a bath.
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I think he gave up on that because he knew I was watching but the other day one of the Chickadees got right in. I have several of these little dishes around the garden for the birds and bees and make sure they have something in them all the time. These hot days especially. I also have saucers on stands that I made last year and those make it easier for the bees, wasps and flies. All creatures have a purpose.
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Well as I walk around the garden each day I see so much work to be done. I remember this time every year I am frustrated that it's too hot to work. The work piles up and if anything like last year it eventually gets left till Spring. I really don't want to do that.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Lots of Flowers.......

This time of year there are a lot of pretty flowers. I don't see too many birds. Now and again they sort of half heartedly come snoop around, especially the Chickadees and Bluejays, seldom anyone else. Not many photo opps.
Although I have twice bought new camera's I go back to my old Kodak, it just gets a clearer sharper image for me. I am not an expert so want a point and shoot that works as I want it to, without the fiddling.
So here are some pretties from my garden the last couple of days.
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The Daylilies seem to continue to bloom, one after the other to keep colour in the garden. I must get more of those, they are so reliable. They come in wonderful colours and look different at different times of the day.
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I seem to take pictures every day of the lillys because they are so pretty. The Bee Balm is up and splendid, it seems to get taller every year. I need to move a few things out of its way so that the lilly does not have to compete for light.
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My Bee Balm is in 3 colours. I have noticed that the coloured daisies have not come back this year. The white ones are doing well though. This is the front from the road
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The bottles filled an empty space. The side that I did new this year is doing OK. I will move some of the lilly's there in the Fall. I could also move some yellow daisies.
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The side near Buds house is in need of attention, the shrub needs to be pruned and the yellow daisies pulled. Those red things are pretty when they flower
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Some of the Roses are doing well this year and continue to bloom.
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More Lilly's
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I take pictures every day, so many don't get shown. I wish in some ways I had an outlet for it so that I could show my pictures. It would be great to be able to sell some. Maybe I will do a facebook page of just my flowers and birds.
This rose finally has a flower, its a pale pink Knockout rose. It got black spot and died back but this year looks healthy.
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This guy is taking his life in his hands. Both cats have their eye on him and when he was on the bird feeder he let me go right up to him. I am sure he would have eaten out of my hand if I was so inclined.
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I won't encourage that though. I would love to see other creatures come to the feeders instead of squirrels.
A couple of things doing well this year
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These things are so pretty and so invasive. I will pull a bunch when they stop blooming. The bees like them though and because they are pretty I will allow them to grow, just choose where.
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OK enough for today. I need to go get some water and while I think about it my inside plants need water too.