Today's Flowers - May 31

What starts out looking like this:

Soon turns into this.

My hydrangea bush is loaded down with blooms in all stages of development. Some are just emerging, others are in the half-way stage looking partly greenish-ivory - partly blue, while others have reached their peak of blueness. I never cease to get great enjoyment from looking at the blossoms. This particular plant came to my family as a gift at the time of my father's funeral in 1965 and has been growing on the northeast edge of my home since then.

Today's Flowers is a weekly Meme created by Luiz Santilli, Jr. and may be found here. Please visit to see others' lovely flower photos. If you have a flower photo of your own to share, please join us.

Music for my Eyes - May 29

Today's Programme

Opening Number:

Solo in Yellow and Orange

Ladies' Trio

Soloist: Youth under 4"


The Wayside Showgirls



Finale: Apple Blossom Trio with Backup Singers

Today's Lilies

Just Arrived!

Where there were only buds yesterday, this morning there were open blooms. Every day now will bring more new flowers.

I can't remember exactly when I became enchanted with day lilies, but it's been at least 20 years and I still very much enjoy them. Perhaps it's because they are so hardy, needing very little care, and that they multiply like rabbits, bringing me more and more beautiful flowers each year. I've been saying for the past three summers, at least, that the lilies need to be divided, but I've delayed doing so, putting forth a number of excuses: it's too hot, it's too cold, it's too wet, my back hurts, I don't have a new bed to put them in, etc., etc.

Well, I have a new bed, at last, courtesy of my gardening daughter, so I need to get over my weak excuses and get the lilies thinned out as soon as it's time to do so. I'm sure they would like a bit more room to breathe.

Today's Lilies

New Blossoms, May 27

The center photo is of the same plant I pictured in yesterday's post. This afternoon, there were several blossoms open instead of just the one. As I posted in a comment to yesterday's post, each blossom lasts for only one day; blooms that open in the morning are drooping by eventide, and are completely withered and ready to fall come the next dawn. I suppose this is for the best; I don't know that my heart and soul could stand to be surrounded by such beauty if it endured for a long time.

I also commented yesterday that these lilies have no appreciable fragrance. Again, probably for the best. They make up for it in color and plentiful pollen.

My gardening daughter recently gifted me with two fragrant Oriental Lilies, Tom Pouce and Stargazer. I've not yet experienced the fragrance of Tom Pouce, but I know that one single Stargazer bloom will perfume my whole house. I am most anxious for those to bloom; I have only to be patient.

Day Lilies

GRAND OPENING!

First day lily bloom of the season.

(sorry, don't know the variety)

COMING SOON!

Although I've complained quite a lot a bit about the amount of rain we've had this month, it evidently has been very good for my day lilies. I've not counted them, but I estimate that currently there are over 100 buds on the lilies, and there are several varieties that have not yet budded. My camera and I will be busy for the next few weeks. YAY!

Today's Flowers - May 17

Wisteria
Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Fabales Genus: Wisteria, Species: W. sinensis

This wisteria has been growing in my back yard for over 15 years. I planted it in the far back corner, thinking that it would put its runners on the fence and spread out. I was so right! At the height of the summer, the runners from the main trunk reach over 20 feet from the trunk. However, the older branches have become intertwined in the chain link and are a real mess to look at in the winter when all the leaves are gone. It's hardy, though, and is one of the first plants to bloom in the Spring. Also, it has a lovely fragrance, and I like to snip clusters of the racemes and bring into the house for a bouquet.

Today's Flowers is a weekly Meme created by Luiz Santilli, Jr. and may be found here. Please visit to see others' lovely flower photos. If you have a flower photo of your own to share, please join us.

Cat Tales

"Missy"

Today was the day set for the cats' annual visit to the veterinarian. Taking all three of them on one day sets my budget back a goodly chunk, but when it's over, it's over. They are well behaved cats when away from home, like most children, and Dr. B. has no troubles with them. He calls them "compliant."


Since I am not physically able to tote all three cats at once, and since I have only one cat carrier, I have to take turns ferrying them between my house and the veterinary clinic, a distance of only a little over one mile. The folks at the clinic are used to this procedure, which I've followed for the past few years.


The first one to go was Sweetie Pie, the youngest (although she's not a kitten; it doesn't seem possible that I've had her for almost 7 years). I learned several years ago that if I don't take her first, she "hides out" when she gets a sniff of vet's office on the one I bring home, and goes into deep hiding, and I had just as well give up trying to get her to come to me voluntarily. Sweetie Pie didn't mind being inside the carrier; it was getting into the car that set off her vocal protestations. Thank goodness I had to listen to this caterwauling for only a mile! Once we got to the clinic, she was as good as gold and offered not another sound. Oddly, she didn't vocalize as much on the way back home.


Sweetie's mother, Missy, was next. She didn't like the carrier -- at all! Plum hardly! She and I both became contortionists before she was safely inside. Unlike her offspring, she did not protest the car trip and, like Sweetie, was a real pussy cat while at the clinic. She was greatly admired by the vet and the assistant for her chinchilla-soft fur and beautiful green eyes.


Squeak, the big boy, was the final one to make the trip. Ususally, he is waiting for my return and I have no trouble getting him into the carrier. Not today!! He went underground while I was gone with Missy and I spent the better part of ten minutes looking in his usual hiding places. I finally found him under my bed in a place that I could not reach from either side. Clever (and wicked) kitty! I went about my business as though I was home to stay, and in about 5 minutes his curiosity got the better of him. I was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee when he came strolling in with a "whatcha doing, Mom?" attitude. I snatched him up quickly and stuffed him into the carrier, and off we went. Whew!


All the cats are in good health, as I expected they would be. I was advised to put all of them on a diet of 'senior' cat food, although none are overweight. Guess middle-aged cats need to watch their diets, too.

Today's Flowers - May 10

Iris

More beautiful flowers from my daughter's garden. Nearly all the flowers in my own garden are day lilies, which have not yet begun to bloom. Daughter's yard is full of a variety of blooming plants, and I've been taking advantage of having them available to photograph.
According to Wikipedia, Iris is a genus of between 200–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.

Today's Flowers is a weekly Meme created by Luiz Santilli, Jr. and may be found here. Please visit to see others' lovely flower photos. If you have a flower photo of your own to share, please join us.

Five Feet High and Rising

With apologies to Johnny Cash, it's not water I'm talking about, but the grass and weeds in my yard!

We had sunshine all day yesterday -- hurrah!-- and my water-logged yard dried out a bit. This morning's sky, however, showed clouds containing the threat of rain AGAIN! Looking at the weather map and reading the forecast is just down right depressing!

Therefore, with forehead bound up with a bandana to keep the sweat out of my eyes, and a day's water and rations dangling from my belt loops lest I be lost in the jungle between my back door and the garden shed, I got out the lawnmower, mowed a track to enable me to reach the front yard, and made hay (but not while the sun was shining.) Since we're also under a wind-advisory, I didn't take time to sweep the cuttings off the walk. Mother Nature sometimes comes to the aid of lazy folk.

Of course, I exaggerate the height of the weeds and grass, but some clumps of what looks like wild oats (who's been cavorting in my yard when I'm not looking?) were a good 10-12 inches tall. However, I have seen grass five feet high, and rising; a remnant of the tall grass prairie which used to cover huge sections of the plains states. This particular batch was in Chase County, Kansas, the setting for a wonderful book, PrairieErth, by William Least Heat Moon, who is also the author of Blue Highways. I recommend both for your reading enjoyment.

Wikipedia (I love it!) has a wonderful article on Tall Grass Prairies here. Conservation efforts are alive and well in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and elsewhere (including parts of Canada). A bit of Googling on "tall grass prairie" will take you to some very interesting sites, should you be tempted to take a look.

Note to Jeannelle of Iowa: Prairie City, IA has a tall grass prairie preserve. I don't know how close that is to your home, but I know you would find it interesting, chock full of photo ops!

ABC Wednesday - "P"

"P" is for PEACH

It's just a baby peach, so far, but I'm keeping my eye on it! If it survives to maturity, it will be juicy and sweet. Yum!

ABC Wednesday was created by Mrs. Nesbitt. Please visit the ABC Wednesday site to view others' interpretations of this week's letter, "P."

What IS That?

I awoke this morning to see something strange, alien, foreign, peeping through my bedroom window! The apparition startled me into a fully awakened state. What IS that?

Sunlight!!!

Unfortunately, this break in the weather is temporary. There is another storm front headed this way, with more heavy rain, thunderstorms and potentially severe weather.


Ah, well. Until it gets here, I'm going to enjoy the sunshine! If it holds through this afternoon, my four year old granddaughter, the dogs and I will play outside for a change. Her mother has been called to jury duty, and I am her afternoon care giver for a few days. Pray for me! "Sweetie Pie's" energy level is enough to wear the horns off a brass billygoat!

Speaking of dogs: Snuggles, my granddaughter's adopted Sheltie, about whom I wrote here, and here, is doing just fine. She survived the potentially fatal treatment for heartworms and has been given a clean bill of health. She can now cavort and play without restrictions.

Today's Flowers, May 3

Variegated Weigela
Weigela florida 'Variegata'

Another gorgeous blooming plant in my daughter's garden. Most of the flowers and shrubs she planted were to attract birds and butterflies. Weigela is a favorite of hummingbirds; surely they will be attracted to these beautiful blossoms.

Today's Flowers is a weekly Meme created by Luiz Santilli, Jr. and may be found here. Please visit to see others' lovely flower photos. If you have a flower photo of your own to share, please join us.

Rain

"The rain is raining all around" *

Mother Nature has been doing her laundry again, and must have a huge amount to do. She started throwing out the wash-water last night, tubs and tubs of it. I could hear the washtubs clanging and banging most of the night; I don't know what her tubs are made from, but they create sparks when thrown together and make a terrible noise.

Since midnight, according to my online Weather Bug, we've received well over 3" of liquid sunshine, and it's still coming down. The county in which I live is under a flood watch until Sunday night, as is most of central Arkansas. There is just so much water the ground can absorb.

I had occasion to drive across one of the Arkansas River bridges on Thursday, and the river was, as they say, "high." We've had a wet Spring. With runoff from the rain that has fallen today, flood control procedures are in place, I'm sure. Thank goodness for the locks and dams which put some restraint on the flow of the water. Even with the dams in place, I've seen the river overflow its banks several times; let's hope that doesn't happen this time.

Fortunately, I completed most of my errands yesterday, so I can enjoy watching the rain without having to get my tootsies soaked damp.

* "Rain" from "A Child's Garden of Verses"- Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)