Friday, August 26, 2016

A BUTTERFLY CLOUD, THE HUMMINGBIRD EMPEROR, AND A GRAND WACKY TIME


It's still hot summertime here, but this season is winding down.  I saw my first Monarch butterfly of the season today. My camera is never where I am when there are butterfly encounters.  The butterflies are especially tame right now.  I walked past the zinnia bed yesterday, and I was softly surrounded by a small cloud of several bright yellow butterflies.  One of them wing-brushed my face...Enchantment.

The hummingbirds wage war on each other over the zinnia beds.  The tiniest hummingbird of all is the most territorial.  He is the Emperor of the Zinnias.  He feasts on zinnia nectar, and when he has his fill, he briefly perches on a small bare spruce branch and oversees the Zinnia Kingdom.  Any hummingbirds that trespass are immediately attacked as he loudly chirps hummingbird expletives at them.  After he scares them away, he refreshes himself at his zinnias and then returns to his branch to keep guard.

It's been so humid, it seems like the flowers could just suck the moisture out of the air, and save me the daily watering.  The petunias are pitiful.  Some of them may revive when it cools down.  The roses are sending up only a few small blooms, and even the mighty zinnias are tattered and leggy.  The goldfinches feast on the seeds/petals daily, leaving petal confetti in their wake.

On the upside, my crepe myrtles are blooming beautifully. The ornamental sweet potato vines, glowing yellow green and maroon are in their glory, bright and fresh-leafed. 

We've had our grandson here several times this summer.  Kids seem to grow fast in summer.  He is six years old now.  His face is changing.  His baby face is almost gone now, only to be glimpsed when he is sleeping.

Recently, when he was here, we were outside watering the flowers and playing with the garden hose.  We have a wacky hose that takes on a wild life of it's own if you happen to drop it or hold it lower down than the nozzle.  I have gotten a surprise super soaking with it several times.  It surprised my grandson, too, he was holding the nozzle and everything was fine.  Then he grabbed it lower down on the hose and it went wild. It sprayed him right in the face, and then all over the place.  He thought it was hilarious.

I'm starting to miss summertime and it's not even completely over yet.

17 comments:

  1. What a great post. Loved seeing your flowers and your grandson with the hose.. Have a blessed day and a wonderful weekend. Madeline

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  2. We have had so much heat and humidity too! I understand! I love your photos!! That hummingbird one is gorgeous! Love the yellow bird one too! Your grandson is too cute! Big Hugs!

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  3. I am already missing summer, too...boo hoooo
    I am so not ready for fall...I'd like to fast-forward straight to wintertime...altho, now that I'm thinking about it, we had a beautiful fall last year.
    Your grandboy is so adorable...

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  4. Thank you for visiting me and Snickers our dog . . .
    Looks like you have a special pup too . . .
    Does your pup hold your heart too?

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  5. My grandsons loved the hose and even a baby pool at that age..a sprinkler etc.I love kids!
    I left you a little message..
    By the way lovely summery shots and he is adorable.

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  6. What beauty and what fun! I used to love playing in the hose... as long as I had control of it!

    Be blessed, so glad to have met you.
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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  7. Susie, your grandson is so cute! They do grow up way to fast. Your crepe myrtle is gorgeous. My zinnias have been covered in small butterflies. I have enjoyed seeing the flutter about when I brush the blossoms. I enjoy fall, but am sad to see summer come to an end.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  8. I agree! Your grandson is adorable! Thank you for identifying the sulphur butterfly. I wish we had hummingbirds. They are so beautiful.

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  9. Your grandson looks so much like my nephews, he could be their brother!

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  10. It looks like you've enjoyed your summer. It's my favorite season so I like for it to hang on as long as it will! Thanks for visiting and your sweet comment on the doodle bug. Not many people remembered the little rhyme. Sweet memories! Hugs, Diane

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  11. We enjoy the hummers stopping by on there way south. We don't always have a lot of them, usually only a couple. We sit out on the porch every evening waiting for them to come for supper. I enjoyed the pictures of your grandson, he was having a good time. Enjoyed visiting with you today!

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  12. Susie, what a handsome grandson you have! He certainly looked happy, too. Hummingbirds truly are ferocious little things, aren't they? I've seen them chase orioles away from my trumpet vine. They seemingly have no fear. Loved visiting with you!

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  13. Hi Susie! I really appreciate your visit an it makes my heart so happy to think I may have inspired you a little! I love milk glass by the way! :)What a cute little grandson you have!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  14. Dec. 20th

    Thank you for telling me about your Baking Mistake!! ,-)

    No more blogging here??????

    Blessings,
    Luna Crone

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  15. I hope you and yours had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and are having a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. May we display your header on our new site directory, SiteHoundSniffs.com? As it is now, the site title (linked back to its home page) is listed, and we think displaying the linked header will attract more attention.

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  16. Beautiful and your Grandson is certainly having fun.

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  17. I really enjoyed these photos and had to smile at the one showing the goldfinch pulling off the petals of your zinnias in order to get to the seeds. I have the same thing happen year after year, but those yellow birds are so darned cute that I always forgive them.

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