In a Garden -- More Herbs

Chives

Mint

"The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs,

with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses 

blushing in tufts all over the meadows."

                                                                                                             --William C. Bryant

Lavender

In a Garden -- Herbs

Basil

These images are of herbs in my patio planter boxes.  I LOVE their intricate patterns, distinct flavors and aromas along with their beautiful colors and textures.  Yes, I use them in cooking but almost daily find myself observing them, snipping off pieces to eat and rubbing the stalks to smell their wonderful fragrances.  Essentially, I plant herbs because they make my heart happy, inspire my tangling (artistic) designs and also add great flavors and health benefits to my food. 

Parsely

"Always find time for the things that make you feel happy."

                                                                                           --Unknown

Sage

In a Garden -- Butterfly House

Attracting winged creatures to your yard -- birds, bats and butterflies quickly come to mind.  I've certainly seen birdhouses in all shapes and sizes while bat and butterfly boxes are a little less common in these parts.  Nevertheless, I did stumble upon this tranquil outdoor setting and its charming shelter house for winged insects.  From what I've read, positioning such boxes on the edge of wooded areas is suggested as trees provide safety and the open area has room for nectar plants as well as additional host plants.  Interestingly, various sources also noted that coaxing butterflies to actually use the house is a challenge but be sure to place a piece of bark or a small branch in the inside to serve as a perch.

"Life is like a butterfly.  

You can chase it, or you can let it come to you."

                                                                                                                                                                                      --Ruth Brown

In a Garden -- A Little Levity

As any gardener knows, the living organisms in our carefully planned and maintained plots often have minds of their own and know no boundaries.  These images support that claim as the spaghetti squash quickly outgrew the outer edges of the garden and continued across the lawn until meeting up with an established windbreak that served as the perfect trellis for the climbing vines and heavy fruit.  Year after year, we find similar instances where Mother Nature has a way of finding her own path and providing us onlookers with a few laughs.

"The garden is a love song, 

a duet between a human being and Mother Nature."

                                                                                                       --Jeff Cox

In a Garden -- Rosecliff

This work of art is a combination of sculpture and plants created for a specific exhibit at the annual Newport (Rhode Island) Flower Show.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend this amazing event that takes place each year in late June at the Rosecliff Mansion, you will be inspired and in awe of all the amazing things to see -- gardens by designers, gardens and architectural features on the grounds of the mansion, interior views of the mansion, floral design and botanical arts entries, glimpses of the ocean as well as oodles of vendors.  Ahhhhhh...it was glorious.

In a Garden -- Succulents

This garden image is of succulents, including a hen and chick plant.  This mat-forming variety produces clusters of rosettes that are the "hens" and the smaller rosetters are the "chicks."  These low-growing perennials spread easily and sometimes flower on a tall flower stalk.  In addition, their shapes and colors are beautiful and provide endless inspiration to a creative onlooker.

Recently I saw this quote and certainly agree:  

"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy succulents!  

And that is pretty much the same thing."

                                                                                                              --Unknown

In a Garden -- Monarch

Since summer is well underway and all sorts of living things are thriving just outside our doors, the next few posts will features images that I've captured in some outdoor setting.  Enjoy the photos and be on the lookout for any unique creatures and interesting trees, herbs, grasses, mosses and more in your area. 

My first picture is of a monarch butterfly that silently fluttered for hours in a garden containing brightly colored zinnias.  Watching and photographing this beautiful winged visitor kept me busy for quite some time.

Red, White & Blue

As a tribute to the USA on this Independence Day, I've selected a trio of images with mostly red, white and blue hues.  In the first, it's simply a big red double-decker bus that appeared several years ago in Okoboji, Iowa.  

The photo below is of Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park -- such a majestic and powerful display by Mother Nature.

Finally, a few years back while en route to a fireworks show, I had my husband stop our vehicle along a country road so that I could capture this glorious (almost?) full moon just after the sun had slipped beneath the horizon.  The photo appeared with this brilliant blue that I've always adored.

"May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please,

but as the opportunity to do what is right."

                                                                                     --Peter Marshall

Sailing into July

These images are of the harbor in Newport, Rhode Island, that is filled with sailing vessels of various sizes.  For many years this New England destination hosted the America's cup, a widely known sailing regatta.  And, although none are shown here, this city is also home to several mansions of the Gilded Age as well as the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

"But here I am in July, and why am I thinking about Christmas pudding?  

Probably because we always pine for what we do not have.  

The winter seems cozy and romantic in the hell of summer, 

but hot beaches and sunlight are what we yearn for all winter."

                                                                                                                    --Joanna Franklin Bell