The Mega Pawsitive Fundraiser

[foxxycat]

1CatOverTheLine I let the milk weed grow where it wants. Here's one wild grown in front of strawberry bed.

The flowers pictured earlier are all petunias...those pansy looking ones look like queen of hearts but yellow and black/purple instead.

The sun is back out. Hot in the sun but sitting here in the shade is lovely. I never paid attention to which kind of butterflies we get...but we have monarchs aplenty at least I think they are monarch ones.

The lupine is blooming in areas south of my yard but I haven't seen the flowers come up yet. The iris is also just poking a bud on the stem...clemantis seem to have bloomed everywhere else but here.

The lack of rain is putting strain on the false sunflowers. The pawsitive is my head net came in the mail for when I water the plants at dusk and dawn. The mosquitoes are plentiful and could carry me away!

 

[segelkatt]

tarasgirl06 - What a lovely photo of Maryam; this really should be where everyone can see it:

Cats and sinks?

When I lived in the city, the house had a big old copper-roofed tower. One evening I noticed something sticky on the ceiling in the library, and of course, it turned out to be honey. Took me two days to locate a beekeeper willing to come out and capture Queen and colony rather than killing them. Bee Boxes! Who knew?



Here's the wrap-around of the shaped bed where the Night Sky Petunias will be going:

View attachment 234446

The six by ten foot flag? Well, the front screen door is beginning to fade a little; it hasn't been painted in fifteen years. I have too many Summer projects going, and it can wait until Autumn, so the solution was, "put up a bigger flag." Works like a lazy man's charm!

Last night, at the front of the naturalised border which forms the divider between lawn and woods (my neighbour calls it, "the sloppy area," but it serves to conceal and to house lots of little animals, and becomes Ground Zero for Fireflies in mid-Summer):

View attachment 234469 .

The Sloppy Area​

the Hesperus were beginning to take on some colour. These lovely cruciform, cruciferous crusaders (they are four-petalled, related to cabbage, and multiply like weeds) spread across the high bank in June and July, almost obscuring the deer trail which follows the ridge line:

View attachment 234471

Whaddya gotta do for these smashing spikes of colour? Nothing. Nada. Zip. They'll grow in acid or alkaline; wet or dry; sun or shade. They keep coming back year after year just like an evil Snowshoe bad penny. They were here when I bought the place, and will doubtless be here long after I'm gone.



Edit:



segelkatt - Aspisviper oder Kreuzotter?
.

Kreuzotter and we don't want to talk about Aesculapschlange which I understand is huge (up to 8 ft) but I have never seen one, at least it is not poisonous but rather shy and will climb trees to get away from people. It can and will bite if threatened but it's main defense is an evil smell from its rear end (sort of like a skunk). Still, it would freak me out if I saw something that big cross my path. It likes warmer places but there are places in Germany (Rheinland) and Austria where they do live and will hibernate as long as months. After that long a fast they would eat the evil Snoeshoe in nothing flat so you might warn her about travelling abroad unescorted.
Aspisviper does not live in my home country, too cold.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Furballsmom Agree on all. I never knew sandhill cranes danced like the Japanese cranes until recently. I've long almost revered the Japanese and Chinese cranes for their beauty, fidelity, and dancing. Now I add sandhill cranes to that! They are beautiful.

segelkatt "My" Slither is probably at least 8' long now, at least I hope so.

foxxycat Oh, yes, my bad! I knew they were petunias even as I was typing "pansies". Sometimes the brain goes on overload. It's great you let the milkweed grow, for the butterflies. *And that's a particularly lovely one in your photo. *

 

[foxxycat]

An unusual flower...sunflower ray petunias lol

Its all good tarasgirl06 I knew you meant petunias lol but they do look like pansies on quick glance?!

I swear the beach rose is getting bigger every day!

Daisy slowly opening up here. They are in bloom elsewhere already. They stick around for 3 weeks with watering.

 

[segelkatt]

Somebody a while back said she really appreciated the desert plants that live here. These pics are all of cactus which grow at the entrance to our community garden where I have veggie (mostly) plot

Prickly they may be and the blossoms only last 3 or 4 days.
But we have many flowers known to most of us which we grow in pots or in backyards (if we are lucky to have one) like these which are on the walkway between me and my closest neighbor

The tall gangly looking one is a plumeria, also known as frangipani, from Hawaii where they make leis from the blossoms of it, mine has not yet bloomed this year, it's waiting for the heat.

 

[Norachan]

Wow, those cacti are huge segelkatt I have three tiny little cacti in pots. I have to keep them indoors so they don't drown in the monsoon.

I'm glad you said hosta like shade foxxycat We have plenty of that around here.



Another sunny day. I finish work at 3 pm so I'll be able to go for a long walk this afternoon.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Somebody a while back said she really appreciated the desert plants that live here. These pics are all of cactus which grow at the entrance to our community garden where I have veggie (mostly) plotView attachment 234792 View attachment 234793 View attachment 234794 View attachment 234795 View attachment 234796 View attachment 234797 View attachment 234798 View attachment 234799 View attachment 234800 View attachment 234801 View attachment 234802 View attachment 234804
Prickly they may be and the blossoms only last 3 or 4 days.
But we have many flowers known to most of us which we grow in pots or in backyards (if we are lucky to have one) like these which are on the walkway between me and my closest neighborView attachment 234816
The tall gangly looking one is a plumeria, also known as frangipani, from Hawaii where they make leis from the blossoms of it, mine has not yet bloomed this year, it's waiting for the heat.

That may have been me, segelkatt because I lived in the Mojave and cacti and succulents have always been my favorite plants. WOW, you have a lot of beauties there. Ocotillo! That's the very tall thin thorny one. And the colors of blooms you have! *extreme cactus envy* Thank you for sharing with us! They are gorgeous.

And foxxycat Those sunflower ray PETUNIAS are indeed unusual and so beautiful!

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

Somebody a while back said she really appreciated the desert plants that live here. These pics are all of cactus which grow at the entrance to our community garden where I have veggie (mostly) plotView attachment 234792 View attachment 234793 View attachment 234794 View attachment 234795 View attachment 234796 View attachment 234797 View attachment 234798 View attachment 234799 View attachment 234800 View attachment 234801 View attachment 234802 View attachment 234804
Prickly they may be and the blossoms only last 3 or 4 days.
But we have many flowers known to most of us which we grow in pots or in backyards (if we are lucky to have one) like these which are on the walkway between me and my closest neighborView attachment 234816
The tall gangly looking one is a plumeria, also known as frangipani, from Hawaii where they make leis from the blossoms of it, mine has not yet bloomed this year, it's waiting for the heat.

segelkatt - I'm just awestruck by these photos! The size, the sheer variety and the flowers... absolutely lovely. I wonder if they'd handle 88 inch snowfalls?



foxxycat - From the sound of your Iris and Lupine, it sounds like you're just about a week behind me. Keep your eye on those Lupines for the Karner Blues - you can't be more than 25 miles from the Concord Pine Barrens, yes?



61º F here right now - a positively delightful evening on the patio, with the fragrance of the white Azaleas carried on the breeze.

 

[foxxycat]

segelkatt - I'm just awestruck by these photos! The size, the sheer variety and the flowers... absolutely lovely. I wonder if they'd handle 88 inch snowfalls?



foxxycat - From the sound of your Iris and Lupine, it sounds like you're just about a week behind me. Keep your eye on those Lupines for the Karner Blues - you can't be more than 25 miles from the Concord Pine Barrens, yes?



61º F here right now - a positively delightful evening on the patio, with the fragrance of the white Azaleas carried on the breeze.

1CatOverTheLine I never heard of the Concord Pine Barrens but according to a google search Ossipee NH also has this and thats much closer. The map says 28 miles from Concord..ossipee I think is 15 miles north of me. I never seen any blue butterflies before but will keep my eye out.

Last night watered one side of the lawn gardens. Going to water the other very shortly. A busy day clearing more weeds and then run a few errands. Hoping I make it over to see my dad this evening as well. I have some periwinkle they want to plant under some trees. I laughed at the price of it at the store. $3.33! I have hundreds of feet of it growing and I left it out of soil overnight and it didn't die. I stuffed it into a small pot of dirt and it's doing just fine! A bright sunny day! No humidity and I slept like a baby until 6am for a change. I so detest hot humid air! Have a productive day kiddos!

Some pics for you for smiles!

Wild geraniums or whatever it's called

The hostas that need planting tomorrow night in the rain..i try to transplant in the rain...less stress on roots.

And Honeybee guarding the side garden from moles...she caught one earlier that day but it got away from her!

The red queen of hearts are doing just fine in full sun.

..

And a fluffy tail! Not for long! Tuesday it gets shaved down and she will look like a short hair cat!

 

[AbbysMom]

It's turtle season again! Every year my yard is egg-laying ground for many turtles. There's a snapping one out there right now.

 

[neely]

I didn't get very much sleep last night due to the cutest, four-legged, furry pillow snatcher. I may have to take a cat nap today.

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

1CatOverTheLine

foxxycat - You must see the little Eastern Blues though, yes?

Between these guys and the Small Coppers, it's almost impossible to walk through open field here in high Summer!

According to the current doppler radar, I'm going to be watering my yard in about ninety minutes, and not a minute too soon; the high temperatures have really begun to dry things out. The garden's hoping for a nitrogen boost from a thunderstorm, but the radar doesn't show much in the way of rotation. Looks like there's time for a walk in the woods before the rain makes its appointed rounds, however!
.

 

[Jcatbird]

The Butterflies and flowers...... can’t get enough of the beauty! I am thoroughly enjoying the photos! I am always energized by a walk with nature. Those of you who “see” and photograph, thank you! A purple shade of the Blue Flad Iris . Two types or Gardenia. Filling the air with perfume!

 

[tarasgirl06]

Jcatbird Gardenias! Their scent is so heavenly! When I was small, neighbors had a gardenia bush and every time I went over there I had to stop outside the front door to breathe in the fragrance.
A beautiful iris, too! We had some in the Mojave.

 

[Jcatbird]

@tarasgirl106 Iris are one of my favorites. The scented things too. I grew up where there was a “scented garden” for those who cannot see. I loved it even though I could see. My daughter had no sight so I thought of the lovely idea of a scented garden and planted fragrant things for her. I have both white and orange flowered tea olive. Yummy! The white blooms off and on all year. I also love Banana Shrub. When my daughter was little I had to hold that at a little distance. It smelled so good she would try to eat it! Lol

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi everybody -
They're B-A-C-K
I'll never know why for certain but possibly the bully goldfinches have fledged their babies?, but I have hummies at my feeders again, last night one came through at an incredibly high rate of speed, got three sips and took off - that all took less than 15 seconds.
This morning I've had, (that I've actually seen), 10 visits from what appears to be the same hummer but again, I can't be certain about that.

 

[tarasgirl06]

@tarasgirl106 Iris are one of my favorites. The scented things too. I grew up where there was a “scented garden” for those who cannot see. I loved it even though I could see. My daughter had no sight so I thought of the lovely idea of a scented garden and planted fragrant things for her. I have both white and orange flowered tea olive. Yummy! The white blooms off and on all year. I also love Banana Shrub. When my daughter was little I had to hold that at a little distance. It smelled so good she would try to eat it! Lol

I don't know if you enjoy western Classical music, but did you know that composer Joaquin Rodrigo, who lacked eyesight, wrote a piece of music based on his impressions of famous gardens in his home country of Spain? I would say his sound picture was more accurate than most because he saw with his heart.

 

[Jcatbird]

@tarasgirl106 I enjoy all kinds of music! I will hunt for that! My daughter loved “Carnival of the Animals”. Classical music. You can envision the creatures just by the sound. She taught me so much that I am grateful to have learned. As my own eyes age I value sounds and scents and touch so much more! The sounds of the birds, frogs, insects and the leaves blowing in the trees are wonderful. The aroma of honeysuckle on the breeze fills my lungs. The feel of a fuzzy kitten as it rumbles and purrs. My appreciation for everything grows daily. It is a grand world we live in, full of inspiration. Thank you for the tip on the music! I am excited to listen! Yay! New music! The tiny flowers of Tea Olive are more powerful than any flower I know. The botanical name is Osmanthus fragrans. The name says it all.

 

[tarasgirl06]

@tarasgirl106 I enjoy all kinds of music! I will hunt for that! My daughter loved “Carnival of the Animals”. Classical music. You can envision the creatures just by the sound. She taught me so much that I am grateful to have learned. As my own eyes age I value sounds and scents and touch so much more! The sounds of the birds, frogs, insects and the leaves blowing in the trees are wonderful. The aroma of honeysuckle on the breeze fills my lungs. The feel of a fuzzy kitten as it rumbles and purrs. My appreciation for everything grows daily. It is a grand world we live in, full of inspiration. Thank you for the tip on the music! I am excited to listen! Yay! New music! The tiny flowers of Tea Olive are more powerful than any flower I know. The botanical name is Osmanthus fragrans. The name says it all.View attachment 234919[/QUOTE He wrote the world's most popular Classical guitar concerto, "Concierto de Aranjuez", among other compositions.
Technology has advanced the vision field immeasurably. Coming from nearsighted parents and with this in the wider family, I have had issues I've had to deal with well before many people, and I am grateful every day for the amazing things they can do to help us see better!

 

[raysmyheart]

foxxycat , as I have told you I adore the beach roses (I call them beach roses or wild roses) and I am so glad to hear and see that yours (beach rose) is doing well this season.

The rain is not here yet this evening so I will go to mow the lawn, allowing me to relax by being outside. I think perhaps I will take Speedy out first to see the sights in the yard, then I will mow, a welcome activity after a stressful workday!

segelkatt , the photos of the desert plants and flowers are simply amazing!

@jcat , I am so glad for the six cats to go to their forever homes, I think these are the cats that were the long-term shelter cats. Excellent news.