Looking Up

While taking photos of

the garden this morning...

I pointed the camera

up toward the sky.

One of our Crape Myrtles

has grown to amazing

heights. The palm fronds

blending with the Myrtles,

made for a

nice composition in this

photo.

My view from our porch....

both the Crape Myrtle and the

White Bird of Paradise have

grown by leaps and bounds.

All that good rain, I'm thinking.

Have a beautiful day, everyone.  Dee Dee

The "Island" Today....

Hanging out at the north beach

today, was a good thing in

every way.

Look closely out in the

Gulf waters and you will

 see the fin of a shark.....

.....beneath the bend in the

Sea Grape branch.

 The beach has been

experiencing corrosion

for quite a while now,

so I am very careful where

I walk.....here are beach

grasses, rocks and shells,

all lying together. 

 I think beautiful.....

and I actually like what nature's

done to this portion of the island.

The waves have always

been coming and

going and what will be

will be....

Here is

a "beach lizard"

that slithered  down a

dead tree limb,

and struck a pose.

Just as I took the photo

it puffed ....giving me

his best look.

My favorite thing to do on

the island....

"Cruise For Birds"

......and we know a few places

they hang out in the late

afternoon.

The rain has created shallow

pools of water in the willows

and there we found this fine

ole'  Egret socializing with

some of the

island's  Sea Gulls.

I stood watching for a while

as the Gulls came in groups,

splashed in the waters and

flew away. The Egret seemed

to enjoy their shinanigans.

I did too.....

Have a beautiful day, everyone......Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

Morning

Morning.....in the garden

.....sitting at the bistro table

with favorite magazine and

a great cup of

Eight O'clock coffee.

Still, after all these years

I'm drinking the same coffee

my grandmother introduced

me to, as a child. 

Then, it came half and

half....half coffee and

half milk and sugar.

It was saucer cooled, sipped

and delicious!

Sitting outside.....

I found it hard to concentrate

on my magazine, with all

the bird commotion.

There was  a soft breeze

blowing,

but not enough to encourage

clanging of the

wind chimes.

Glorious June, when the

garden is flourishing,

and everything

is blooming.  We've  been

fortunate in having

plenty of  rain lately....key

ingredient needed for

healthy plants and flowers.

-

Our lives would be diminished

without a garden in which to work.

~Mary Lu Sinclair

Have a beautiful day! Dee Dee

A Lavender Myrtle Showing Off......

Just look at all the "Myrtle" buds.....

It happens each June

and I covet each and

every day we have gorgeous

lavender Crape Myrtle

blooms in our garden.

Prettiest things I've ever seen.

I took this shot leaning

over and peeking through

the Philodendron leaves....

Is it just me, or do you

find these colors the ultimate

in femininity?  The blooms are

so delicate and lacey.....I'm

thinking a few stems of these,

placed in a crystal vase,

might be real pretty

for  the cottage.

-

Think on this...

We complicate our lives when we

borrow trouble from the future....

We miss the precious gift of peace

that God has given us right here, right

now, in this tiny present moment

that touches eternity. Be like the

wildflowers....simply soaking up

today's sunshine. ~Ellyn Sanna

Have a beautiful day!.....Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

Mighty Pretty

I'm lovin' so many shades

of pink.....and their's

so much going on in this portion

of the garden.  Quite clearly seen

is the tall Crape Myrtle in the center

of the photo....a wonderfully  full Nandina

on the left, and to the right a rather apparent

Cordyline plant. Behind the Myrtle

grows a large Philadendron ....a large

leaf is seen at the bottom left of the

pink spiky Cordyline.

Look closely at the  top of the Cordyline

plant, and you'll see Banana Palm fronds.

That's the way things grow in Florida's

tropical climate,  with just a few days

of rain, sunshine and humidity.

I continue to be amazed and pleased

with our small productive garden.

Have a beautiful day, everyone! Dee Dee

click on photo to enlarge

God's Special Offer

I walked in the garden just

moments after the rain

subsided and the sun

shined through the clouds

and onto the flowers....

I loved what you see here....

The birdbath filled with

water and petals from a

basket of Periwinkles

spread on the ground....so pretty.

A few days of rain, and

our garden is thriving.

My Geraniums all have

 shot out new stems,

 promising more

beautiful blooms....

the Snow bushes are

so beautiful...the pink color

becoming more apparent

as they produce new leaves.

Looks like we set this Mandevilla

out at the perfect time.  All those

nutrients in the rain will cause it

to grow much faster.  I want it

to cover a good area of the fence

by summer's end.

So...think of this.......

This bright new day, complete

with 24 hours of opportunities,

choices and attitudes comes with

a perfectly matched set of l,440

minutes.  This unique gift, this

one day, cannot be exchanged,

replaced, or refunded.  Handle with

care.  Make the most of it. There is

only one per customer!

~Whispers of Blessing

Have a beautiful Lord's Day! Dee Dee

Coleus

When we left for vacation, recently,

I left my potted flowers at our

daughters home.  She volunteered

to water and care for them, and I

thankfully allowed her to do so. I

asked  if she minded my leaving the

Coleus I was rooting, in her kitchen

window. Her response had been

an eager and happy yes!  They've

remained there every since, her claiming

ownership. I will help her pot them soon.

Maybe in an old "Grandmother's tradition.

My Grandmother would be

pleased......with both of us.

I've written before of  her

kitchen windows, lined

with exceptionally beautiful Coleus. 

 She "pinched and rooted" them

in canning jars of water.

When heavily rooted, she

planted them in bright and shiny

 tin cans. The cans had once held

 Hunt's finest sweet  peaches.

Grandmother would tear the label off

the cans, punch

a couple of drainage holes, place a few

pebbles on the bottom and fill the

new "tin pots"

with plain ole' garden soil.

She must have given them a pinch of

fertilizer now and then, for

 Grandmothers Coleus's

could have easily been

county fair blue ribbon winners.

They were greatly

admired by all, and

the talk of our large family.

Count The Good Things

When we start to count flowers

we cease to count weeds;

When we start to count blessings,

we cease to count needs;

When we start to count laughter,

we cease to count tears;

When we start to count memories;

we cease to count years.~unknown

Have a beautiful day......Dee Dee