Friday, July 1, 2011

Have a Good 4th!

I suppose this pre 4th of July post should have really been done in red, white and blue, but I just didn’t think ahead. Oh well, I hope you have a festive holiday anyway. I'm looking forward to three days off, a little trip away from home and some time for quiet contemplation. I did all the end of the week chores earlier this week so I am free to roam around this weekend. I’m hoping to get some really good pictures to post on my new photography blog while I’m away. For the shots I want to capture I really need a specific filter that I don’t have, but I’m going to see how well I can do without it. Wish me luck. Hey, nothing ventured nothing gained, right? Why don’t we take a look at what’s blooming in the garden?

The first flowers always catch my eye when I’m out in the garden. I love Flame Lilies and each year the stand continues to get larger, I’m enjoying the extra blooms this year. They’ve done really well.


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The PeeGee in the back garden is loaded with blooms too. The ones planted on the side of the house haven’t done as well because I didn’t realize the watering system wasn’t working. They didn’t get enough water to produce blooms this year.


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‘Ellen Bosanquet’ was given to me by a very good friend and she is really putting on a show despite the drought. The two photos below were taken just minutes apart. Isn’t it amazing how the shift in the afternoon light happens so quickly?


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‘Stargazer’ smells absolutely delicious right now… I was walking around the garden yesterday and I could hardly wait to stick my nose in it and take a sniff. I really wish these guys would take off and spread like crazy, but alas they’ve always been well behaved.


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These little tattered coneflowers are quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I love the simplicity of the flower design. That’s also why I love Black-eyed Susans. This little stand came up from seed two years ago and this year I see many more seedlings sprouting. I’m going to leave them alone and let them spread. Within the next three years I should have a patch about 8 feet long and they are going to be spectacular in bloom.


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I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday spent with the ones you love most. Watch out for those short fused firecrackers!

"Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."
— Maya Angelou

12 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

All of your lilies are gorgeous Randy. I hope you have a great weekend too. I will look forward to seeing what you find with your lens.

Randy said...

Thanks for paying the blog a visit Lisa! I'll be heading out first thing in the morning, I hope it doesn't rain. I want to get some good beach shots.

Gary said...

Randy,

Hoping you have a wonderful weekend and a star spangled fourth. The garden / flowers are looking lush and showy. And those Flame Lilies!!! Marvelous, absolutely marvelous!!!

I have also been enjoying your photo blog, will we be seeing a “Fire Works” post in the coming days? I am also, or rather I appreciate, your explanations of technique.

Again, Happy 4th of July to you as well. – G

Randy said...

Gary, I got some fantastic photos of the fireworks last year. I'll actually be traveling on the 4th so I don't know if I'll get fireworks or not. As far as the photo blog goes, I'm really wanting to go full force with that, so hopefully I'll start posting pictures more often. There are a couple of pieces of equipment I need to get that I don't have yet. So I have to wing it a little. Thanks for going over there to check it out. Here's the address to last years fireworks.

http://jandrgardenblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/flowers-in-sky.html

Darla said...

Beautiful lilies!!

Randy said...

Darla,
It's always great to see you here. I hope you are having a great holiday!

Dig Brooklyn said...

Hi Randy,

Happy 4th to you as well. Love the coneflowers. Pull the petals off when they start to look ratty and the coppery centers are equally spectacular without them.

Hope you're having a great summer.

Michael

Randy said...

Michael,
That's a wonderful idea! Though I stay so busy I doubt I would have time. My summer, so far, has been very different... :-)But, I've met some very interesting new people and it's lining up to be better than I expected... I just wish it wasn't so hot! My gosh I am so tired of this heat!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Randy, Hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend. We just got home from a 3 week trip out west.. IF you want to see a preview of that trip, check out my last Friday's blog, July 1st. There are some great pictures... WOW--what a trip... I'll be blogging about it FOREVER. Hubby and I each took about 2500 pictures... ha

Love your flowers. We missed our Stargazer's bloom this year... It bloomed when we were gone... Glad to see yours...
Betsy

Randy said...

Betsy, I did indeed enjoy my holiday. I’m used to being in the company of my best friends and a special loved one and this time I was by myself. But, such is life and I made the best of it and enjoyed the day. You and that man of yours are always traipsing across the country! My goodness, the two of you have the most energy of any couple I know!

sweetbay said...

Those flame lillies are beautiful! We have Ellen Bosquanet too and it's a favorite here. 'Stargazer' looks wonderful.

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Happy Independence Day to you too. I love all your flower choices. I'm really loving the flame lilies which I don't have. Hmmmm . . . wonder if I could find a spot? Eventually, 'Stargazer' pooped out on me, but I did love it. Trying 'Black Beauty' this year.~~Dee