It was raining here today and the gardens grow.

Athena's Rose

Hanging in the yard.

A quick visit with friends E & T. Enjoyed their gardens.

Hollyhocks... Mom's favorites.

And the grapes are growing.

The garden(s) continued to grow and bloom while we were away.

Hibicus.

Clematis.

A trip around the yard. With a small detour to my sister's.

Iris (Bearded Iris).

Iris (Bearded Iris).

Pollinator.

Evening Primrose.

 Common Buttercup.

Canada Anemone.

Daisy.

Indian Paint Brush.

Chives.

Wild Geranium.

Wild Rose.

Evening Primrose.

My sister's Clematis.

And my favorite... Dandelion.

Mayflower or trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens).

This is a new early spring flower to me.  I photographed it eariler today on the sandy shore of a small Bayfield County WI lake. The plant was in a zone higher than the probable historical high watermark. It was on the edge of a pine and scrub oak forest line. Growing in sandy soil.

More information here.

 Mrs. Shutterwi without hesitation IDed it as Mayflower or trailing arbutus, Epigaea repens.  She has memories of her mom searching it out on the Cape Cod shoreline in early spring.

If anyone can confirm the ID or has an alternative ID please leave a comment.

The annual first sign of spring. The Croci not the snow.

Nature.... yes nature. Bromeliad.... almost pineapple. See it.

 

Can you see it. It's in the pineapple family. Bromeliaceae

I want to photograph plants, birds and wildlife.  Ice out should be soon (30 days). Sanity can't be far behind.

Inside the windows. Post # 1001

Enjoy.

This turns out to be my 1001 post. I started this blog in October 2005. I have taken tens of thousands of photos and posted only a very small percentage of those.  The site has had 40200 visits.  I hope you have enjoyed most of those photos and the notes attached.  I hope you have seen a few that made you say wow and inspired you for a moment. I hope you have told your friend and family members about this website.

For those of you that have never seen this part of the country I hope these photos have made you add this region to your must see some day list.

For those of you that have lived here and now are worlds away I hope that these posts have made you feel like you were "home again" for a brief moment in your day.

For me I am shooting for 2000.

Bonus.. Enjoy.

 The last of the colors in bloom now. Enjoy.

House plants. It's that time of the year.

When the weather changes and you need some color to photograph it's always nice to have the option to move indoors. This plant is now 28 years old and still offers great beauty each year at this time.

This plant is the youngster. Some call these Christmas cactus others call them Holiday cactus which is probably the best description. Here we are a few days from Thanksgiving and they are in bloom. In a month they will still be in bloom at Christmas.

Pollinators doing their job.

Mom's favorite. Hollyhock.

More information here.