“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
We often start Sunday with a sunrise but we were greeted one morning this week by a “bodacious” dahlia and it looked quite sunny!
Some of our crepe myrtles have been spotty and unusual in the way they’ve bloomed, and a bit late also. We wondered if anyone else has noticed something similar on crepe myrtles?
Goldenrod cries “autumn, autumn, autumn” when it peaks in September and October. However some varieties are doing quite well in August and even showed us some blooms in July!
Surely everyone who has allergies is excited to see this plant and the millions more like it, and can’t wait until they all mature. Are you ready for some ragweed?
These swallowtail friends are feasting on the mountain mint. We posted a pic last week of the mint but couldn’t resist when these two found it irresistible! The flower does attract a lot of butterflies and we are seeing a lot of it this summer.
A glad from last season made an appearance a few weeks back so we left it to see what would happen. It is turning out to be very pretty and the “hot pink” (sort of) will excite Ella Mae as she claims that as her favorite color!
And speaking of pink…from one year ago, EM in the zinnia patch!
An able predator, this guy looks as if the search is on for a meal…
…so maybe he or she will ease over and eat whatever makes these overnight webs. Do you have these show up on your plants?
An early morning trail run gives opportunity to enjoy a lot of wildflowers that are easily missed if you’re not on foot. The partridge pea has a beautiful flower.
Another beauty along the trail…we think it is called blue mistflower!
Sumac is everywhere this time of year and there are several varieties around. Since there is a poison sumac that can be bad news, we kept this one at a distance. Poison sumac normally has a creamy white fruit. It contains the same irritating, rash causing, substance as poison ivy and poison oak. Winged and staghorn are fairly easy to distinguish and this is probably smooth sumac, but when in doubt, err on the side of caution!
It is our prayer and wish that each of you are having a pleasant Sunday and that a good week follows!
One lone sunflower can be seen in the lower left as evening settles in. It is facing east, awaiting the next sunrise.
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
I love looking for your blog on Sunday Morning. It starts my day off right. When looking at the flowers on sumac it made me think of some temptations of sin. They may look innocent enough but beware the consequences! I am thankful for our Good Shepherd’s guidance and strength everyday.
Amen, Nancy that is an excellent analogy. Wishing you a most blessed Sunday!
A nice way to begin the day, strolling through your blog. The garden sight of the cobwebs in the plantings (it was always the boxwoods for us) reminds me of late summer….
Let’s begin a new week with a fresh look…..Happy Sunday.
Happy Sunday, I always enjoy your visits, Rita. A fresh look is always a good thing!
Good Sunday to you Pam !
As a matter of fact , my crepe myrtle blooms are sparse this year . Not sure why ?
I have more weeds than normal … including poison ivy (she has already given me problems!) .
How do you take care of the onset of “unpopular plants” in August ? I would appreciate any advice !
I don’t know what is up with the crepe myrtles. Yes, weeds are a constant problem. I wish I had answers. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!
Pam, such a lovely post. I enjoyed seeing your praying mantis. They are a sign of good luck and a healthy garden. It is against the state law here in West Virginia to kill one.
It is only fitting that Ella Mae love pink, as the color is beautiful on her. She will love the glad.
Summer is winding down and our garden is looking rather sleepy. Except for our limelight hydrangea which has been in bloom for about a week.
Wishing you a beautiful day and week ahead. Stay well.❤
Thanks dear Sandra. Our garden is rather tired with our hot weather. Have a lovely Sunday♥️
Lovely as always, Pam & Butch, and the captures of the butterflies and praying mantis are incredible! Our crepe myrtles bloomed late also…and we have those cobweb like things everywhere! Your knowledge of plants and their names is beyond impressive! I hope you both have a beautiful, quiet Sunday
Jenna
Thanks so much Jenna. Stay cool and blessings on your day!
Good morning, dear friend. Another beautiful post. I have not noticed anything different about my Crepe Myrtles, but I will look at them closer and see if I have missed something.They are pretty much in full bloom. They always bloom this time of the year. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Thanks dear friend. Wishing you a lovely Sunday!
Good morning and happy Sunday, Pam! I always love these posts and look forward to them each Sunday. It is always an enjoyable visit filled with beautiful scriptures and pretty photographs. Enjoy your day, sweet friend and may you have a most blessed week ahead!
Thank you Shannon. Wishing you a most blessed week my friend.
I can’t tell you how much I love spending my Sunday morning with you. It’s such a beautiful start to the day and I hold it in my heart throughout!
Jeanie, thanks so much. Very sweet thoughts…
Gorgeous garden, that dahlia is spectacular. Yes, we get those webs in the plants too. I rake them out and encourage the spiders to build elsewhere. Your mantis is a gift, I wish we could keep them around our garden.
Thanks so much Carole. Have a good week!
Stunning pictures!That Bible verse is one of my favorites…You always brighten up my day!Hugs,dear friends!
Thanks so much Maristella. Hugs…
Yes, strolling through your post is pleasurable. I love the swallowtails and the praying mantis. A praying mantis bit me once and it really hurt. How interesting it is against the law in WV to kill one. They are good bugs so that is a good law to have.
Your wildflowers are beautiful and you have extensive knowledge, Butch.
I love the first shot of the lovely dahlia and the one of EM in the zinnia patch.
Happy Sunday to y’all.
Thanks so much Bonnie. Praying Mantis is a good bug, but I don’t want to be bitten by one. Have a blessed week!
A stroll with you is beautiful and enlightening. I am amazed at your extensive knowledge of these plants. I am so happy to see the bodacious dahlia again. The swallowtails are amazing and what a capture. Oh my goodness, Ella Mae in the zinnia garden…beautiful beyond words. May we all look to the SON during these trying times. God Bless.
Thanks so much Dianne. Amen, He is in control!
Your dahlias are gorgeous and I love the color. EM will indeed love the glad. She’s so pretty in pink. We planted some many years ago against the east wall when we lived in another house and some still bloom. They’re at least 20 years old. If we had moved them when we left, the squirrels here would probably make them a snack here! Lol We have to burn the bag worms out of the trees some years. It’s a tedious task. I love the butterfly shot. All the weeds can be a little overwhelming. By this time of year they win more often as we have grown weary of the battle in the heat and humidity. Our crape myrtles have not been as prolific this year as they have been in the past. Have a wonderful week! Clara♥️
You are correct, by this time I get weary of the bugs, weeds, and heat and humidity. It is strange about the crape myrtles this year. Wishing you a beautiful afternoon❤️
So lovely, so calming…thank you and God bless you.
Thank you dearest Sue.
How relaxing and rewarding to stroll through your beautiful garden on Sunday, accompanied by the blessed assurance of John 14:27. EM must be in her glory surrounded by pink in every hue. I am in my glory surrounded by your photos and the
goodwill of those who share and comment on them…a blessed circle. Shabbat Shalom all…..
Thanks so much dearest Mary. Blessings always…
Good afternoon Pam and Butch! What a nice way to enjoy my afternoon… viewing your beautiful gardens, sunrises and sunsets.
Ella Mae sure is pretty in her favorite color. 💗
Those butterflies were so fun to see along with the praying mantis.
Beautiful captures dear friends. Happy Sunday and enjoy the week to come!
Hello Nancy, I always love your visits. Have a wonderful week!
I’d like to comment on your scripture for this week, and the phrase, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” It usually takes most of us to lose all hope and for everything to be as bleak as it can get, to be able to truly put our whole selves in the hands of the Lord and to totally trust in Him. It is not an easy thing at all to do but if we can, totally let go, our lives will never be the same again – for the better. Such an experience happened to me six years ago and I have been all the stronger since then, and at great peace. I live by those words and they changed my outlook on life, and I just want to underscore the value of them. Thank you for the beautiful pictures as well. You have made a beautiful environment for you and your family.
Maria, thank you so much for your beautiful and meaningful thoughts surrounding the scriptures. You are correct that it is not always easy to let go but when we totally trust our lives into the Everlasting Hands, we will never be the same. Thank you for sharing your experience and to God be the glory for the great things He has done in your life.
What a great capture of not one but two beautiful swallowtail on the mountain mint. Did I spy a Gardenia bush still in bloom. Mine finished more than a month ago here in Florida.
Karen, the gardenia gave us another flush of blooms, that has never happened. 2020, I guess!
I agree with EM – that is a beautiful color! And, that sunset – it just looks like Jesus could come splitting through those clouds, doesn’t it? Your posts are such bright spots to my days. May the dear Lord richly bless you and your family!
Thanks so much Cheryl. Blessings my friend!
Beautiful pictures of your backyard. Always enjoy them. Glad you mentioned your crepe myrtles. Ours have been unusual this year. They have bloomed But not as full as in years past. Thought maybe just mine. Who knows what’s going on, it’s just a different year for many of my plants and flowers. Cherry
Thank you Cherry. Several people have said their crape myrtles have acted differently this year. Have a lovely Monday!
What a perfectly stunning bouquet for Monday Morning blooms! The flowers and colors are gorgeous in all of the pretty different garden settings. The container you chose was perfect. I hope you have a most blessed week, sweet friend!
Thank you sweet friend. Wishing you a blessed week also!
I enjoyed our delightful stroll through your garden Pam!
Bless you sweet friend,
Jennifer
Blessings sweet Jennifer!