“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!””
1 Chronicles 16:31
Happy Sun…day to you. Large heavy sunflowers bloomed at the top of these stalks. When they were spent I cut them since they were only pulling the plants down. We’ve never had a variety that produced numbers of smaller flowers below the main attraction. It is hard to see them all but this stalk has 8 flowers. I told PJ it reminds me of a totem pole!
The hummers are very active right now. We think this one is camouflaged. At first glance you might not even notice the hummingbird, but this little lady almost landed on me while I watered the hanging baskets!
A bit more obvious, this bird has what appears to be some red on it’s throat. The male ruby throated hummingbird typically has more color than this one. I think this is a female and we are seeing some reflection from the bright zinnia. What do you think?
Another not so obvious hummer has taken a strange position appearing to sit on a zinnia! Look closely to see this one.
This may not seem to be proper manners to display at mealtime but for a Canada goose I guess it is acceptable!
Speaking of camouflage, this preying mantis would have remained well hidden in the lemon balm if it had remained still. My watering was apparently disturbing and caused him to come out of hiding.
The variety of shades that are in these grasses caught my eye as I was taking a walk along the lake. It was a welcome sight after being snubbed earlier by that Canada goose!
This is the prettiest bloom in the entire garden. My app identified her as a Queen flower!
This little one, captured behind the house on my trail camera on Friday, just had to go right after EM…the garden Queen. Princess EK said this was definitely Bambi.
Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies finally showed up last week and Pam has chased them all around the yard. I thought this was a great pic. They are quite busy and getting one to pose is impossible. (Kinda like kids!)
Some desserts are too pretty to eat…well almost. Would you indulge in this lemon meringue tart or just enjoy and admire the presentation?
I noticed a small colorful island on the lake and wondered how a mimosa made its way to this little spot. Maybe the wind or perhaps a seed deposited by a bird? The bright yellow on the other end also caught my attention.
While colorful and interesting, a closer look revealed the orange/yellow vines are actually a parasitic plant called dodder. We had this invader in our garden a few years ago and found it winding around the sunflowers. I was able to finally get rid of it and we have not seen it again.
This crime scene has the type evidence that indicates a raccoon has discovered our tomatoes. I heard someone say raccoons eat like infants. They will pick a tomato off the vine and then eat part of it before moving on to another one. Wasteful and messy!
Beautiful late July color (crape myrtle) against a summer morning sky!
You’ve seen those crazy videos where you are warned at the end, “don’t try this at home”. Well, don’t try this driving down the highway, but hey, this was the only chance I had…a cell phone shot through a dirty windshield.
Have a great week!
”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,
Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Ruth. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Love all the hummingbirds and butterflies, and Bambi! The Queen flower is beautiful!! I’ve never heard of or seen dodder…please keep it in AL. Another scorcher today…my thermometer registered 107 on the deck yesterday afternoon. Lots of sweet tea being consumed!
Thank you, Roxanne. I am afraid I have been drinking too much sweet tea! Stay cool in this heat!
Wonderful pictures. Especially loved the goose and the Princess. Have a blessed week, Sharon
Thanks so much, Sharon. Wishing you a lovely and blessed week!
Oh btw, I would admire the lemon tart and then scoff it up!!
I had no trouble eating every bite (lol)!
Wow that sunflower stalk! And I love the hummers. Watch out for the praying mantis around your hummers, they’re enemy #1! EM is sweet as can be, and that lemon tart is to die for! Have a great week.
Thank you, Rita. The lemon tart was delicious!
Wonderful wildlife photos! I agree, your hummer is a girl with the zinnia reflecting. Sometimes the ones here will light on a branch for a rest, so seeing it land on the flower isn’t unusual. Love seeing the praying mantis. Definitely would admire the lemon tart for a moment, then would dig in!
Thank you, Carole. We often see them on a branch. The lemon tart was delicious!
The sunflowers are amazing!! I love all your captures, Mother Nature always provides entertainment! The photo of the Queen amid the sunflowers is breathtaking, she is so pretty. Bambi visited my backyard too recently, I looked out the kitchen window and there she was looking back at me! Love the photo of the goose, and the last one of the sunset over the road is beautiful! Happy Sunday Pam and Butch!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna! I saw a video yesterday of a bear in a back yard in Saraland. It came over a tall wooden fence. I am afraid we will see one of those one day. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Yikes!
That raccoon tomato-eating behavior reminds me of whomeve ate much of my strawberry crop — one bite at a time. I ended up using the other half of the berry which may or may not be smart (well washed, of course!). The blooms are fabulous and there is something about a duck or goose-butt in the air (I call it duckrobatics) that makes me smile. Lovely images as always!
Thank you, Jeanie. Our tomatoes have been so good. I hope the raccoons had their fill and won’t return! Have a great week at the lake!
Beautiful shots! The hummers and geese are always fun to see as well as Bambi. The sunflowers, petunias and zinnias are all so healthy and gorgeous. EM is adorable and indeed the queen of the garden. The sunset shot is pretty. I hate it when the racoons get into the garden. They’re such pests! Hope you find a solution to keep them out of it. Enjoy your day! Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara. It seems there are always pests to contend with in a garden. Our tomatoes have been so good this year. Wishing you a wonderful week ♥️
I spy the hummingbird
Thanks for warning about dodder. Never heard of it
Thank you, Gail. Have a great week!
Another Sunday lollapalooza collection of grand photos. What a sensitive
eye you have, even at the risk of getting ditched on the side of the road because you could not resist getting that great sunset on the highway. The queen among the sunflowers could garner a blue ribbon and the crape myrtle against the sky spells Summer grandeur. Great shots of Bambi and
that tempting tart. Shame on that tomato culprit…Leaving a basket of Sabbath blessings at your garden gate in gratitude…
Thank you, Mary. We are almost there! Wishing you a lovely week!
Thank you for sharing all the flowers with the hummingbirds. They are such amazing tiny little creatures.I agree that Queen flower is the prettiest flower in your garden
Aw, thanks so much, Della! We certainly think she is the prettiest flower!
How do you manage every Sunday to keep us excitingly waiting to see what caught your attention for the week. Got to say EM has a pensive look that makes me want to know what’s on her mind. And that picture of the sunset at the end of the country road wins an academy award for best in show. Sure hope raccoons don’t find our little garden. It’s the first year we’ve been able to grow big tomatoes 🍅 one slice makes a delicious BLT. Yum!
You are so sweet and thank you Alice. Enjoy those BLT’s!
Awww!!! Awesome pictures! Best wishes dear friends.
Thanks so much, Maristella!
Happy Sunday All!
The Queen Flower is nothing but perfection!
All of your flowers are doing so well.
And your creatures are beautiful too. Watch Bambi she likes flowers I have heard.
And I would look at the dessert… take pictures of it… and then nibble away at it!
Thank you for another lovely Sunday!
Yes, Bambi ate the tops off of three of my snowflake hydrangeas. Pests have been terrible this year. Queen flower is a sweetie! Have a great week, my friend!
Beautiful photos, everyone. And I would definitely eat the key lime tart!
Thank you dear friend!
Hands down the Queen Flower is my favorite!!! Always enjoy your beautiful photos, and the praying mantis is similar to my IG share today. My great niece spied a green grasshopper sitting on a day lily totally camouflaged among the green leaves when we were recently in the garden. A grasshopper is a good omen.
I wish I had one of those lemon tarts. I would definitely eat it!
Thank you, Sarah! The lemon tart was perfectly delicious!
Beautiful post. Sunflowers and zinnias are so lovely. The praying mantis is a good sign in your garden because they eat other insects.I got bitten once by a praying mantis and boy did it hurt.
EM is beautiful! I love that picture.
I am in awe of all the hummingbirds and butterflies you have. I have hummers that come to my feeder but haven’t seen them on my pentas like they usually are. Very few butterflies this year so far. I don’t understand why.
The sweet fawn is a special capture.
Enjoy your week. I hope it is special.
Thanks so much, Bonnie. We had a wonderful week!
So beautiful! All of it! Such a joy that you share it all here with us. God bless you all!
Our pleasure, dear one!
A delightful melody of shots! That hummingbird shot is amazing!
Bless you both, Jennifer
Thank you, dear one!
Wow! These photos are magazine worthy – you two do know that right? Of course the Queen flower is the prettiest of them all, but the hummingbirds and the butterfly are gorgeous too. Sorry about that wasteful raccoon – tsk tsk. I’m not a huge fan of praying mantis, but you’ve captured it so perfectly. Amidst all this gorgeousness is the photo of the highway looking into the sun about to set. Just beautiful!
Hi Pam, Been awhile since I have come across your blog. So nice to visit and loved all your pictures they were lovely, especially the lil queen flower. Also loved the wildlife as well, and all your beautiful flowers. Hope this find you and your hubby doing well hon.
Blessings, Nellie
Nellie, I appreciate your sweet visit. We are doing well!
You captured some amazing shots here. All so beautiful 🙂
Thanks so much, Claire!
Pam