“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”
Psalm 107:8-9 (ESV)
Happy Sun Day. If the sun isn’t shining on you today, maybe this new, big, cheerful bloomer can brighten things up. If it is sunny where you are, then by all means enjoy your sunshine and this sunflower’s happy Sunday greeting. We live in a very dark world that needs light!
While on the subject of sunflowers, this flower was discovered yesterday. When I say discovered, I mean it is unlike the other varieties, it’s just now maturing, and it looks completely different from any that we “thought” we had planted. This one doesn’t have a dark center and is not representative of any of the seeds we purchased. All I can figure is that a few stray seeds of this type were packaged at the supplier. That can and does happen sometimes. The nice thing is, we really do like this one and hope to order it next season. To me it looks more like the sun that is depicted in sketches and drawings of the sun, especially the petals…as if to imitate sun rays!
This is an example of our typical skies for most of the past week. We’ve accumulated several inches of rain over these last few days and it was certainly needed. Many areas of the country and Canada have wildfires and sure need rain. Prayers for them!
About a week ago, one window of opportunity came to salvage some of the hay that unfortunately got very wet. Yield and quality are compromised when the crop lays wet for a while but the weather is not ours to control. I must say I am glad, for if it were, we would certainly make a mess of it! Hopefully the hungry cows in January will not notice the difference.
My thoughts here were, “my, don’t they grow up fast”!
I moved my camouflaged stool to a spot in the cottage garden. The reason…I had seen a male hummingbird with his obvious ruby-red throat a couple of times recently enjoying the cottage zinnias. To see a male in the summer is unusual for us and I sure wanted a photo. We typically only see the boys in April and then again in September/October. After several long sittings and no return visit by Mr. Ruby Throat, I didn’t come away with nothing, thanks to this little girl. And, something else turned up I had not planned on, so I was glad I made the effort…
…when this male cardinal chose to land on a nearby sunflower stalk and stare me down. I am amazed at the way birds can land and perch securely on a surface that is virtually straight up. Observe the outstretched lower leg while the upper is tucked in close. When I headed indoors and pulled up this photo, I happened to notice what was growing beneath these sunflowers. Do you see the plants with the little green lanterns hanging down? It is our native wild annual, cutleaf groundcherry!
With thoughts about growing up fast, I teased the grands, calling them our grand mushrooms after I spotted these three that really did grow up overnight. The difference in size seemed the perfect representation of EM, EK, and WL!
As I traveled on my regular route to the gym, these caught my eye and I circled back to get another look. These ladies were standing in the middle of a lawn with nothing around but grass. Called a belladonna lily from the Italian “bella donna” which means beautiful lady, it is an Amaryllis that is only cultivated here and I understand temperamental when it comes to making it thrive. The long leafless stalks are responsible for this flower to also be called “naked lady”! I’ll stick with beautiful lady!
We have English muffins often at breakfast. At first I thought Pam had burned my muffin and tossed it out and didn’t tell me. But a closer look revealed the strangest mushroom I’ve seen lately. Our rainy weather has been great for the mushrooms, and the weeds!
A thriving family of fungi, with a few choosing to grow amongst the faster growing weeds! We moved from cactus weather in June to mushroom weather in July.
About a week ago, this million bells had zero blooms and had been without for a couple of weeks. I did fertilize a couple of times which changed nothing. The foliage was a nice green but I was ready to plant something else, thinking there was no future beauty in this one. I guess there is a lesson here for me. Sometimes a bit of patience and encouragement is needed before one blossoms, and does so in its own time. And I must say, I believe it’s prettier than it has been all summer. I’m glad Pam noticed and took this photo.
Even a butterfly can be inspiring and encouraging. A partially missing wing didn’t keep this one from going about business as usual.
We did some thinning and replacing in the garden this year. As quite the inexperienced amateur, I have come to expect that all my new plantings will struggle and some will bite the dust, literally. I am so happy to report this first year limelight hydrangea has done great. The sunshine ligustrum partially seen on the right is also a new plant. Even the vinca in the pig (although the pig is hidden) planter has been blooming all summer.
We probably witnessed a dozen rainbows around home last week. Although all were beautiful, none were lengthy and bright. I took a lot of photos but decided to offer this throwback from last summer instead. This was an afternoon to remember. Creation is so magnificent, and the Creator so much more!
While the evening clouds after a passing storm were too low to catch the light just after sunset, a high flying jet vapor trail was in a place to reflect the light. Darkness is such that it has no definition apart from light…it is simply the absence of light.
We hope and pray you have a bright and pleasant 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,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
We have been in drought conditions since summer began, and I am praying for rain tomorrow. It comes in the forecast, and literally dissipates around us, repeatedly. It’s all I can do to keep new plantings alive with watering.
The naked ladies are in bloom in our region too. Your sunflower is a happy accident! we definitely need Light!
Happy new week.
Rita we wish we could send you some rain. We had showers yesterday and rain off and on all afternoon, straight down like a winter rain. I had never seen anyone here growing those naked ladies, a very pretty flower. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Wonderful shots of the hummingbird and cardinal! Happy Sunday.
And a happy Sunday to you Carole. I dropped you a note on Pam’s July Garden Views.
Butch and Pam
Light only needs a crack to sneak in and change everything and everybody. And indeed this has become a dark world. I also like the unusual sunflower. It will be interesting to know if the bees and birds prefer this one rather than the dark one. Poor little butterfly that has a damaged wing but it didn’t quit and neither should we when life clips our wings. Never give up and you were rewarded with a beautiful pot of million bells. I miss not seeing cardinals here. I haven’t seen a rainbow this year but the one you showed from last year is awesome. The mushrooms are evidence that the Lord watered well. Thank you Jesus🙏
Thanks Alice. We had another rainbow this afternoon but again I couldn’t capture the color. I don’t know if bees and birds like the new flower any more than the others but they have definitely found it. We have bees watered very well in recent weeks. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The beautiful rainbow. Ahhhh have a wonderful Sunday. Hugs. Kris
Thanks Kris and we wish you a happy Sunday evening and a very good week ahead!
Butch and Pam
Wonderful sightings and all fabulous but that rainbow is exquisite — what a wonderful shot and perfect timing. I quite like the sunflower with the golden center. It’s beautiful and just a little different. That butterfly is lovely, too. Happy week.
Thanks Jeanie and a happy Sunday evening to you. We do like the golden center, that’s what caught Pam’s eye that was different than the others. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Almost intoxicated by this week’s gleaning…so much to absorb and appreciate… The
baler must have been right up JL’s alley…Ah yes, when darkness falls, the smallest light
offers comfort and resolve, as evidenced by that radiant sunflower. Thank you for the
hummingbird, cardinal and butterfly visits…and oh that rainbow!! Your imagination and
grasp continue to enlighten and favor us with Sabbath blessings, Butch and Pam…
And a Sunday blessing to you Mary. And as you so well said, when things are the darkest, the faintest of light is easier seen. We wish you a comforting and pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Blessed Sunday morning to you both. I believe your Lilly is what in Michigan is called Resurrection Lilly or Surprise Lilly. In the spring it shoots up green sword like leaves and then dies completely back to be followed now by the tall flower. Also throw a mesh bag over the sunflower and harvest the seeds for next year. A cover is necessary due to hungry birds. I cover one of all my different sun flowers to save seeds. I save seeds from all my plants in cutting garden. Thank you for your joint beautiful blog.
Thank you Vicky. Harvesting our own seeds is a good idea. I think I’m curious now about other common names for the belladonna lily and will do a little research on those other names. Birds do relish the sunflower seeds. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning, Butch and Pam! Another beautiful post to start off our week! The sunflower blooms are so pretty as well as the sweet feathered friends you were able to catch a glimpse of. I’m glad your hay wasn’t affected by the rain. My dad just finished his first hay cutting. It is always a stressful time worrying about rain after it is cut and until it is bailed. Wishing you both a blessed Sunday and week ahead!
Good evening Shannon and thanks for your comments. Sounds like you are quite familiar with the challenges of getting in a hay crop. I’m still searching for that male hummingbird. He may have moved on. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I am partial to your magnificent rainbow! It is exquisite. I love your hummingbird, cardinal,butterfly, Naked ladies, and sunflowers but I am blown away by the rainbow. I don’t get to see many because we live in the trees.
I do get to see squirrels stealing my birdseed constantly. Watching them as I type.
We have several hickory trees in our yard and would you believe this year the hickory nuts fell in early spring and they are falling again now. So, are the acorns but the latest ones are very small. Our tree cutter said that when there is going to be a bad hurricane season that happens.
Have a nice week.
Thank you Bonnie but we do hope your tree cutter is wrong about hurricane season. We too are overrun with squirrels. We have power lines in the back and a lot of times rainbows are in that direction and I despise having them in photos. I can often head out across the pasture and get a different view. Trees block our sunsets right from the house and I end up taking a short walk of a couple hundred yards for a better look. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a beautiful rainbow, and I love the mushroom photo that reminds you of the 3 grands! Your captures are wonderful, I love to see cardinals. We have a male and a female cardinal that hang out around our beach house and I see them often flying in to gather crumbs left on the outdoor tables where meals and snacks are enjoyed! I like your unusual sunflower, a garden bonus! I hope you both have a wonderful week and can stay cool, safe and dry!
Thank you Jenna. The daily rain showers have helped with the heat. We’ve had a number of cardinals hanging out again lately after going a while without seeing them. We noticed that a lot of spots in Alabama had flooding and damage today. Hope you did not receive any damage. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful pictures dear friends! Have a lovely week ahead!
Thank you Maristella. Always good to hear from you. Have a wonderful week as well!
Butch and Pam
thank you Butch and Pam for your wonderful Sunday post. I look forward to the always beautiful post and sentiments…and this one did not disappoint with the rainbow, cardinal, hummingbird and lovely flowers. Have a great week in the Lord!
Thank you Kari and a good Monday morning to you. We hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I have thoroughly enjoyed this tour through your garden. Absolutely lovely!
Thank you Michelle. Gardening has been challenging this season, weather related. Hope you have a good week!
Butch and Pam
Thank you for sharing your wonderful garden with us, I particularly like the rainbow over your house. Beautiful captures 🙂
Oh my word, such beauty to behold in your surroundings!! Of course, your sunflowers are such a happy greeting, but those million bells after not performing, are so glorious. Thank you for the rainbow view and the sunset. I enjoyed each and every photo.
Thank you Kitty. The million bells are normally good performers with no deadheading. This one looked great but took a few weeks off I guess. Hope you have a pleasant and blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Great pictures and the rainbow shot is fabulous! Love the mushroom analogy to the three grands – so cute! I’m happy for you that the million bells was able to surprise you with all the beautiful flowers. Cardinals and hummingbirds aren’t all that common here so it’s always nice to see yours. The butterfly is gorgeous and so is the limelight. Thanks for the virtual walkabout and I hope you two are managing to stay cool!
Thank you Kim. We are glad to share the cardinals and hummingbirds with you. We had a few days with a slight break in the heat but per the forecast it is about to return. Are any wildfires near you? Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Hi Butch and Pam, still having some sort of glitch in receiving your emails so I am late for Sunday. Hay baling must be one of the most miserable jobs ever..out in the heat and humidity with all that scratchy hay. Looks like everything around here got put up before the rain moved in. Such wonderful shots of the hummer and cardinal. You’ve inspired me to plant some Million Bells next year. I remember reading as a child about the ladies going to the balls in antebellum Charleston putting Bella Donna drops in their eyes to dilate them. It was thought to be very attractive!
Interesting story Roxanne, when I was a teen I worked some in the summers helping gather hay (square bales), stacking it on a trailer and then putting it in the barn. It was on this very farm where we now live. It was a rough job. Try the million bells, they work well. I’m glad those Bella Donna drops only dilated eyes. How strange is that, never heard of such. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I’m behind on my reading again. I’ve been putting away fresh food in the freezer for the winter. We always called those lilies “surprise” lilies but I like the formal name better! I didn’t know what it was formally until I read your SSS; thanks for enlightening me! I always learn something new which I enjoy. They aren’t hard to grow in the south. They don’t last long though in the heat like most lilies it seems. A few days of beauty and then they’re gone. I transplanted my Mom’s and I just dropped them in good soil and they came up the very next spring. We’re in the heat warning area now after a week of rain, tolerable temps and high humidity. Your hummingbird and rainbow shots are beautiful! Hope you both stay safe in these temps. Clara❤️
Thank Clara. No worries about being behind. We are retired and somehow manage to be busier than ever and always feeling behind. The surprise lily is an amaryllis too, just a different species that grows in a lot of places. One of our readers mentioned surprise lilies and I did a little research. I had not heard of a surprise lily and was glad to learn about them. And yes, the heat has returned. Have a great rest of the week!
Butch and Pam
Good Evening Friends!
I enjoyed your cardinal, butterfly and hummingbird pictures! And that rainbow!
I enjoy your sunflowers! They always bring me a smile.
Hoping you are staying cool!
Thanks for the Sunday Stroll. They are always the best!
Thank you for your kind comments Nancy. Glad that you took the stroll with us. Keep smiling and have a great rest of the week!
Butch and Pam