“God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.”
Psalm 47:8 ESV
Memorial Day weekend has arrived which means summer is just around the corner. To many, this weekend actually signals that summer has arrived, and it’s time for warm weather recreation! It is a somber day however, as we remember those who lost their lives serving and defending this nation and its people!
Some afternoons like this one last week had a summer look, but we have not experienced very many hot days so far this season. The long range forecast for June 1, calls for 80 degrees, exceptionally cool for June if that holds true! We are not complaining!
Personal sacrifices are made when one takes loss or gives up something precious for a greater cause and purpose…and what is more precious than one’s own life!
A thought came to me, so I acted on it, not always the best decision knowing some of my ideas. I decided to venture out into the woods and along the trail to find how the red, white, and blue might be displayed in a natural way for Memorial Day. I chose blackberries to celebrate red. Yep, our blackberries are red right now, just in time for the holiday and win the choice. In fact, red is the hardest color to spot in the wild right now.
Selecting the representative for white was an easy choice due to the captivating wide display of elongated white blooms along the woods edges by oak leaf hydrangeas. Of our 3 colors, white was actually the most widespread in the wild landscape last week. Queen Anne’s lace, oxeye daisy, and daisy fleabane are among a number of competitors for the choice, but the hydrangeas were the show offs!
Blue, like red, would be a bit more difficult to find, or so I thought. Not far from home, in an area disturbed last fall by a utility company work crew, I was surprised by the blue of cornflower covering a decent sized spot among vines, weeds and grasses (a lot of ragweed). We’ve had cornflower in wildflower gardens at home near here, and I wonder if these possibly came from our place, taking up where the soil had been disturbed?
Should you ever find yourself near Birmingham, Alabama, drop by Bottega Cafe and have a pizza from their wood fired brick ovens. This one was served as an appetizer. It is like a celebration on any day for any occasion!
A Monarch’s delight, this milkweed returns all alone every year to a very “easy to spot” location in the edge of the pasture only a few feet from where I mow on one side of the front yard. This particular plant survives the hay mowers, hay rakes, bailers and numerous tractor tires across its little space, and has managed to emerge and bloom for as long as I can remember! I was mowing last week, and there it was, the yearly debut.
A newcomer to one of the nearby fields is helmet flower or common large skullcap. It is a native wildflower to the southeast US and a member of the mint family. I tried to envision the fuzzy blooms as being in the shape of how I’ve seen in depictions the head gear of Roman soldiers of the first century. I believe the cap or cup-shaped parts I see below the blooms (after the petals are gone) have the right idea.
Today’s throwback is from The Swag, and the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. We were blessed to spend Memorial Day here last May. It is one of our favorite destinations, and only 5 hours away!
We had a week of pleasant surprises, and this was one of them. Pam spotted this indigo bunting by the drive as we returned home one day. We try to wait and get close-ups of birds and other creatures when possible and show those. But, we rarely see this visitor, and you do the best you can from the truck window. The bird flew over to a nearby pine and then disappeared. We’ve not seen it again. Since I was searching for the colors of the flag this week, finding a rare sight sporting red and blue was nice!
Earlier I showed you blackberries that were red, and now I want you to see that we have an abundance of beautiful blueberries that are…green! Our bushes are weighted down. Aren’t we glad that fruit does ripen in season, just like the Creator designed it.
I took an alternate route from my norm on a walk Thursday. Growing among briers and weeds I found a plant I have not seen around here before. This is a sunshine mimosa. Flowering mimosa trees are naturalized and grow everywhere around these parts and have for years. But, this small low to the ground plant is only found in the southern-most states. I’m thinking we are about as far north as this pea family plant might be found? Interestingly, it is also known as “sensitive plant” because it responds by drawing up its leaves when contacted or shaken. With that said, I do think I recall running across something like this as a kid and discovering it does shrivel up when shaken. Maybe it was sunshine mimosa!
Maybe not so much the sunshine mimosa, but I am familiar with the Sunshine Cottage and enjoy viewing it across the garden from different spots. Pam often roams around the garden with her camera and gives us some nice, pleasurable scenes that to me are just relaxing to look at. Nothing dramatic, only the simplicities and blessings of springtime !
Whatever your plans, big or nothing much at all, we wish you a peaceful Sunday. We hope you will join us tomorrow as we remember our free way of life and the blessings of liberty came at the greatest cost to so many, and we shall not forget!
We have several old worn flags and I’ve not known exactly what to do with them, desiring to dispose of them properly. I’ve read of various ways, but while strolling around town I noticed this flag drop off. I believe I will bring them to this deposit. I’m not sure how many we have but we never throw one away.
A very different kind of sunset over Lookout Mountain. Pam told me her yellow “tabby” cat from long ago was peering down from the upper left clouds. I asked her if the cat ever had a heart necklace? What do you see?
Have A Blessed Week!!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Test
Is that a stink bug on the milkweed? Or what?
I get those every now and then. I put flags along the front walk way to honor my later husband. He did that every Memorial Day. There is a box here and back in SD to put damaged flags. He would take ours religiously to be burned.
The first time I looked at the cloud I didn’t see the cat or the heart necklace but after some time I looked the second time and saw both instantly. How sweet those memories of our long gone pets.
When I think of Bottega I don’t think pizza but that one looks delicious! An appetizer that fits the bill for a full meal.
Your idea to find things in nature to fit the colors of our flag was a fun idea. And you would be the one to do that!
God bless you two with a week filled with fun ideas, Good health and happy times.
All the wars fought and the young men and women who gave their lives for us to be able to live and celebrate does indeed require a moment of reflection and gratitude. On Memorial Day you can see thousands of flags which are placed at each veterans tombstone at our national cemeteries in Memphis (and probably around the entire nation). The boy scouts used to do the task, but they asked for volunteers this year over the news. It’s quite a sight to see. The red, white and blue you found in nature were all beautiful. Fresh fruit ripening is always good to see. The pizza looks delicious. We had pizza last night. Have a wonderful Memorial Day celebration with your family. The veterans gave us this privilege and it’s honorable to remember them as you do each Memorial Day. Thank you. The younger generations must never forget! Clara❤️
Butch and Pam, I wish you a beautiful red, white, and blue weekend. I’m one to honor this holiday, so thank you for your opening words. Of course, I’m thrilled to see how you found red, white, and blue in nature. Great exploration! I used to have blue Lily of the Nile in my garden, but it didn’t do well. No longer have it, but I want to try again. I love the blooms, and it is not easy to find blue blooming plants. Thanks for the reminder. Enjoy your weekend!
Yep…there’s the cat and its golden heart. RW&B search in nature is a fun game. O to have a Bottega in our town. That pizza looks like a tasty winner. I so admire the souls that hit upon a valuable idea and run with it…one being the reverential disposal of our Nation’s flag. That pictorial visit to the Swag was soothing and restful, indeed. Just to set on one of those chairs and take in the scenery.. ahhhh. May we never fail to remember and honor those young lives that were sacrificed to assure freedom for our Nation and the world… we were deprived of their promise, giftedness and the “what might have been” of their futures lives, and to them we should be eternally grateful. Time to proudly display Old Glory and to celebrate this hallowed day of remembrance.
It’s all so pretty. I’m actually in the Smoky Mts. now with the Gaither Family Fest. So pretty and cool enough for a sweater. A lovely time of remembrance.
Happy Memorial weekend, Richardsons! We’ve had very unusually cool and windy weather this past week, with much rain through last Thursday. The USA Cycling National Championships are happening through it all, and the cyclists have had some real weather to contend with! The Swag is 5 hours south of us, so if we ever decide to meet each other halfway, we know where that should be! 😉Enjoy your weekend.
Happy Sunday, Pam and Butch! It is so nice that many are stopping to remember the significance of Memorial Day. We have a deputy sheriff who recently moved in down the road (very comforting!), and I noticed this morning their front walk is lined with dozens of American flags. It took two tries to spot the kitty. Yellow tabbies are my favorite, there is one curled up in my lap right now! Enjoyed your patriotic plant walkabout too!
Another beautiful and thoughtful Sunday post. That’s wonderful about the flag drop off — a really terrific idea. You two have a happy Memorial Day!