“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
Welcome to the “official” first Sunday of summer and our first sunflowers of the season. They seemed to have a sense of the calendar and popped open in time for the solstice (Friday)! We do have a prediction of typical summer-like days this week with dryer air and mid to upper 90’s coming…so proclaim the meteorologists!
The rose mallow, being a cotton family plant, loves hot weather and now has dozens of buds. This one has blooms that are often 8 inches across. I’m finding evidence of insects enjoying the leaves but I never see anything on the plant??
Some fairly strong storms came through last week. 50 mph wind gusts were common in a fast moving thunderstorm that paid us a visit one evening. Thankfully, nothing serious resulted, only a few minor messes like this one. In the big scheme of things it was nothing more than an inconvenience!
I went into recovery mode, uprighting, replanting, and going about picking up limbs and debris. It’ll be alright!
I was caught completely off guard by this hummingbird but did have my cell phone handy. This was a real surprise, not to have a hummingbird come by, but the ruby red throat indicating a male was definitely news !
We have hummingbirds visiting all spring and into the early autumn, but never males this time of year. Very rare! I retrieved my camera and a longer lens and waited in a nearby hiding spot for about 20 minutes…but he did return!
The males usually drop by in April and October. The red crocosmia of the iris family is one of the hummer’s favorites.
EM, in particular, loves my ongoing tropical island story about the life of Pirate Joe and Princess Anna Mae. We had two more episodes this past week and EM decided to send Joe a nice note of encouragement.
He has the message, but will remain here for a time. The bird delivers everything in the shadows of the night!
I have come to appreciate the back-up cameras that are on many of today’s vehicles. I think however, some vehicles need to be equipped with cameras on the front bumper. Just my thoughts on the matter.
A Father’s Day treat last weekend that called for a double dipper. We both decided on the lemon-raspberry semifreddo. To avoid a conflict during a nice evening out, we ordered two. It’s not a reflection! Pam invited me to Bottega in Birmingham and I accepted!
Our blueberry bushes are really weighted down. And to be located behind all those colorful zinnias makes tending to them and picking berries much more enjoyable. Not to mention my thoughts of blueberry cobbler, coming soon I hope!
With sunshine finally gracing our days, the berries should start maturing and ripening. I’ll keep an eye on them, but I expect to begin picking later this week. Of three bushes, the middle one always ripens ahead of the other two!
The chaste trees exploded last week and the bees were ready. I am not exaggerating, this one bush probably, at times, has a hundred bees on it. I was trimming with the mower underneath while wearing a light blue t-shirt, and the bees began to land on me. They made no attempt to sting!
This Black-eyed-Susan is a special plant gifted to us by the gardener at The Swag in North Carolina in 2022. It was small and would fit in a cup. It is having a great season so far, and the asters I planted on each side are doing quite well too. Like a lot of things through the years, these looked so small when planted, but are now overcrowded! I’ll never learn that lesson!
Pam and I took a short trip on Friday to Cherokee County to the area where her mother grew up. We dropped by the cemetery where her grandparents are buried and stopped at an old church that they attended. This house is on the route and sits in an absolutely gorgeous setting. We didn’t see anyone around to speak with and we don’t know the history. But…Pam remembers this house as being very old when she was a little girl visiting her grandparents some 65 or more years ago. Someone has done a wonderful job of restoration and maintaining. It is on a hill surrounded by cotton fields with the Appalachian Mountains directly behind it. We’d love to go back and learn of the history! We both think the house likely dates to the 1800’s.
We were shocked to find the parking lot behind our local cultural arts building completely empty of parked cars. That gave us the opportunity to photograph this entire “musical” mural without any obstruction. And by doing so, Pam discovered something interesting about the crosswalk that in all the years of attending events here we had not noticed. Do you see anything related to music as you look at the crosswalk? We did not see it until we pulled up the pic at home!
This sunset on Friday marked the sun’s furtherest point on its northward trek and gave us our longest day of the year. Although it won’t be noticeable for a while, the length of daylight will now begin to decrease. Does it seem like it has been 6 months since the first day of winter? The thought of the days becoming shorter always depressed me until someone reminded me every day has 24 hours!
Have a nice long Sunday and a great first week of summer (or winter if you are well to our south)!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
I love the restored house; it’s beautiful! The mural is pretty and the piano crosswalk is not just functional, it’s fun! It reminds me of Tom Hanks dancing on the piano at the FAO Swartz store in the movie “Big”. The storms have been relentless here. We lost another large, tall oak tree but, thankfully, it didn’t harm any physical structure, so that’s a blessing indeed! Cutting oak trees up once a month that have fallen seems to be the norm at the moment. It takes several days to cut it up and get it moved. We also had some potted plants blown over. I do believe the wind and hail have been worse this year. Your male hummingbird pics are great! All of your flowers are lovely. A blueberry cobbler sounds good. WL will gladly assist in the blueberry picking,but from what I’m told, he’ll leave with a full belly and empty bucket! Enjoy your day. Clara ❤️
That is one jacked up vehicle. Wonder how it rides and if the front ever comes down from the hydraulics to be even with the back? Do you remember the pimped out cars on one of the James Bond movies back in 1973 called Live and let die that was partially filmed in Louisiana? It reminds me of that! I could do with dessert about now! It looks delicious.
Thanks Clara. We do remember the ‘73 movie. I would think that vehicle that pulled up beside me would have to ride terrible. My next dessert will be homemade ice cream on the 4th. Have a wonderful evening!
Butch and Pam
Thank you Clara. Sounds like you are getting your share of storms too. It’s turning hot here so we will now switch to watering every day. You remembered WL loves those blueberries and he has already laid eyes on them. I suppose we will guard from birds and WL. Glad we got the computer problem straightened out this morning, at least we think it’s ok. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
The rose mallow photo is striking, as are the other flower shots with darting visitors. EM must be enthralled with your saga exchange on Pirate Joe.Every child should have such an imaginative and
gifted Grandpa who certainly deserved that luscious semifreddo…..delish. Do hope that one day you
will return to garner the story of that restored residence. Such a lovely setting, which probably has
an interesting history. The keyboard walkway was probably delivered by one with tongue in cheek
wit. All graffiti on a building should be as creative as the one on your cultural arts structure. Our
world has been so unsettled of late that even the autos seem to be affected and wobbly in response…
Wonder what idea the owner of that one was shooting for….. Shoring up for smoldering temps this
week in our corner of the world. As ever, strolling through the world surrounding Pam and Butch
has been a respite and joy.. Blessed Sabbath.
Thank you Mary. Glad you were able to see the post after the jetpack app failed to email everyone. With expectations high regarding Pirate Joe I must get busy with my creative thoughts before next weekend. We too hope to ride back to the dwelling on the hill and maybe catch someone at home who might know and share history. We used the piano crosswalk many times but it took a photo with no cars present to see the obvious. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
The sunset is gorgeous. All your blooms are doing so well. How fun you have the male hummingbird coming now. He loves the nice restaurants you supply to him in the garden.
Ha Ha on the truck! You see everything now a days. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. We’ve had above normal rain so I guess the blooms are tasty to the visitors. Hot and dry now however so we will switch to watering to keep them happy. Hope you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Summer is my favorite season – and I love all of your summertime loveliness!
Thank you Leslie Anne. Summer generates a lot of work around our place but I do enjoy it also. We hope you have a great first full week of summer!
Butch and Pam
Another wonderful trip down Photo Lane Butch. I really like the hummingbird…We have aways had the little darlings but never as many as we had in New Mexico. They were never afraid or shy as they would land on me while I was filling their feeders….I believe they were telling me to hurry up. LOL. As far as planting plants too close…I don’t think they are. I believe they look more natural that way and let’s face it…I don’t like bare spots in my Secret Garden. Dessert looks delish and love the Pirate Joe saga. Have a great and wonderful week. Blessings Always.
Thank you Kari. Our hummingbirds are a bit more shy but I have them occasionally a couple of feet away if I’m very still. Bare spots aren’t really good and are usually soon claimed by weeds so you have a good point. Have a blessed evening and a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday Butch and Pam from sweltering SC! If there was ever a week for sweet tea, this is it. I love the ongoing story of Pirate Joe, maybe you need to write a children’s book in your “spare” time. I think we got some of your same storm. Although the two roads leaving from our house had downed trees, we only had a very few branches in the yard. Love the crosswalk, how clever! Hope you have a wonderful week and lots of AC.
Thank you Roxanne. Glad we got our computer glitch solved (hopefully) and you and others did receive the post. A children’s book, maybe not a bad idea but we would only need 2 copies, one for EM and one for me. Glad you didn’t have major storm damage. I did discover a couple of larger tress and limbs down over by the pasture that I hadn’t seen but still we came out fine. AC is running. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday Pam and Butch, love the timing of your sunflowers! 🌻 We had some serious storms roll through last week too…so sorry about your bicycle tumble and planter/flower damage. Love your hummer captures, I’m fascinated by them! We haven’t seen them at the lake yet, but spied numerous ones fighting over feeders in the NC mountains. I even planted some hummingbird favorites in planters and haven’t seen or heard any visitors. I’m trying to keep calm and hummingbird on. 😊 Summer is coming in hot everywhere it seems. 💗 Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, stay cool!
Thank you Mary. We plan to visit the mountains later this summer. The Swag has numerous feeders and hummingbirds flock to them. Never seen so many as they attract. We can’t complain about the heat up until now but it has finally arrived. The AC hasn’t shut down much today. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I’m with you Butch But every day doesn’t have those long hours of daylight. I remember the Bible says there will be no sun or moon when God sets up His kingdom on earth as Gods glory will provide all the light.
I’m still trying to find something pertaining to music in that picture. I do see the music c instruments on the wall,
That was some wind storm you had. We supposedly had a tornado on Pikes Peak that laid down so many trees. Never heard of a tornado at that altitude.Love the old house and the bumble bees lighting on your blue shirt and the male hummer. So many things to see.
Glad you are back up as I was concerned this morning when you just were not there. Have a blessed week Richardson’s. .
Thank you Alice. We didn’t realize for a while that Jetpack did not send out the post this morning so all we could do was copy the original and rename and publish again. I’ve never heard of a tornado in a spot like Pikes Peak. I have a photo somewhere of me with my grandparents in late June in 1962 or ‘63 on Pikes Peak and it was snowing. You are so right, one day we will have no need for the sun and moon. The crosswalk looks like a piano keyboard. I hadn’t seen that either. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
It’s already heated here! Love the blackened Susans, and the hummers. I rarely see hummers here. Take care and stay cool.
Thanks Sarah. I know it’s hot out there. Maybe the hummers like it slightly cooler. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
It is so wonderful to see your garden welcome summer with a beautiful array of blooms! I love the story of Pirate Joe, so sweet! I don’t like the days getting shorter either, but thanks for reminding me they still have 24 hours! Happy Summer 😎
Thanks Jenna. I’m thinking on some new angles for the pirate Joe story. Trying to keep it interesting and surprising. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
It’s been a minute since we’ve been to Bottega, but I pass right by it often because my mom lives on Highland Avenue! I love seeing the gorgeous hummingbirds. Your photography is exceptional. 😀 I’m hoping we won’t have any storms today. We seem to get them everyday…this is the wettest May and June I can remember!
Thanks Ricki. We agree about a wet May and June. We find ourselves on Highland Avenue occasionally. Wish we could get down once a month but we don’t always make it. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I don’t think I could share the lemon-raspberry semifreddo either it looks so very mouthwatering! Your hummingbirds are a bit of magic in your lovely flower gardens. Wishing you two a summer filled with all good things!
Thanks Mary. Sharing dessert is just something I cannot bring myself to do. We saw the male hummer today so maybe he’s going to hang around. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
We are way behind you in the growing season here in Chicagoland, but loving all the colorful plants and whimsical photos. Enjoyed your non-rwbl post, I’m not too interested in those right now. Hugs, Sandi from Love Your Creativity
Thanks Sandi. I don’t know exactly the distance to Chicago but a few hundred miles does change the timing. You will catch up with a beautiful growing season. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Wow, your flowers look great and the rose mallow is amazing. Love the sunflowers too. Sorry about the ones on the tricycle. The shots of the hummingbird are gorgeous, and I have to admit, I’d be a bit freaked out if bees were landing on me lol; I’m assuming it was because of the blue shirt? EM is so precious and I love that you are keeping the Pirate Joe story going – they will probably remember that for a long time. Wonderful shot of the sun setting, especially on the longest day of the year. Have a great and wonderful week Pam and Butch!
Thanks Kim. I do think the color of my shirt was so much like those blooms and the bees loved it. I would think your summer growing season is coming around now too. I am having fun with my storytelling. Have a beautiful week!
Butch and Pam
What a glorious time we had with you today! Such lovely photos! I could not share that dessert you both had. Smart choice to get your own. Your hummingbirds are always such a treat to see.
I enjoy the tropical stories as well. How fun for the grands!
Happy Summer! Stay Cool!
We just got back from a 2400-mile road trip. I am TIRED! But it was well worth it!
Thanks Nancy. We are glad you had a safe and obviously wonderful trip. I have a hard time sharing when it comes to desserts so two is the standard order. It is hot here for sure. Have a restful week!
Butch and Pam
Stunning photos! Happy Summer, dear friends! Have a lovely week ahead. Blessings.
Thank you, Maristella. We hope you are having a lovely week!
Butch and Pam
It’s always nice to stroll through your yard with so many pretty things to see. Your blueberries are looking good and I know Bruce will be happy to get a cobbler. That semifredo dessert looks amazing and I’d want my own, too. I did spot what’s in the crosswalk!
Have a happy and blessed week.
Thanks Kitty. We picked blueberries today and a cobbler is likely coming tomorrow. Maybe we can share the cobbler since it should be a big one. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Your sunflowers are glorious! We tried planting them for several years but some critter with large teeth mowed them down with no problem. This has been a wonderful year for late spring gardening and my husband and I have enjoyed working together. Every year brings it closer to what I envision in the back of my head.
Thank you for your gentle motivation in that direction!
That’s a piano in the parking lot, right? Very interesting and probably harder to spot in person! God bless you all!
Yes, it is! Thanks Cheryl!