“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 118:29 ESV
I finished watering a little before dark Thursday, and while putting things away and locking up the workshop, I heard thunder. That hasn’t meant anything lately except noise, but this was different. We did get just over one half inch of rain and for that we were thankful. It’s amazing how quickly a little rain rejuvenates and brings a fresh look to everything! More was predicted too.
Pam calls this the bowling alley. I have another bench and a couple of other items that I originally planned to add in order to hopefully rid the space of the name. So far the name has not bothered me enough however, to take on all the additional labor. In fact, when I think on it more, “bowling alley” has a nice ring to it!
We had a variety of skies last week with very pretty afternoons for most days. I tell WL that the cows come to the fence and speak to me, but never talk except privately when no one else is around. He knows better but always wants to know “what do they say”? I tell him and the girls that they always say the exact same thing…”eat more chicken”. They love the story even after 100 times, except Daniel, who doesn’t care what cows say just yet!
I have no idea what happened to this plant. Maybe you would immediately say it looks like nothing has happened to this plant. The plant died back, shriveled up, had only a few leaves with any green, and went weeks without blooming. I watered and fertilized and that changed nothing. We couldn’t find anything to replace it so I didn’t pull it up. This is how it looked mid-week, and I truly don’t know what happened to cause such a comeback, especially this time of year. July and August can be very hard on gardens!
I hired a crew from the neighborhood to clean up some brush and trimmings I had piled in the yard. I didn’t know I would have to pay 3 operators! If there is a John Deere, (or any tractor for that matter) found working nearby, we have some boys who get excited and insist they need to ride, or at least sit on it, as an essential part of the operation!
We had another sweet time at a grand opening last week. This will likely be our final opening and ribbon cutting to attend. I named this one after Seth. He was unable to attend but maybe he and I can stop by sometime. It is a residence for Seniors and they all want to meet him!
The Mayor did the honors of cutting the ribbon. There was a lot of food and goodies and all the residents were invited to come. A couple of ladies who reside there spoke briefly and shared very meaningful and touching stories. Pam and I met a number of the residents and we were invited into their homes. We did visit with several. I learned that many of the 48 units are occupied by widows. Since this was about 90 miles from our house and only 25 minutes from the Peach Park, we thought the best thing to do before returning home would be to visit peach country!
With our freezer filled with blueberries and plenty still on the bushes, I told Pam maybe I didn’t want to pay $25 for a small basket of peaches…
…but I had no problem paying that much for fried peach pies and peach ice cream. At least the drink was sugar free. You have to cut back somewhere!
Signs of the times. I like to get out on the trails and see what new things I can spot for the first time each growing season. Although it is a long (and hot) way until autumn, there are signs along the way that indicate things are moving right along. I wondered if I could bring home this spurred butterfly pea and convince PJ that I brought her orchids? I didn’t attempt it. This is a legume, pea family native to our area.
One of our native wild sunflowers has begun blooming. The hairy sunflower gets its name from the hairy stems and leaf undersides. You can probably see that on the stems in this photo!
A hidden gem, the Pale Meadow Beauty is a graceful easily overlooked little native wildflower. It grows under and among a lot of other vines, flowers and weeds, and is such a pale color it can go unnoticed. I actually found a lot of it by taking my time and looking closely, something I don’t do often enough!
And, my first sighting of the season of one of my favorites, the majestic Goldenrod! Amazingly it can show up in a lot of months, but the main month is a bit down the road…October!
Mountain Mint has been growing, but has now begun to take on the white-washed leaf changes and blooms that make it a standout in the open undisturbed areas. Pollinators and other winged creatures have discovered it, butterflies especially! A native to our area, it is in the mint family. You can even purchase Mountain Mint Tea.
Meet Jose, a regular at the gym where I go. I tell him what an inspiration he is, and although he mostly nods, he understands that his consistency and hard work is surely an encouragement to others. Jose cannot stand, and must rely on family and/or friends to bring him to workout, which they do. Sometimes he is accompanied by others who workout alongside him. At other times he works out himself and someone picks him up when he is finished. He stays a long time and is serious about what he is able to do! I have attempted to explain our SSS blog posts, and while I am not sure he understood all I shared, he was happy to allow me to include him today!
The peanut butter tree we displayed a couple of weeks ago is now blooming at a level that has gotten the attention of the hummingbirds and butterflies. Pam says the way it blooms reminds her of honeysuckle. I think so too!
On the last mile of my walk at the wildlife park, I saw a helicopter coming in and realized when it went below the trees and there was silence that it had landed. There was no emergency on the wildlife trail that I was aware of, but the fact that someone needs to be airlifted brings thoughts to me that causes me to pray for somebody I don’t know, or have any idea what might be wrong. I learned, that because of construction, this spot in a mall parking lot is now the landing place used by the helicopters serving the regional medical center that is nearby. While I have no memory of it, I am much aware of a ride I took in one of these almost 20 years ago, and I have feelings I cannot describe every time I see this happening! They departed just after I completed my walk.
Another Appalachian Foothills July sunset.
Have a blessed week!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Love all the flowers. With our recent high temperatures, most of my container flowers are looking ragged. Isn’t it amazing how sounds, sights, and smells can trigger memories from our past, some pleasant and some not so good. Thankful you survived and recovered from that fateful day almost 20 years ago.
Thank you Rachel. It is amazing how our senses pick up on things that trigger memories. It happens often, and as you point out, even smells can do it. We hope you enjoy your week!
Butch and Pam
I think the same thing every year when the pot that holds the torenias does nothing through the spring. I think I might plant something else in that pot, but I don’t get to it. Then, in July, the torenias sprout, grow like crazy and bloom in just a couple of weeks. It just waits for summer.
Love those butterfly pea flowers! The sunset is gorgeous.
Thank you Carole. Maybe that’s what happened to our particular pot, the roots finally dug in and provided what was needed for blooming. A couple of others did the same thing. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
This is the most wonderful of your Sunday posts in so many ways, but especially with the opening of the Seth Davis gardens. What a fun day that had to be. Gorgeous photos all around. Happy week, you two!
Thank you Jeanie. It was a fun and rewarding day, meeting the people and hearing their stories. That was always the best part before I retired and this was the final one for me directly. We hope you have a splendid and pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful pictures and what a lovely surprise on your plant coming back to life. God does work in mysterious ways. That peach ice cream and pies look like they hit the spot. Congrats on the opening of the Seth Davis Gardens. Happy New Week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. As I mentioned to Jeanie, meeting the people at SD Gardens and hearing their stories was very rewarding, as it always is. The pie and ice cream was also a real bonus. We hope you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
The million bells plant is beautiful! We had a cooler spell of weather mid week, so if you had that same thing happen in your area, maybe that triggered it? Really it was a northern wind with less humidity, but it felt great! It definitely rejuvenated me! 😂 We’re back in the furnace starting today with triple digit heat. We had rain and high humidity yesterday but it was just in the high 90’s. I like the bowling alley because you can play badminton and lawn games in that area. The life flight helicopters fly over our house when heading to the hospital, I always know when it’s them. I pray for them as well since I know how serious it is. Your crew of helpers look adorable! Enjoyed all the pictures. We found some SC peaches at Costco. They were delicious! My Mom made delicious fried pies. I haven’t attempted to make them myself, but I may try it during peach season since your picture made them look so tasty. Enjoy your week! Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. We did have a few days of a break from the extreme heat so that probably did help. Since the rain on Thursday right after I watered, we’ve had a total of about 2 inches which was desperately needed. Some places nearby had flooding though, ours just a good rain. And yes, the heat is returning. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Seth Davis Gardens, what a gift to all that get to live there in safety and plenty. The half inch of Gods rain is what happened to the beautiful flowering plant that withered and almost died. My front yard lawn looks like no water hasn’t fallen on it even through it is watered automatically BUT the secret is that God has not blessed it with HIS water. Your bowling alley is beautifully green. Green has
Become my favorite color. Colorado is not green! Peaches haven’t hit the market here but soon I hope. Palisades peaches come from the western slope and they are the most perfect peach I’ve ever had. Soon someone will set up a tent and sell those peaches and best of all it’s only a half mile from home! I love WL helping his dad drive the John Deere. You show wild plants I have never seen . The almost orchid plant is indeed almost an orchid. We’ve had clouds and thunder directly over the house and nary a drop of rain came from it. Almost but no rain, I think the atmosphere is so dry that it can’t. God above those clouds will have to unlock that river of water. He knows what we need and it will come at His timing. Stay well and strong in the Lord,
Thank you Alice. I almost hate to mention it to you as we know you need rain, but Thursday through last night we finally received about 2 inches. That’s the most in quite some time. We don’t have the amount of peach growers in Alabama as Georgia and SC but still a substantial area known for peaches. Our peaches start coming in by June. I’ll have to check out that Palisades peach. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I love the picture of the butterfly pea. Earlier this summer, I saw signs at the grocery store for the Starbucks in the store selling a specialty lemonade using butterfly blue pea tea. The tea is a fantastic blue color, but when citrus is added to the tea, it turns purple. I tried it and it was ok. They had added lemonade to the tea as well as Boba. (Not sure how that was because I asked them to leave it out.) I have some butterfly blue tea, tea bags but have not actually made any yet.
Check out Butterfly Blue Pea Tea bags online.
Thank you Kay. We will look online about the tea. We were unaware of the tea being made although so many plants out there are used in all kinds of ways that we continue to learn about. Some that are to be left alone too of course. We often put mint in our tea but have never tried making tea from the mountain mint that grows wild here. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Awe….Butch and Pam…my heart was captured by those beautiful blue eyes of WL sitting on the tractor with his brother and dad. Love it! Of course, the sunset photo is lovely. Today, in church, the heavy rains hit with loud thunder and a brief loss of power before the generators kicked in. As many others have said…we don’t have to hand water potted plants for awhile. I love peaches too and I have to confess I would most likely have bought a basket AND ate a peach fried pie and ice cream. 🥴🤗🫣
The ‘spurred butterfly pea flower’ reminded me of a very rare orchid, the Ghost Orchid. Butch, knowing of your interest in all things botanical, I thought you might like to read about ‘OUR” Ghost Orchid. I did a cut & paste for the following:
“Ghost Orchids (Dendrophylax lindenii) are famous for having no leaves and appearing to float in mid-air. Native to the swampy environments of South Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas, they are incredibly elusive because they grow high up on host trees and rely on a single, specific moth, the giant sphinx moth for pollination. It grows only in deep, remote, old-growth sub-tropical cypress swamps with high humidity and specific microclimates.”
The ghost orchid is extremely rare, with fewer than 2,000 individual plants known to survive in the wild in South Florida. I have only seen pictures of this orchid and frankly, that is sufficient for me. I am not as daring as you are…as you zip here and there…along river trails etc. LOL.
I hope you two have a great and blessed week!
Thank you Kari. We’ve finally received a bit of rain and enough that I will get a break from watering too. I was thinking that you might go and search for that ghost orchid and maybe run into one of those rarely seen Florida Panthers. They probably live in the same areas. Just kidding about you going of course but it seems the cypress swamps of S Florida is the place. We were not familiar with the ghost orchid. Thanks for sharing that, a most unusual plant for sure. Looks like it has legs. I agree with you, sometimes seeing photos from others is sufficient, especially if we are talking swamps and big snakes etc. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
What a wonderful Sunday post with so many topics! First, you had me at peach ice cream…my all time favorite! I am reduced to peach frozen fruit bars now, but they are refreshing. What an honor for Seth to have that senior living center named after him. We moved John’s mother into an independent living apartment at age 93, and she lived there until she passed at 96. We felt so blessed she was able to do that. And you, Butch, are a testament to God’s healing power. Every single day is a gift for us all.
Thank you Roxanne. The manager at SD Gardens lives on site and keeps something going on all the time. The residents love her. A local company was providing a backyard bar b que the next day for everyone. I do think peach ice cream is a main healing agent for people recovering from surgery so it’s ok for you to have some, with no guilt whatsoever. And, have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Adorable post as ever… Beautiful sky, gorgeous flowers and precious Grands. Blessings, dear friends.
Thank you Maristella. We so appreciate your kind words. We hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Y’all had one grand week – the gift to senior living, grandchildren, peaches, and flowers galore!!! Keep living the good life!
Thank you Mary. It was a busy but good and rewarding week. We wish for you a great and rewarding final week of July!
Butch and Pam
Yes, my husband & I are the same Butch, every time we hear a siren we pray for the emergency team & those they’re on their way to help.
I remember reading a story in Guideposts magazine, when I was a very new Christian, about a lady who did this & one day she was actually praying for her family member unbeknownst to her who had had a serious car accident in the area. Prayer is something we can all do in these situations.
A lovely post, blessings to you & Pam, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. I’ve read Guidepost stories in the past but not that particular one. It’s good that we don’t have to know everything to pray because God knows every detail. We hope you have a great Monday afternoon and a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning, folks!
I, too, get nervous when I see helicopters by hospitals. Prayers are always needed for them. Once on a cruise, a helicopter had to get close to take someone from our ship to a hospital. Everyone had to stay in their cabins. I prayed hard for everyone involved.
I sure do enjoy seeing your gardens. All are so pretty. It was also wonderful to hear you dedicate the new place to your son.
Speaking of your son, how much fun it is for the young ones to get up on the tractor!
Thanks for sharing the Pretty flowers and skies! Have a wonderful week. It’s the last week in July!
Thank you Nancy. I can see where getting a helicopter in a position to take someone from a cruise ship would be very challenging. July is definitely fading fast. I do see that we still have the July full moon about to arrive, peaking on Wednesday. I don’t know what it is about a tractor but the boys will just get on and sit, not even moving or doing anything. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Glorious sunset photo and loved all the pics of the flowers. The goldenrod and the spurred butterfly pea are so pretty and so are the dainty blooms on the peanut butter tree. The tractor crew looks amazing. What a wonderful grand opening for the Seth Davis Gardens. I’m so glad you survived your ordeal all those years ago and sometimes it’s not a bad thing if you have no memory of it. I’m very happy for you that you finally got some rain – we desperately need it here, as we are so hot, dry, and dusty. Ah July. Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Thank you Kim. July is known for exactly what you described but we did end up with about 2 inches of rain at the end of the week. I’ve not seen a forecast but a friend told me today that tomorrow is predicted to be our hottest day of the season so far. You are correct that there are some things that having no memory of them ends up a blessing. A variety of that butterfly pea that’s from Asia is used in a tea but our native variety is not as aromatic etc and not used much for tea. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The photo and your comments about the helicopter reminded me of something that happened while my sister was in the rehab unit at a trauma hospital. The Life Flite helipad was just below her window. One day as a flight landed I watched as they hurried to get the patient inside with so many people each doing their job. I told my sister that seeing it made me feel sad that someone was in a terrible state. She said to me “It makes me happy because now they are where they need to be.” Every time I see one flying to the hospital near my home I think that that person is where they need to be. You are proof of that.
Thank you Iris. These are good thoughts as I am grateful that we have such trained and dedicated people available for times like these. I was picked up in a field which would’ve been close to a two hour drive to the nearest trauma center by ambulance. Helicopter probably made it a 20 minute trip. We hope you have a great final week of July.
Butch and Pam
Wow your gardens are beautiful, a summer paradise. I live in a condo, and we are limited to container gardening, so I really enjoy looking at the beautiful flowers and landscaping you have created.
Thank you Leslie for your kind comments. I am sure condo living has its own rewards. Have a blessed day!
Everything is so beautiful in your garden! Thank the Lord, we have gotten some reprieve here in TN from the extremely hot weather. I, too, am looking forward to autumn!
Yes, I will be ready for autumn,
my favorite season. Thank you Cheryl’
Beautiful flowers. I know the heat can affect some plants and flowers. Everything looks so pretty. Love the sunsets too. I am happy to feature your lovely post at Love Your Creativity.
Thank you, Linda for the feature!
Thank you Linda and thanks for the feature. We signed up with Wordpress 12 years ago today to begin blogging. We had a break from the heat at only 81 today. Have a wonderful August week!
Butch and Pam