Hollyhock SkyThe beautiful sky and beautiful blooms reaching for the sun symbolize this perfect summer day.
Morning Glories Growing WildPurple morning glory vines growing wild all around some of my husband's work benches. I have never grown any, but have always loved and wanted to. On October 10, 2018 a category 5 hurricane came through and left behind devastating destruction on homes and property. With our home and property being such a sore eye, seeing these beautiful morning glories just reminds me it is a new beginning.
Gumamela's (Hibiscus) Point of ViewOur lives are like a flower. Some are colorful. Some are not. Some are fragrant. Some are not. Some are pretty. Some are not. But its appearance doesn't define its whole being, because each one of us have our own kind of beauty.
Bees Love Passion FlowerThe beautiful passion flower is our Tennessee State Wildflower. We let it grow wild on our homestead in our garden to encourage the bees to come pollinate our plants. I harvest the leaves of the passion flower to make extract which helps promote restful sleep.
Finch NestsAfter an unusually cold winter here in South Africa, it is a blessing to start seeing signs that the seasons are changing. Our apricot tree is sporting its first few small blossoms, and the days are slowly getting warmer. This morning I noticed these finch nests hanging from a tree in our neighbor's garden.
Blooming Cactus with New BabiesI've had this cactus for 15 years and this is the third time it has blossomed. It doesn't last long and will soon fade, but it is always a happy surprise when it happens. It is surrounded by babies.
Bearded IrisIris in all its beauty!
Purple LotusThis is probably the most beautiful photo of a flower that has ever bloomed in my presence. The colours are extremely vivid and beautiful. I love this photograph so much that I've even made this my wallpaper!
Bzzz - Bee on Celosia PlantThese very tall Celosia plants were grown from pass-along seeds from our mechanic's wife. I have never seen these in the nurseries. The bees are oblivious to me and my camera as they happily swarm and devour the nectar. They are endlessly entertaining!
Blossoms by the FenceI drive down this road often, and always see something that attracts my attention. The blossoms were so vibrant next to the bare tree, stone wall and fence - it was picture perfect!
A Natural BeautyThis lovely flower was part of our summer garden in 2012.
Diving Swallowtail Butterfly! (Santa Barbara,...Our Alstromeria was in beautiful full bloom that day when I spotted this Swallowtail Butterfly with his "nose" in the Alstromeria blossom. I ran to get my camera, and took this photo.
Garden: Blessed with a Garden HelperLook what I found sitting on my sunflower leaf! I smiled when I saw him there, as I ran to get my camera hoping he would still be there. When I got back he was, and he posed for this picture before he walked away in the direction of a bug.
Garden: Unusual CarrotsGuess what I pulled out of my garden bed tonight.
Garden: Portugal RosesThis is a rose from my mother's garden!
Use Dried Greenery In Your Fall/Winter...Although the outdoor flowers are dying, you can still use lots of garden items for decoration, inside and out! I like to make fall and winter arrangements in antique milk jugs that I got from auctions of relatives. In one, I have just filled with corkscrew willow.
"Rays of Hope" GardenRays of Hope Garden Photos. This is a garden area I'm working on to dedicate to pen-friends in prison that I write to. . .
