Afternoon Delights

Hummingbirds

and butterflies.

I stop and watch and listen.

They grace our world with beauty.
I am grateful they are here.

Compassion

I did not understand.



I have listened.



We are all one.



I have compassion.
I have hope.

New Monarch Moon

September's
New Monarch Moon
is today.

We celebrate the migration
of the Monarch Butterfly.

May they have safe travel.
May they find food along the way.

May there be milkweed for their larva.

Happy Monarch New Moon.

A different camera

While on holiday my camera was bumped, rather severely.
A lens broke and the actual camera body now has issues.
I replaced the broken lens. My old camera body is no longer made.

I bought a different model.
Today I am trying out the new camera body.

It seems fine.

I see that this new body has fewer bells and whistles.
When I use the telephoto lens I have to do manual settings.
No beeps, no blinks, I have to be a photographer.
I am going to learn manual settings.

Signs of Autumn

The air was crisp this morning.
I could smell the change.

The Dogwood berries have ripened.

The English Ivy is starting to turn.



The Live Forevers are opening.

Monarchs are migrating.
Autumn is in my air.
The wheel is slowly turning.

Butterfly Time

I walked about the yard.

Each stand of flowers has their butterflies.

Some are resting; some are feeding.

I turned the camera off.
I watched the butterflies.
I cherish this time.
I am grateful.

Out for lunch

I am going out for lunch today.
I am meeting my friend.
We will chat about her holiday and mine.

We will giggle.
We will sigh.
We will share our story.

We are very different.
She visits museums and art galleries.
I visit forests and sea shores.

When she tells her story I learn about the artist way.
When I tell mine she learns about the naturalist.
We are old friends.
We honor each other's path.

Thank you

Sue from Tumblewords posted a slide show of Hummingbirds with music, on her journal.
She told how she did it.
Thank you Sue!
I posted a slide show of two gardens I visited in British Columbia, Canada.
I hope you enjoy this.

Transition

The Giant Swallowtail

reminded me that I need to plant a Prickly-ash bush as a host plant.
I shall get one when I pick up the Spice bushes.

I also remembered when I saw the Giant Swallowtail last May.
I remember the hope this butterfly gave to me.

These are the days of transition.
These are the days when the heat of summer gives way to the cool air of the north.

Autumn is coming.
I awoke last night to thunder and the sounds of rain.
We received 1.4 inches overnight; the gardens are refreshed.
I am ready to weed and plant again.

Good Morning

We had a trace of rain in the early morning.

The skies are cloudy.
I love cloudy days.

Slowly, I am getting September decorations out of the bins.
Slowly, I am getting back to my routine.
Slowly, I am preparing for Autumn.
It is apple time.

Marigolds

I am letting the Marigolds set seeds.

The heads will dry and the seeds will ripen.

I will save these seeds for next year.

Marigolds will be part of the understorey for the Pines. I will plant them around the Spice bushes. It will take a few years for the Spice bushes to mature.
The marigolds will also edge the vegetable garden as they have for the last thirty years.
September is when I begin my seed saving for next year.

Labor Day

May you know your work has value.

Drinks for everyone!

It is dry outside.
I am watering the flower beds.

A pair of Red-spotted Purples came to a bird bath in search of water.

I watched as they drank.

I have small puddlers set up for the butterflies.

I have rotting bananas set out as well.
I could get used to butterflies on birdbaths.

Black Swallowtails

Black Swallowtails emerged while I was on holiday.

The zinnias and marigolds

are providing nectar.

As I walk about in my own backyard I am surrounded by butterflies.
I missed them.

Home

I am home.
I am back with my butterflies and birds.
I am back with my friends.
I missed everyone.

I am tired and happy.
I had many adventures in the temperate rain forest.
I will share those as I process the photos.
I have much processing to do.

I will start my trip scrapbook
and share with you the new things I have learned.

It is September.
It is good to travel.
It is good to be home.