Blue Chicory and Hot Sun

I have a whole field of these blue chicory weeds. The blooms close up and go to sleep at the end of the day and all you see is stalks. Today is supposed to be the hottest day of our heat wave so we will get in our longer walks early. Stay cool.

A Daylily and A Cotswold Cottage

On my last walk with Webster yesterday I ventured into a very thick weed patch on the edge of the woods to photograph this daylily with my iPhone. I was wearing my wellies so I'm not worried about getting poison ivy.

I had a real estate closing yesterday so my July is getting off to a great start. Hope yours is too.

You can only imagine how thrilled I was to have found and sealed the deal on a wonderful Cotswold Cottage. Who knew there was an authentic piece of England so close to my own cottage and no passport was required? My buyers are thrilled.

First Honeysuckle This Year

I spotted the first honeysuckle of the season on Webster's after dinner walk last night. I love it and the scent is heavenly. my iPhone photo

Multiflora Roses

The multiflora is in full bloom and when I walk outside it smells like a perfume factory, in a good way.

This is what happens when they go wild in the woods. I try to keep the ones I can reach trimmed since they are considered an invasive species. 

Red Clover at My Cottage

This red clover in my field looks very much like rose colored chive blossoms. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good evening with sweet dreams. 

First Daisies 2013

I took this photo on a late walk with Webster this morning. It is a very cool 60° and breezy on this overcast day. So far, no more rain has fallen and that's a good thing. My back field that has not been cut in over a month is full of wildflowers with the daisies being my favorite. I love the clovers too. I have both red and white. I've heard the white clover is best for the bees since their tongues aren't long enough to get the nectar from the red variety. It's raining again, but very softly. I was doing some hand trimming in the front and had to stop. I am determined to finish in between showers today. my iPhone photo

Wildflower/Weed Rotation at My Cottage.

My buttercup meadow a year ago on May 19, 2012.

Webster in the same location thinking, "Where did all the buttercups go this year?"

Answer: "They must not like being next to a standing army of dandelions."

Manhole cover with Lady's Slipper Design

Downtown Minneapolis. The Lady's Slipper is the state flower for Minnesota, I love it! via

Wild Violets, Cropped.

This closeup of my wild violets is my original photo cropped to show how beautiful they really are.  I did not know they were called Viola Sororia or that they're the state flower of New Jersey. How nice.

Wild Violets in my lawn.

They're back in all their glory doing their appointed job of keeping me from mowing the grass. I took this iPhone photo very late in the day after supper last night. Don't you love their pansy-like faces? HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Tiny wildflowers in the woods

If you didn't do a fall cleanup and wait too long in the spring, this is what will happen. Aren't these tiny flowers charming? via

Beautiful Wildflowers for April

This beautiful wildflower looks like columbine to me. Mother Nature certainly picked a lovely spot to plant the seeds, didn't she. No floral arranger could match this arrangement. Hello April. Today is Webster's 11th birthday. He has already had several dog biscuits with peanut butter spread on them for his special day. We had rain overnight and will have more today so the April showers are right on schedule. See you later. via
Correction....these flowers are Oxalis acetosella, submitted by a reader (Cathy in Idaho). Thanks, Cathy.

Calico Monkey Flower - Mimulus pictus

Found only in California in the southernmost Sierra Nevada foothills alongside the Tehachapi Mountains. Seeds found here.

via