Wordless Wednesday

Interesting insect on  New Gold Lantana

Wisteria arbor April 2010

Pink Autumn Sage

Echeveria Afterglow hybrid

Aptenia Cordifolia (dew plant, heart leaf ice plant)

A fungus among us

I have two oak trees who started showing signs of fungus about two days ago.

This particular tree stump has it the worst, and I wonder if it has to do with its recent chopping.  I don't know what effect, if any, would be had, but it was chopped down about two months ago and left about 4 ft. tall.  In total we have had about five inches of rain in just a few days and NOTHING will dry out at this rate. They say the rain is over for a while, but who really knows any more.

Some of the photos ended up looking like underwater scenes. As if the tiny mushrooms were all waving with the current of the water.

Let's hope this 3 day weekend brings us more sunshine!

Lots O' Rain

I think sitting on the porch listening to and watching the rain is quite the reward with which to end a long day.  The other reward, of course, is photographing it. This week's rain has given me an excuse to post more rain photos...and take even more.  


Raindrops can be like diamonds to the open mind.

I'm not even sure what weedy grass thing this is, but today it was beautiful.  Every raindrop a sparkle, every sparkle unique. Sounds a little dramatic, I know, but it was really something in the sunlight.

These little dots are posing on the pointy tips of rose leaves.

Nerium Oleander blooms pink.  This bush is at least 10ft X 10ft and full of blooms. Well was full before all the rain...but always holds up well.  Did I mention it's extremely toxic? It is. bad. So beware and be safe if you have kids or animals who like to eat foliage.

White Rose of Sharon is also now in bloom.  Related to the hibiscus, the flowers are short lived but plentiful. My tree doesn't get all the sun it truly needs to bloom fully, but is very nice nonetheless.  It is also a wonderful butterfly and hummingbird plant, which you would know if you already clicked that link.

Purple Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) is the hardiest version I know of the neat family of succulents.  I have several other colors, but this one is nearly unstoppable.

Thank you for indulging me..if you did.

I hope you enjoy your own raindrops on roses!

Life goes on...for some

The circle of life can be a nasty one. Just ask this fly.

predator and prey on  Variegated Aenoium Arboreum

Things like this normally don't bother me, but after reviewing the pictures close up, I found this to be a little creepy.  Vampire-ish if you will.

Closeup of this mutant bug's sucker sticking right into the face of the fly. Perhaps through his eye...hard to tell

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Don't worry, no flies were harmed in the making of this blog. They were killed. Sucked bone dry. And good riddance.

My little Lamb

When I was little, I used to carry around a stuffed lamb lovingly (and cleverly) named Lamby.  Received upon my birth, he was bigger than me for many years and protected me from boogie men under my bed by always sleeping back to back with me.  Although still with me, Lamby and I haven't shared a bed in many years...but my love for him is still strong! And that's what my lamb's ear plant reminds me of: my sweet Lamby.

When taken out of context, it really looks as though this could be the ear of a little lamb. A green lamb, but still.  I don't think I've ever encountered a plant so soft. And willing to be touched!