a gift from Ma Nature

can you see him?

What better present can you get on the first full day of summer?

He was there when I pulled in the driveway about noon time.

His mama told him to stay put, and stay put he did.

summer Solstice

greeting the summer sun

Welcome, Summer!

Summer Solstice June 21, 2011

  11:16 AM MDT

sneaky little Devil

 

My butter yellow iris

The sneaky little butter yellow crab spider who lives there and snatches unsuspecting flies and bees who visit.

 He/she was very aware of me trying to take pictures, and scooted over, under and around the petals to avoid the paparazza.

teeny, tiny little Father

Troglodytes aedon (House wren)

Happy Father's Day

to all the Daddies, Papas and Uncles from grateful kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews.

in Art Alley...

...an Eclipse of the Electric Meter

in Art Alley...

"

"Fine Art" is sometimes juxtaposed with fine art of a different kind. Venice with a fine artist's brush and Dog with a tagger's style spray can.

in Art Alley....

F is for fox

acid Green

 

I play at trying to grow orchids, and have the most success with phalaenopsis, or moth orchids. I am always surprised and delighted when I don't kill them, if they reward me by reblooming, it's a "bloomin' miracle"!

This acid green one blossomed in my husband's office window for several months, and decided to take a well earned vacation. Suddenly, it put out a new flush of buds on the old stems and is going like crazy again.

I just love overachievers!

the Stars and Stripes

June 14, 1777

By resolution of the Second Continental Congress, the "Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory" was designated as the first national flag of our fledgling country. After 5 more states joined the original 13 in nationhood, Congress mandated that the United States flag have always the 13 red and white stripes for the original 13 colonies and that there be a white star on the blue field for each state of the Union.

President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress in August of 1949 designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day. If you see them flying today in your community, there's the reason.

a pair of golden Eyes

Bufo americanus

I have been intrigued by amphibians since childhood, when my father would take us hunting for red efts in the Adirondack woodlands. Red efts are the juvenile stage of Eastern red spotted newts and were a favorite to find by carefully turning over rotting logs. Creepy crawlies of all sorts elicited shrieks, but the little salamanders were like finding  buried treasure.

This American toad was toddling through the wet grass of my daughter's lawn after the previous evening's rain. He elicited shrieks from my grandson, who didn't think toads belonged in the kitchen during breakfast. Mr.Toad was relocated to the perennial garden and everyone was happier, particularly the toad, as you might guess from his expression. "We are not amused." (quoth the gentleman, borrowing from Queen Victoria)

three by Three

 

Bearded iris is divided into various bits by 3s, never paid close attention before looking at this top down photo. Symmetry in a different form from the bilateral sort.

This weekend marks the beginning of Year #3 of this blog. A challenge by my kids to "post my photos" so they could help me improve quality and composition. Some, who shall remain nameless (to protect the guilty),  were skeptical that such an antique (that would be me, not the computer or camera) could make it work.
Sometimes an old dog can be pretty tricky.

The best part of the whole challenge is the collection of blogfriends that I have found along the way. You make me laugh, think, and brighten my day from your various outposts on this Planet. Thank you.

minnesota Morning

We just had the fun of spending a few days in Minnesota with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Erik and Amelia. Miss Mia just celebrated her first birthday, so a good time was had by all. Their part of MN isn't that of 10,000 lakes so much, but more 10,000 cornfields, things are lovely, lush and green in June, the perfect backdrop for the beautiful quilts our daughter created for her children.

ERIK

MIA

future Jelly

chokecherry (6/4/11)

"The food value of this widespread native cherry was not lost on the Native Americans. For many tribes, particularly in the northern Rockies, northern Plains, and boreal forest region, chokecherry was a staple food item. The widespread use of chokecherry is ancient; its remains have been found at more archeological sites in the Dakotas than any other wild plant." (Kindscher, 1987)

Happy 92nd Birthday, Ricard Scarry!

Find Goldbug, Becky, Beth and Rachel!

sometimes you just Need...

 

an ant, or an uncle for company!

sometimes you just Need...

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum)

 sharp eyes!

I had no idea that this little prairie flower had taken up residence in one of my grassy flowerbeds. Not a grass relative, but a close cousin of the Rocky Mountain iris that is also blooming at the moment. You need to be an early riser to catch this little blossom, she closes her eyes for the day by mid-afternoon, and is nearly impossible to find in the grass when she is sleeping.

Native Americans of the Northern Plains used an infusion of the root to cure stomach and intestinal problems, and the flowers are a favorite of bees. Turkeys and songbirds savor the seeds, which may explain where they came from.

sometimes you just Need...

fragrance!

sometimes you just Need....

a little backbone.

for Becka and Andy

After 16 years and a couple of days, the Rocky Mountain Iris are still blooming right on time, just for you.

what happened to Fluffy?

After rain, rain, rain even the dandelions get soggy. No nice round pompom heads, no floaty little parachutes traveling on the breeze.

thank you for your Service

to our Veterans and current Service Members,
and their families

Thank you 

Memorial Day 2011

a study in black, white and Green

Or more correctly, black and white (Lucifer) studying violet-green. The swallows were flying through the backyard, either hunting, playing or prospecting homes, cat was fascinated.

mango Tango

still life for Gena

spring Green

Betula papyrifera

after the Rain...

 late afternoon sun shines on pear blossoms

dancing Feet

The bottom half looks very traditional, feet keeping time with the Drum, the top half is a very hungry little boy munching on fried chicken and chocolate cake.

the Feathering Ceremony

Adding to the count

honoring song

Our school district honors our Native American graduates with a Feathering Ceremony just prior to high school graduation. It is an awesome event, full of tradition, pride and joy for the graduates and their families. It was an honor to be there this evening and celebrate our students' success, several of whom I have known since elementary school.

Stevens HS, The Academy, Central HS tipis

the star quilts

the eagle plumes and feathers before the blessing

the yucky Duck

 

Ok, what the heck is the Yucky Duck???

shooting Back

Shooting stars, feast for the eyes and a feast for the nose, they have a wonderful fragrance on a sunny afternoon in May, despite the fact that there were snowflakes in the air yesterday morning!!

Glad to be back online again after Blogger and server problems this week, drat!

likin' some Lichens

 

 

(click on photos for close-up details)

Lichens bring to mind the tundra and browsing caribou, but these favor a dry prairie pasture instead. Out taking wildflower pictures yesterday, these wild ones were brightening up the landscape, too. 

The top photo is a rock the size of a softball, yet it is hosting 4 different kinds of lichens. The bottom photo is a little rock about the size and shape of a Wheat Thins cracker. I was intrigued at how the lichen is covering the edges on all 4 sides and seems to be working in toward the center.

The foundation rocks both appear to be Black Hills granite and quite colorful all on their own.. Cool.

hey, There....

Are you someone's mom, or grandma or auntie?

Well, Happy Mother's Day!

game Over!

PeeWee soccer day in Sioux Park, some small player seems confused about the rules of play.

baby geese made their Debut

What a gorgeous day to see the World for the first time!

The Canada goose parents I've been watching for a month successfully hatched out 7 goslings sometime in the past 18 hours.

Family doing well and snoozing in the warm sunshine by their natal pond, parents on high alert.

last year's gosling, maybe an uncle or auntie to this batch

expectant Father

By my calculations, he should be the proud father of a brood of goslings by Friday. He watches and guards, she sits caring for the eggs, through 60 mph winds, rain and 2 snowstorms. The next several days should be sunny and mild, perfect for a first look at the Planet.

old green door in the Neighborhood

The Neighborhood around my school is the local historic district. Lovely big, old homes and small, quaint cottages 100 years old living side by side. Always some neat detail tucked away.

spring green in the Neighborhood

a beautiful day in the Neighborhood for a lunch time stroll
 

happy May Day

Sunshine from the Greenhouse!