I have this thing about certain words… some of them I can’t seem to remember time and time again. But I remember what letter they begin with. Weird. Makes me think that the brain, or at least my brain, indexes information alphabetically.
Anyway. The name of this flower is one that always escapes me. But I know it begins with a “G.” Google is a nice companion tool for my funky memory, i just searched on “flowers that begin with G.” And there it was in the list with all the other G-flowers… Geranium.
This is one that has weathered the summer, and is putting out some more buds – they’ll be fire-red when they bloom. These are likely the last of the season.
Its amazing to see how quickly Mother Nature responds to a little rain in the midst of this terrible drought. We got an inch or two of rain on Sunday, and today the creeping lantana out back is popping with blooms. I’ve been watering this guy by hand all summer, but it wasn’t as satisfying as a drenching rain, I suppose.
The crepe myrtles are popping into bloom as well. It’s nice to see a little color out there!
If you’re keeping track, yesterday was the 85th day of 100+ degree heat in Austin this year. Today we have cooler temps due to a cold front that has passed through. Yippee!!! That means temps dropping down into the 90s. 😐
I wandered out back today surveying the crackly brown landscape. Somehow, the morning glory vine still has some life left in it. Since this Spring, it has grown up and around the 7′ obelisk in the garden, and is all brown and seedy, except for this crown of blooms.
This is a picture of a flower that surrounded the entrance to the restaurant where went for dinner tonight. The orange color was very vibrant, even though dusk had set in and the light wasn’t great.
The hostess told us that it is a flower called the Pride of Barbados, which is the national flower of Barbados. Very pretty!
It’s been a long time since we’ve had flowers in the house. Or in the yard, for that matter. We usually have steady stream of zinnias from our patch out back that bloom through the summer. But not this year. The heat this summer seems relentless and is sucking the life out of everything, including me. I have been taking photos from time to time during the week, but for whatever reasons, haven’t felt compelled to post anything here in a while.
It’s so cliche to complain about the heat, but I’m going to. The weathermen tell me tonight that we’ve just wrapped up the hottest July on record in Austin since they started keeping records in 1854. Of the 31 days in July, only 2 were under 100 degrees – but just barely, at 99. The first day of August is another record setter, and the hottest day this year, at 107. I had to stop, rewind and replay the DVR while watching the news tonight when I heard this one… current temp during the 10pm local newscast was 95 degrees. Sheesh.
This was a bad year for our sprinkler system to be out of commission. Hand-watering is such a pain – and takes more time out of an already busy day. The lawn is shot and we are now focused on keeping the stressed out trees alive.
Well, that brings me back to the fresh flowers. I saw these hydrangeas yesterday at HEB and they seemed so pretty and soft and such a sharp contrast to what I see outside, I just had to bring a bunch home.
Yesterday I went over to Laura’s for lunch around the pool with Lori and Ann. As usual, she had a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the counter. I love the colors of these lilies. The shot above is the original. Below is the same shot in black & white, after messing a bit with the color levels and brightness/contrast in Gimp. I was trying to create something for this week’s Technique challenge over at the Photoblog Challenges website (check it out, you’ll find lots of weekly and monthly challenges – fun for photographers of all skill levels out here in the blogosphere).
Grayscale palette.
Probably too dark. I was hoping the stamen would still be crisp. Waddyathink?
I’ve taken several shots of the morning glory already this year. It sprouted about four months ago, has grown up the arbor, and has bloomed beautiful pink blooms. And, though Summer isn’t here yet for 2 more weeks, it’s getting ready to recycle all its energy into seed for next year. I should take a bunch of this seed and scatter it all along the fenceline and see what comes of it next year. 🙂
The purple coneflower plant had a hard time this winter, but it’s back with gusto with a bunch of blooms to enjoy. This is the first one, and farthest along.
Many years ago, I saw a piece of inspirational writing hanging on the wall in a colleague’s office in Poughkeepsie, while on a business trip there. I wrote it down, keep a copy of it, and have since then taken it to heart. Unlike these perennials, you and I only get one season to bloom where we are planted. We should strive to make it our best…
Life’s Little Instructions
Sing in the shower * Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated * Watch a sunrise at least once a year * Leave the toilet seat in the down position * Never refuse homemade brownies * Strive for excellence, not perfection * Plant a tree on your birthday * Learn three clean jokes * Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full * Compliment three people every day * Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them * Leave everything a little better than you found it * Keep it simple * Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures * Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know * Floss your teeth * Ask for a raise when you feel you’ve earned it * Be forgiving of yourself and others * Overtip breakfast waitresses * Say “thank you” a lot * Say “please” a lot * Avoid negative people * Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards * Wear polished shoes * Remember other people’s birthdays * Commit yourself to constant improvement * Carry jumper cables in your trunk * Have a firm handshake * Send lots of Valentine cards. Sign them, “Somone who thinks you’re terrific.” * Look people in the eye * Be the first to say, “Hello” * Use the good silver * Return all things you borrow * Make new friends but cherish the old ones * Keep secrets * Sing in a choir * Plant flowers every spring * Have a dog * Always accept an outstretched hand * Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life * Wave at kids on school buses * Be there when people need you * Feed a stranger’s expired parking meter * Don’t expect life to be fair * Never underestimate the power of love * Drink champagne for no reason at all * Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation * Don’t be afraid to say, “I made a mistake” * Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” * Compliment even small improvements * Keep your promises (no matter what) * Marry only for love * Rekindle old friendships * Count your blessings * Call your mother
Sheila365 