Late visitor

A late visitor arrived while we were drinking our afternoon coffee on the terrace . The temperature is a comfortable one, Indian Summer like. Some of the warmest weather so far. But the nights are cool. This beautiful butterfly must have hidden away someplace cozy and is now refueling for the next cool night. Not sure if we have this kind in the States, it's called a "Peacock Eye" here.

Autumn

The Honeysuckle on Mom's terrace was pushing out some more blossoms, even as the berries of the earlier blooms were ripening, ready to be nibbled off by passing birds. Autumn is definitely in the air.

Forest Treasures

In the fall, after a warm summer and heavy rains, mushrooms spring up everywhere in the forest Many of them edible. Of course as I am not familiar with the varieties and Mom not 100% either, we merely admire them, rather then risking tasting possible deadly ones.

While we were at the Baltic Coast, hordes of people roamed the forests, willow baskets in hand, looking for the fragrant, tasty treasures. On our travels into Poland many had roadside stands set up, often with huge baskets of freshly picked Porcini mushrooms. My favorites are the Chanterelles. Which are offered in all of the restaurants right now. Delish!

Baltic Sunrise

Took this photo on the last morning of our Baltic Vacation on the Island of Usedom. It was still slightly hazy. The sun was just making it's way through the light fog layers that shrouded the coast. It was utterly quiet, other then for the breaking of the waves and the calling of the sea gulls. Barely anyone around yet. So a very nice Goodbye visit for me, before loading our suitcases up for our return trip to Berlin.

Snails

It's been a while since my last blog entry. On vacation in Germany, visiting Mom to celebrate her 80th Birthday with her. So many pics to catch up on. But wanted to share this wonderful little pic of two pretty snails, making their way across a bunch of rosehips . Rugosa rosehips are huge. Loved the markings on the snails as ours are just simple garden snails , not fancy striped ones. I've always been fond of snails, unusual for a gardener I know. I love the way their little horns come out and retract in an instant. :) I found these especially attractive.

Sedum

I love Sedums. Have quite a few Autumn Joys, but this delicate beauty, who's name escapes me, is an especially nice sedum. They do well here for us, as they can withstand the extreme heat much better then some of my other favorites.

What I like about this one is the delicate coloring of the blossoms as well as the burgundy stems. They set of the green leaves very nicely.

Four o'clocks

Through a trick of photography my Hummingbird bench by Rusty's pond came out a lovely Monet-blue. I was going to fix it to reflect it's real appearance of cast iron and aged oak, but then I decided I really like that color in the background, with the brilliant Four o'clocks in front.

So decided to share it that way.

View from the garden cafe on the Havel

Here's a view onto the Havel from that garden I just described in my previous post. Thought it might bring the mood along that started with a single bumble bee visiting a fragrant rose. Very shortly I'll be back in Germany, celebrating my Mom's 80th Birthday with her. Visiting Berlin in late summer, which I haven't in many, many years. Forging new memories for the years ahead. Adding pictures to my collection, many of which I hope to share here.

Bumble Bee

Found this fat bumble bee wiggling it's way through the golden heart of a Rugosa Rose during my last visit to Berlin.

Wandering through a beautiful private garden, open to the public on certain days. It's on the edge of the Havel, one of the many waterways in and around Berlin. So we sat there, with a lovely breeze coming off the water, having a delicious lunch. Taking in the scenery, enjoying a beautiful May Day.

Spring Views

It's been a few days since I've blogged. To busy with this and that. But wanted to be sure I'd not forget about this little corner of my world. :)

Today's picture was taken earlier this year on our morning doggy walk through the hills around our property.

I love it when the sky is not only a beautiful deep blue, but has banks of soft, white clouds as well. The golden winter hills were just starting to sport some pale green. With the oaks covered in delicate young leaves all around us. The earth was coming back to life, renewing us as well after a long, wet winter.

Garden Friends

Today I thought I'd share a few of my gardening friends with you. This happy pair of rabbits, nestled amongst the Virgina Creeper, Lemon Balm and Ivy.

They've been keeping us company for quite a few years now.

I love garden statuary, don't you? Puts life and points of interest amongst the greenery. Little surprises, hiding here and there. So even if nothing is blooming, there's something to see.

Two of our boys

Thought it was time to post another picture of members of our furry family. This one was taken last year, just 5 days after Beauregard, the regal boy in the background with the silvery snout, had his 13th Birthday.

Little did we know that we were to lose him before the end of that month. So a bittersweet picture of our old boy in the background, with the now "old boy" of our pack, King Tut, in the foreground. We still miss our dear old boy. He'll always be with us in our thoughts and the many wonderful memories we have of him. He was my stalwart friend and guardian, seeing me through many years up here alone, while my husband earned our living away from home.

Now King Tut is our "old boy" at 6 years of age. Slowing down a touch, in body only, with an arthritic knee. So our youngster, Petey, does a lot of his running for him. But though Tut's a little challenged right now with his painful knee, he's full of good spirits and craziness, keeping us laughing with his antics. He is a character. A bit on the wild side, but he's a good boy regardless.

Hummingbird Delight

There's nothing that delights our Hummingbirds more then the first Salvia blossoms of the season. All winter they've subsisted on our feeders, but finally, after a long, wet spring ,the first delectable blossoms are much appreciated. The "flying jewels" hover above the plants, which are thriving in a spot near one of our little ponds, darting often from the flowers to a quick dip at the nearby waterfall, tumbling into the pond.

Exotic Blooms

Doesn't this Peruvian Daffodil look like some sort of exotic Reef Dweller? I am always amazed when the tall stems come up each year, and then one day these wonderful blossoms open up.

They do bloom later on in the year. Usually in later July, though this year, so far only the green has come up. But I am hopeful that it was merely our long, cool spring that has held up their blooming. Or maybe they needed a rest. They are coming up with small versions all around the motherbulb, so I am thinking that maybe they're working hard at naturalizing. That would be wonderful.

Story Time??

Here is a picture of one of our cats, seemingly being read to by the little guy. :)

Her name is Molly. She is 13 years old this year, one of the many kittens we raised here after their feral mom's gave birth to them the year after we moved out to the country full time.We were able to bottle raise all babies and everyone was spayed and neutered at that time. Of course finding forever homes for them didn't quite pan out, so our property became their forever home. Other then a couple of new arrivals, who appeared out of the canyon, all of our cats were born and raised here. They've slowed down a lot and mostly just enjoy hanging out these days. Even their mom, Green Eyes, is still with us after all of these years. We're guessing she's probably at least 15 yrs+ at this point.

Iris

I don't remember the name of this particular Iris, but love it's rich, golden colors. With the lovely white streak going to the center of the petal, surrounding the orange beard, it delights me every year as it opens it's first flower.

I often forget about it, hiding in the verdant spring weeds, and then all of the sudden I see it glowing amongst the green one morning. It always brings a big smile to my face.

Of course the beauty in our lives includes our furry family members as well. Those dear creatures that share and enrich our lives.

Here's a picture of our boy Petey, whom we rescued last year at about 8 month of age. He came to us on the eve of our first winter storm. Accompanied by his brother Buster, for whom we found a good home with the help of our local Second Chance Rescue. But no one claimed Petey, so now he's ours. Though our dog pack had shrunken to 3, after the loss of our dear Beauregard last July, it's now back up to 4 once again. Petey the youngest of course, shown here enjoying his wonderful Bingo Box Doggy Bed, surrounded by toys and love.

Flowering Linden

Nearly a decade ago, I special ordered a Linden Tree, also known as Lime Tree to some. I grew up with these magnificient, fragrant trees. Early each summer they would burst into bloom and the air would be heavy with their wonderful scent.

Now our young Linden, a little leaf variety, gifts us with it's flowers every year, early in summer.

The bees adore this tree. They check daily on the ever fattening buds, until one day the star shaped flowers open, one by one. And then the feasting begins. The tree turns into a veritable hive from dawn until after dusk. It hums with activity for those weeks while it's in flower. The bounty those bees must be hauling back to their hive. Alas, I must be satisfied seeing them enjoy our tree. Though I did hit the jackpot recently, finding a jar of Breitsamer Linden Honey all the way from Germany. So while it's not my own homegrown honey, it's Linden all the same. :)

Here is a picture of the moor Ash and I got to visit. A beautiful, watery landscape. Serene, filled with birdsong and the gentle gurgling of the water everywhere.

Travels with Grandma

Here's Sage's beautiful big sister, Ashlee, peering through the "walls" of a willow thicket while travelling with me last year in Germany. We had a wonderful time. Discovering so much together. It will be a trip the both of us will remember forever ,I am sure.

This picture was taken at a wonderful moor in central Germany. Endless wooden boardwalks traversing the verdant, damp enviroment. It was a magical place. We wandered for hours it seems, discovering new treassures along the way. All around us the damp, watery peat enviroment alive with trees, flowers and mosses.