Manitou Sunset, August

Morning Glories At Last

I've tried before with morning glories but had no success. For years the wisteria didn't seem like much of a success, either. It grew but never blossomed. Then at last it had flowers--but way up by the roof of the barn, not on the trellis provided for it. Okay, wisteria leaves and blossoms on high, bare trellis below--I thought I'd try morning glories once again.


This year I scarified and soaked the seeds, gave them plenty of good compost to grow in, and watered them on a daily basis. At last! Morning glories!

Fields and Roads, Leelanau Township, End of August

Spectacular or mundane, I love it all--






Keep your oceans and mountains. Leave me my dusty, weed-edged roads and quietly productive fields.

Horses Visit

Sarah barked. Sarah barks so seldom that it's always a surprise. She's usually telling us there's a car coming into the yard. This time it was so much better!







Adios, amigos y amigas! Come visit again soon!

Barns in Late Summer Light

One of Those Quiet, Tucked-Away Places

Not big or glitzy but so nice on a lazy summer evening. May it remain forever unspoiled!

Did It Rain Here?

I'm way behind the times. The morning clouds pictured here were over the harbor in Northport a week ago Sunday. Clouds to the east? Our weather usually comes from the west. Nevertheless, the afternoon brought a downpour--complete with hail.

Late August in the Fields

Sunset From Horn Road

Zeva's Last Vacation Morning

Here is pretty Zeva, ready to play again with pretty Sarah. Little did the girls suspect it was to be their last morning of fun together. They were, as always, living completely in the present.

Mystery Flower Identified

Audubon to the rescue! It is not in the composite (aster) family but in the pea family. Each of what looks like a petal is actually a tiny flower. "This is one of the most widespread of the perennial Prairie Clovers, identifiable by their cone-like flower heads. An excellent range species, with high protein content. Purple Prairie Clover decreases in abundance with overgrazing." So says The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. This is the first year I've had purple prairie clover in my meadow but assume it was in the original wildflower mix I seeded some years back and only now is beginning to bloom.

Not Dead Yet

When my friend Susan brought me a shamrock plant for Easter, she said it wouldn't last much longer than cut flowers. Lo and behold, it just bloomed again! I think it likes living in the bathroom.

Regeneration

A patriarch may be brought to his knees without being vanquished, and this old black walnut tree's life is far from over.

Blooms to Pods (For Ilene)

To be continued....