Regrets? I've Had a Few

I regret that I didn't take the minutes to walk a block up the road 
to look at this front yard sooner.
Drove past frequently...but didn't take time to walk up with my camera this year.
Now it is defined more by what "had been" than what actually is.

On the way there, I stopped to admire these--
casually growing near the road around a utility pole.
What scrumptious colors!
I returned home to my OWN front yard
and noted a few maintenance chores awaiting me.
Maybe today before tomorrow's predicted heat?

A Farewell to August

The flowers on these hosta are a very light lavender color.  
Their color doesn't show up so well in the photos.

This plant (I once knew what it was) is FILLED with buds!
Right now its flowers are few and far between...

The sedum and mum DWARF the blue bowling ball!
 This mum may be one of the few I have that will bloom properly.
The others are awfully "leggy"...
These columbine seed pods stand with dignity--beautiful in their own right.

"August rushes by like desert rainfall,
A flood of frenzied upheaval,
Expected,
But still catching me unprepared.
Like a matchflame
Bursting on the scene,
Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.
Like a dream
Of moon and dark barely recalled,
A moment,
Shadows caught in a blink.
Like a quick kiss;
One wishes for more
But it suddenly turns to leave,
Dragging summer away."
-  Elizabeth Maua Taylor 

Glass, Spheres and Circles in our Yard

 Glass Sphere
 Grape Vine Circle
 Green Glass
Blue Sphere

Hosta and More

Not until downloading this picture did I notice the weed growing in the hosta!
And a ladder.  And what appears to be an antenna "growing" along with the weed!
Nonetheless, these are some of my favorite hosta blooms.

Sky

I took this picture through a car window as I drove this country road this morning.  It didn't capture the strange formations appearing to beam down from the clouds. In real life, they appeared gray.  Here they show up white.  It was strange.  As it is, the picture actually turned out quite beautifully.  I need to take more time looking up instead of around and down...

In the Pink

 The sedum blooms in front of our house are already turning pink!
I compared them with my pictures from last year.
They weren't this pink on the 27th in 2010, so we're ahead of last year!
*"In the pink" is an idiom meaning "in perfect condition, especially of health".)
 Above, several clumps of Surprise Lilies are in the pink among the sedum and hosta green,
while black-eyed Susan hold their own throughout the bed.
 A few hardy mums have started to bloom.
I trimmed them back around the 4th of July, but here they are.  Already blooming!
It's easy to be deceived into thinking autumn
given the cool evenings we're currently enjoying.
It may be the last year for this particular bird.
He's been vigilant at his post for more years than I realize!
My husband has repaired him to stand one more season,
but there's a limit to his endurance.

Surprised! (Again)

Surprise Lily, Magic Lily, Naked Lady
Latin: Lycoris squamigera

 Every year they live up to one of their names - "Surprise Lilies"!
Late last week I was sure this one was the only one.
 Fast forward to this morning.
 They're EVERYwhere...
 ...and in EVERY stage of bloom!
How I'm loving it!

Fun in the Sun

 After a bit of work refashioning a sprawling bush,
 our activities turned toward play
 and exploration.
Grandchildren have a way of bringing out the best of 
one's backyard on a lovely summer day.