Ferns

I don't remember the ferns lasting this long into July.  They look great.  Late spring really makes a difference, huh?

Deb's Hydrangeas

They're beautiful.  

Marigolds

Bought some orange marigolds today at Bachman's and planted them in the front yard planter.  The top left photo shows yellow marigolds from the backyard planter.  Illustration is by Mary Cicely Barker.

Full Buck Moon 2013

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac:

"July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coating of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon."

Raspberries

The raspberries in the garden are starting to ripen.

Mark Goes After the Stump

Mark was over at Deb's this morning to work on getting the tree stump up.

Lupine

The lupines were past their peak during my last visit to Madeline Island but many were still looking pretty good.

Photo taken July 2013.

Trip to Bachman's

I'm so late getting started with planting this year.  Things are starting to brighten up just a bit.  Whatever the purple stuff is, it sure looks pretty. 

Hot Bunny

This heat is making these critters positively droopy!

Tiger Lilies

Of all the gardens on our block, I think our tiger lilies are blooming last.

Top photo: Neighbor's blooming boulevard.
Bottom photo: Our buds.

Little Bird

This little one flew into the garage the other day just as I was about to close the door and didn't seem too anxious to leave as I approached to take a picture.  She flew out the next day. 

Hot Squirrel

Glanced out the window yesterday and caught this guy taking a break from the heat.

Blooming Flower

Mini Meadow

The garden by the grill is looking a little bit like a mini meadow.  Not much since I haven't been doing much gardening this season!  The purplish flowers are achillea.

Lilies

Got home from Madeline Island today and found these three lilies blooming in the garden.  It was a pleasant surprise since I didn't think any would come up this year.

Backyard Bunny

This photo was taken in early June of this year.  I'm not sure why I didn't post it.

Urban Wildlife

My friend and neighbor, Warren, had me over for drinks and dinner the other night.  It was a gorgeous evening so we started by having cocktails in his backyard.  He showed me all of his new flowers and then headed inside to freshen up his drink.  As I was standing in the yard I had a distinct feeling that someone was watching me.  I checked at eye-level in every direction but couldn't spot anyone.  I decided to look up.  There on his roof was what looked like a squirrel's head.  It didn't move, so at first I thought maybe it was ornamental.  Then after a few moments it gave itself away by twitching its head but then became very still again.  I slowly got out my camera and shot the picture you see above.  When Warren came back out I told him to look up.  He did.  He smiled and asked if I could snap a picture.  I told him I already had.

By the Way...

Here's a picture of Deb's tree just shortly after the storm that caused it to fall had ended.

Tree Removal

Due to a particularly nasty recent storm, Deb's beautiful ash tree was uprooted and fell on our garage.  Dale and I loved that tree!  I'd photograph its leaves to document the changing seasons and would post the pictures on this very blog.  Dale and I enjoyed looking at it when sitting out in the backyard.  It will be sorely missed.

Deb scheduled the tree guy to come take down the tree for yesterday morning.  He showed up around 10 and began.  Although it's an insurance industry standard that the owners of the propert the tree falls on are responsible for clean up, Deb somehow felt she was responsible for the tree coming down on our garage. Before I could even act on it, Deb found a really good deal for the removal.  What she didn't tell me was the reason for the deal involved her helping the guy take the tree down!  While doing dishes I noticed that she was hauling off branches and such.  I ran out to tell her that I wished she would have told me the whole situation because then I could have made myself available to help.   She told me not to worry about it and then asked if I had a wheelbarrow they could borrow.  Oh Deb!!!

Raspberries

Not ripe yet but movie' right along...