November beauty

Thanksgiving Cactus, a bit early.

Autumn arrives!

My little Autumn crocus popped out today. It must officially be fall, now.

 

Buds, bees and butterflies

These nice clumps of some sort of allium are always just alive with all sorts of small bees and wasps, and other insects, as well as many butterflies, none of which pay any attention to me as I get the camera in close. I think these are a type of garlic. Together with allyssum the make a lovely white bed, very easy to grow. 

 Sipping Soda Through a Straw

Company for Dinner

Table for Two

And the next image of a short series, 'enhanced' with watercolor effect.

Here be Spiders

There are always one of two of these spiders in my yard during a summer. They are very common here. They build big orb webs in the vines usually near a wall or fence, so one is not likely to just walk into it. They don't move much, so are easy to photograph.  Found this information online.

                   BLACK AND YELLOW ARGIOPE
GENUS and SPECIES: Argiope aurantia

One of Kentucky's largest spiders is an orb weaver called the Black and Yellow Argiope, Argiope aurantia. Commonly called "garden spiders," these orb weavers can be almost 3 inches long from leg tip to leg tip. Argiope spiders are very common in backyard gardens, and have given a fright to many a homeowner. Although they are large and intimidating, their bite is only dangerous to people who experience severe allergic reactions to insect and spider bites.

Mid-August Garden Tour

 While doing a little clipping and trimming this morning, I was greeted by this little Praying Mantis. (well, not really little, about 2 inches long) and that prompted a dash into the house to get the camera. So here are some other images of the day. Just a few morning glory, and one last day lily. I cut back the spent 'surprise lilies', and here's closeup a shot of a broken off stem. The hostas are coming on, with their big white lily clusters. (also known as Plantain Lilies). A Cicada, and of course, the inevitable bumble bee in the rose of sharon.

 

Rose of Sharon

Surprise Lily in bloom

Friday Fun

Lillies for thee

Photo of the day

Some days you just come up a little short!

(Jockeys, made in 2005.)

Happy Birthday!

Summer Wraps

It happens every summer....the spiders take over the hedges. (Oh, boy, the hedges need a haircut again, too!) If one wants to avoid the haunted-house image, it's a daily job to sweep the webs down and darned if, by the next morning, they haven't rebuilt them. So today, I got a can of spider spray and gave them all a (hopefully) lethal little shower. Thus misted, the webs show up even better. There are several different types. It seems almost a shame to destroy all that awesome engineering.  And to think it is all done by those 'itsy, bitsy spiders' (some not so itsy-bitsy!), and mostly overnight....in the dark! Creepy, but amazing.

So, of course, I had to get the camera...... 

(click to enlarge)

We had a good heavy shower this afternoon, and it washed away most of the webs, so I will not have to sweep them down, after all. Now, we'll see if the spray did any good, or how soon they re-populate and/or rebuild. 

When I sprayed this one, I was surprised at the interesting construction of it. Like a hanging basket with an under layer. You don't really see all the details, until it has some mist on it, and the spray is very fine and coats the 'threads' so you see them. They make an interesting image, with the changes of 'hue'.  

Derby Museum party

Viewing the new photo-mural inside the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Animal Kingdom and his 'connections'.

The Autograph

Presentation of Kentucky Derby trophies to Animal Kingdom's owners, trainer, and jockey. Churchill Downs, Louiville, KY June 16, 2011.

Kentucky Derby winners photo, May 7, 2011 Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.

Watercolor pencil effect

I love what can be done with a less-than-perfect image, and a little tweaking with Photoscape. If you do not have this editing program, it can be downloaded free, at

Derby Roses

From Kathy's bouquet, winner's presentation.

I'm also drying some for her as pot pourri.

Another rainy weekend.

Begonia over-wintered on a windowsill.

Itty Bitty Beetle, about 1/8 th inch, inside a very drenched dutch iris.

Peony beaded with droplets.

The peonies are all weighted down by the light rains we've had this weekend.

Mid-May Photos by the Yard

 

 

 

 

This group was taken Friday, May 13th, using the Canon pocket camera.

The iris with the spotlight: overexposed in the sun, enhanced with 'edges' spotlight. (Photoscape)