Nature Photo Challenge #23

Denzil Nature posted a challenge about the important side of nature concerning the things we call pests – Flies. If you have not seen his site, do check it out for some amazing photos. For my addition to this post, I am including flies and other things that buzz in my yard – some louder than others.

I do have in my yard a similar fly, possibly a bottle fly, that I was surprised that they hovered around my flowers…instead of something less pleasant.

But I also have other things that fly, maybe hoping to catch a less cautious bottle fly.

Then there are many swirling bees enjoying the nectar of my sunflowers. proof that bees don’t care if the petals are bright yellow, light yellow or no petals at all.

But my favorite flyer is not an insect, although he is not much bigger than some insects. And I don’t really have the equipment to capture him properly in photos, but still, he is a favorite – the hummingbird.

All of nature is important and has a purpose in being, so enjoy it often. And as always I remind you of another beauty in nature – kindness. For if all of us can show kindness to all of nature, kindness will continue to grow.

FOTD, August 4, Balloon Flower

Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge always gives us the opportunity to share the different flowers we see. I got hooked on these beauties last year so I planted some more this year – balloon flowers. It’s an odd name for a flower, but I am guessing they get that name from their shape right before the bloom opens, as they do look like a hot air balloon.

Once they open, they kind of look like a balloon that just burst with the pointed edges rolled back – probably more like a five pointed star.

And purple, regardless of shade, is always an acceptable color.

When enjoying the beauty of flowers, I am reminded of the beauty of kindness. It is a gift that we can share wherever we go with mankind, animals, and even plants.

Always Be kind…to all kinds.

FOTD, July 20, Lily (again)

As Cee shares her lily picture, I too am sharing the lilies that are around our church. These lilies are orangey-yellow with dark orange accents, kind of a standard color but still pretty. I love how every other petal is a different color and the ruffles always add to their beauty.

Come join in on the beauty you see with other flower lovers and have a happy flower day. And as always, I remind you of the happiness and beauty of kindness.

FOTD, July 19, Portulaca

Portulaca is a type of flowering plant in the Portulacaceae family that is also known as the moss rose as it does resemble a small rose. The flower size is not larger than 4 inches but its vibrant color makes up for the small size.

You can see that in the flower box, they are more widely scattered than tall with succulent-type leaves. On closer view their mix of colors can make you smile.

The bees were very busy this morning with their little legs being covered in the all important pollen. Below are some closeups of individual bloom colors and their bee friends.

A white bloom, a red bloom beside it, and a yellow bloom with a bee friend.

Rosey pinks with their bee friends and a light pink below.

This bloom really shows the rose like quality of the bloom.

As you enjoy the simple beauty of these blooms, remember the beauty of kindness.

Always Be Kind!

God’s beauty

As we look around our world, nature in its rawest form is beautiful and majestic and something God wanted to share with us. If you are on Facebook, I encourage you to check out National Geographic: Photographs of the Day, as photographers show you the beauty, the caring, the loving attributes that animals have through amazing photographs. I posted the names listed on the page of the photo hoping these are the amazing photographers. I apologize if wrong but what amazing photographs.

Many say that animals have no soul. Since I believe in Christ and the Bible, it says that man is made in God’s image where He gave us a piece of Himself so that we would commune with Him, a soul.

However, God also created animals and I believe he created in them an ability to also commune with Him. A, D. Williams, an American football player and also a minister said, “If they love, they are aware. If they are aware, they have a soul.”

These photographs I am posting prove that all creatures understand love. Love given to them by our creator. Its an amazing love meant to be shared one day when man and beast alike will commune together in kindness and love.

“In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10.

Kibeir Maazouz

Keka Banerjee

Kibeir Maazouz

Adriano Garcia

A,J, John Arryadanpakal

Ashkor Patro

Nima Gaming YT

If you start with elephants, you must end with elephants. They are the largest animal we currently have and in my opinion, openly show the most affection and care within their herd and outside of it.

Always remember to show kindness and love as the elephants do. You never know what light you may bring to a weary soul.

Beautiful Family

While Goldfinches do not mate for life, they do stay within their flock and remain as pairs for a season.

While I do not have the equipment for amazing shots like Nat Geo, I do enjoy sharing what I can. I assume this is the same pair that frequents my sunflowers but if it’s more than one pair, then I am doubly blessed.

The male is striking but very bashful or more cautious that the female.

The beauty of nature that God shares with us should always be appreciated. It gives us a glimpse of the beauty of Heaven. So watch for it and share it with others. And always be kind – that has a beauty all its own.

Always Be kind!

FOTD, July 13, Death Storm

If you have been reading my post this summer you will know that due to heat, dryness and squirrels, I have not been able to get my sunflowers at the church sunflower circle to grow. Finally three plant were able to emerge and Wednesday one was starting to bloom. It was a color I had never seen before – kind of sunset red-orange.

Then about 11:00am a storm came through and toppled her to the ground. It broke off at the base. It had 12 blooms on it which didn’t help its weigh ratio against the wind. So I took the blooms off and put them in a vase hoping that some of them will finish growing enough to open.

This has not been a year for sunflowers, however, the tomatoes are loving this dry hot weather. Last year they were pitiful because it was too wet. Well, maybe next year we will have a full sunflower circle.

I close with a reminder to always be kind. You never know when your one small act of kindness will be the encouragement someone else will need.

Of Flowers and Flying Things

I am always amazed at the types of flying visitors that visit my yard and the flowers that I plant. I think I am most amazed at how many house flies seem to like flowers…at least I think they are house flies. I looked up flies and was amazed and the number of types of this little pest. I think that is why this one visitor is there…waiting on a fly to land so he gets a meal…

But the flies seem persistent with their blue-green color. When I was a kid we had a name for these but being online, we don’t want to use that kind of language, but I think you get my drift.

But we also have many types of bees that come visit, bumble bees, honey bees, and some type of tiny bee. This sunflower has a small bumble bee and one of the tiny type bees. This little guy’s legs are covered with pollen crystals.

Then we have the flying creatures that always bring about a smile…

Goldfinches are loving my sunflowers this year and then the Mourning Doves are always stopping by the feeder. Having a pair that visit you regularly is a sign of Love Peace and Hope. I am always up for those feelings.

Other visitors are around as well…

The nature that is close by in our yards should be enjoyed and not forgotten about for their presence is what makes our gardens flourish.

And as always, I remind you to be kind. Let it flourish from you as well and see the vast difference it can make.

Always Be Kind!

FOTD, July 6, Yard Fun

This first part of the summer, here in the Midwest, was excessively hot. so many of the seeds planted have not shown their beauty, specifically the sunflowers. What the heat didn’t kill, the squirrels dug up. So no 12 foot tall sunflowers this year. However, I do have some dropped seeds the birds left behind from last years crop that are trying to come up, so we will see. So far 5 foot height is the standard.

A fun one is coming up through the slinky I put on my birdfeeder post two years ago to discourage the squirrels. That works by the way.

This is the one the goldfinches love because they can sit on the slinky. The one in the middle of the yard is light yellow. I think it was called a lemon sunflower.

The front of my house is filled with various types and colors of flowers. A mixture of lilies, petunias, impatients, coreopsis and verbena spread their smiles of happiness as they sway in the breeze.

The smiles of summer through the flowers we see are good reminders to share our own smiles with others who need to see them. Smiles are infectious and a good way to share kindness. So, smile often and share kindness.

Why Sunflowers?

There are many reasons people choose certain flowers for their yard; their color, the way they bloom, or maybe their fragrance.

For me, a large component is what they bring to the yard. Some of my flowers bring butterflies and some bring in certain birds. It has been two years since I have seen the goldfinch come to my yard, but they are enjoying the sunflowers.

I had a pair today, male and female, both very interested in the sunflower blooms. They were beautiful but very skittish. I was not able to get a good close shot but wanted to share their beautiful yellow color.

Now my sunflowers…well, they had a rough start. First, they were planted by the birds from last year’s flowers. While this particular flower is standing about five feet tall…it has a good two feet crawling on the ground where the drought, heat, and a dog trampling through them when they were young plants that affected their full potential. Yet they are still beautiful. Nature’s resilience is always amazing.

Hopefully, we can all understand nature’s strength and resilience and use that knowledge to make this a better world – maybe a little kinder.

Always Be Kind!