FOTD, August 13, Lilies

Come join in the the fun and beauty of flowers. Cee has created a fabulous prompt that we can all share the beauty we see.

Even toward the end of summer and a crazy storm, the lilies are still hanging on. It is interesting to me in that depending on where the lilies are growing, some are still going strong. My lilies in front yard are gone but the back ones that get sun all day long are still going. They have been a real testament to the 2020 season with all the craziness going on. Stay true, stay strong and you will survive.

And as always remember the strength and resilience of kindness and carry it wherever you go.

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CFFC Challenge,Wilting & Dying

We are now getting into the sad time of year where the beauty of the spring flowers are about done. Its about time to start planting the fall flowers of yellows and golds.

image000004 (14) — Even though the under brush is dying, the determination to bloom still holds.

image000002 (12) — The bloom of the sunflower has bowed in death, yet the birds still feast on the few seeds left.

image000001 (18) — The pods of this beauty are curled in death but a new life is sprinkled to the ground for spring.

image000000 (45) — The leaves of the tomato where fruit was enjoyed lay wrinkled in death at the end of a season.

Come join in on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. This week’s CFFC topic is Special Request: Wilting, dead or aging flowers and leaves. Be creative and mostly have a lot of fun.

But remember the beauty they gave us earlier in the year with their colors so vibrant and fragrances so dear. We bid them goodbye, dreaming of the next season come and encourage them to tell us “what about next year?”

I am reminding you as always to be kind and enjoy the simple things of life. I am sharing a picture group that shows pure joy…hope it makes you smile. Thank you Random Acts of Kindness for the Photos.

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Hummers Delight

As hard as I try to catch a picture of a hummingbird at my feeder, my phone camera is just too slow. But I do have a variety of flowers in my yard that they visit often, so I given you flowers from a Hummers perspective, in macro. Sorry, it the best I can do for now.

image000001 (14) — This gets visited a lot. Don’t know if its a favorite or just close to the feeder.

image000000 (44) — According to research, this Purple Sage is a favorite.

image000004 (13) — I see them visiting this a lot as well, don’t remember what its called

image000002 (25) — Petunias are a “tube” flowers and therefore a favorite.

image000005 (8) — This is Lantana, probably not a favorite for hummers but a favorite of mine.

Hope you enjoyed a trip through hummingbird food for my yard, maybe it made you smile. I leave you with encouragement from the scriptures and a reminder of the beauty of nature.

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Have a wonderful afternoon. Be safe and be kind.

FOTD, Purple Day

I have featured many flowers in my yard but today, it’s purples turn. And while my purple variety is not a lot…it is all over my yard.

image000001 (27) — Purple Petunias have the best fragrance of all petunias.

image000002 (22) — Purple and white verbena clusters

image000002 (23) — I don’t know, but the basket is beautiful and the hummers like it.

image000003 (6) — Purple and White Petunias

Close ups.

Come join the fun with Cee’s Flower of the Day.

And remember as always, kindness ain’t hard but it is necessary. So please be kind.

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FOTD, Hosta, Aug. 2

The Hosta’s around my church are huge and have been blooming all summer. I think the older plants are the giant variety but the smaller leaf variety just in front of them are prolific bloomers.

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They are enjoyable to look at and low maintenance, important for plants around the church. Cee’s prompt for Flower of the Day is always a favorite. Come join in on the beauty.

And as always, remember to be kind. Kindness even in a bad situation can make the beauty of you shine through.

fall-Apart-Kindness

FOTD, July 30

Cee’s Flower of the Day prompt is always a fun one to see the beauty everyone sees and shares. Today we are doing “Other side of the fence” flowers. If you had been following me since spring, you know I put up a fence and then I put concrete blocks randomly in front of it to use as planters. They worked pretty good and some of the flowers are coming through the lattice. They scream…”Don’t fence me in”.

image000003 (15) — Calibrachoa, Color? Pink Stripe?

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What fun this summer has been. I almost can’t wait until its time to decorate for Christmas. Now that I have a fence, I have a place to put outside lights. Sorry, in my house its never to early to think of Christmas.

So I leave you with the reminder of showing kindness. Kindness is a value of immeasurable worth that leaves a deep void when not used and a ripple effect across the globe when it is used, so use it often. We all could use a little kindness.

kindness sunset

FOTD, July 25

Thanks Cee for a fun challenge with Flower of the day. Today I am feeling a little Orange.

image000004 (8) — Calibrachoa, color Tropical

Come along and share the beauty you see. And remember as always…Be Kind!

Kind fire

FOTD, July 23, Caladiums

Today’s Flower of the day really is no flower but its color is still bright and beautiful. Cee says leave and berries are acceptable so here we go.

Caladiums…of all the various varieties, I think this one is my favorite.

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They are beautiful by themselves or help highlight other plants….

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They help highlight the tiny flowers who fight to be noticed….

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And they hold onto raindrops to highlight their own beauty after a summer shower. All plants within the garden have their own beauty to share and highlight God’s love of creation.

As you enjoy the wonders of nature and your gardens, remember to share its kindness.

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Kind hearts are the gardens

Kind thoughts are the roots

Kind words are the flowers

Kind deeds are the fruits

Take care of your garden

and keep out the weeds

Fill it with sunshine,

kind words and great deeds.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Flower of the Day, July 22

Again we have more fun from my yard. Thanks to Cee for having such a fun prompt where we can all share the beauty of nature.

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Even on a drizzly day the sunflower smiles. Looks like one petal is trying to be a hat in keeping the rain from getting in its face.

And never under estimate the determination of nature as this sun flower, seed dropped from the feeder, grew under the fence to make sure it could show its happy face to the sun.

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Match the happiness of sunflowers where ever you go and always be kind.

kind sunflower

Tuesday Writing Prompt, If I Never…

If I Never…

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If I never explored the garden, of it’s love and beauty that be

I would miss yellows and purples or other colors to see

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If I never felt the raindrops, as it gathered on leaves around

I would never hear the beauty in its quiet, gentle sound

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If I never saw the sunset and it breathed after the storm

I would never see the beauty in the clouds as they form

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If I never saw the snowfall as to clung to trees above

I would never hear its quietness like the cooing of a dove

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If I never loved another how profoundly sad to be

For missing all those gifts from God that He would give to me.

Anita Neal

Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. The prompts are designed to be quick challenges that can be written in 10 to 15 minutes, inspire you creatively, are fun, and get everyone interacting.

Today’s prompt: Write a poem using the phrase “if we never”

Come join in and as always, remember to be kind, it shows you true heart regardless of who, or what you are kind to. Let your kindness ripples be released into the world.

kind ripples