Daisies in the fairy garden

A photo of my yard art including some daisy blossoms. Hope everybody is doing fine, been very busy here. Not finding time to blog and we leave on vacation tomorrow morning. John, Lindsey and Mason are going with us for our annual June vacation to St Pete Beach. So many irons in the fire right now, hopefully when we return there will be time to blog again.

Mallard Ducks at Fountain City Duck Pond - Part 2

He is strutting his stuff. Showing off for the girls.

Remember these were early spring and he was looking for a mate.

Oh, maybe he is headed to her now (not me).

Aren't they a nice pair?

I saved my favorite to the last. I know he has the color, but she is so pretty.

Mallard Ducks at Fountain City Duck Pond

The Fountain City Duck Pond is a landmark in Knoxville.When giving directions in the area the question is always asked

"Before the duck pond, or after the duck pond?"

Back in early March of this year I visited the duck pond with camera in hand,

and did capture some photos worth keeping.

Notice the reflection in this one, he appears to have his bill open,

but then he also appears to have 3 heads.

You can always click to enlarge for better viewing.

Purple Siberian Iris

These Siberian Iris are in a group in front of the regular iris flowerbed.

Another flower we got from John and Lindsey's first yard. I love the way this bud looked.

The post is how we blocked the driveway when we first bought the property.

We also have a large amount of these same iris in Rockwood. We are going to be doing some transplanting to home. We want to line both sides of the driveway with Siberian Iris.

Turtles in Florida

I think the first four photos are Painted Turtles. Not sure though. I have not tried to research turtles at all.

I like this pair on the log, with all the reflections.

Not sure about this last one, it does appear to be a different type.

These photographs were all taken during our trip to Florida, February 2009.

Tree Swallows in birdhouse on deck

The Tree Swallows are using the birdhouse on the deck.

Jimmy found the birdhouse out in his shop and just placed it on the deck, next thing we knew the Bluebirds and Tree Swallows were checking it out. One day while we were watching a Tree Swallow went in the house and a Bluebird was hanging on the outside. I tried to capture a photo of the 2 looking at each other, but was not able to. The Bluebird flew off, then out came the Tree Swallow.

This sheppard's hook is real close to the deck,

and one of them stays on it most of the time,

the other one in the birdhouse.

This photo the Tree Swallow is perched right in front of the birdhouse.

They have gotten very used to us walking right past the birdhouse.

I talk to them as I walk all the way around the birdhouse. On Sunday afternoon I went out there with a fly swatter in my hand and shooed a wasp away from the birdhouse. The Tree Swallow just watched my every move, but never flew, or retreated back inside.

The Asiatic Lilies are just beginning to bloom

This first Asiatic Lily is called Lollipop.

I also received it from John and Lindsey's first yard. Their yard had all kinds of flowers, and they were young and did not want to be bothered with them. So I have benefitted from their flowers year after year. So have several of my friends. I gave flowers away for 2 years from John and Lindsey's yard.

I just have to get close.
I love the centers of the Asiatic Lilies

This lily does not match any of the lilies in the brochure of Breck's Lilies so I assume I also got this one from John and Lindsey.

Don't know the name of it though.

Again, I had to get close.

My yard starts in the spring with the daffodils and the iris have started blooming by the time the late daffodils are finishing. Now the iris will probably be blooming for another week and the lilies have started. The Asiatic always start first, the daylilies are right behind them (have a couple of blooms now), and the Oriental Lilies come next. The daylilies bloom until frost. So to have blooms from spring until late fall all you have to plant are daffodils, iris, lilies, and daylilies.

This time of year is so hard to stay inside to post at the computer. Still struggling to find enough time for blogging, but I visit as often as I can. Would love to make some stained glass pieces too. Not enough hours in the day.

Granny Mize came to visit

Today my mother is 82 years old. She gave herself a birthday gift, she drove up from Georgia to see her great-grandchildren. The first photo is when she held Noah Daniel for the first time. He was one week old.

The second photo is the following day. For this visit he did not wake up but we still enjoyed holding him and inspecting him real good.

The last photo is with Mason. He is now 16 months old and he didn't sit still very long for a photo session with his Great-Granny.

She also visited with her grandchildren,

but I think her main interest was in their children this time.

She returned to Stone Mountain on Monday.

Shades of yellow

Love the ruffle of this yellow iris bloom.

Then the same iris, after it has opened up.

I also acquired this iris from John and Lindsey's first yard.

The dark yellow iris I have had for at least 25 years, been moved a lot.

I got it from Wendy and John's babysitter.

Shades of purple

The top 2 iris were taken from John and Lindsey's first yard.

(They weren't into flowers, so I got lots!!!!)

This 3rd photo is the same one that I bought as a pink iris,

that I showed a macro of yesterday.

Notice the last photo has my first American Painted Lady butterfly of 2009.

By the time I got my lens changed he was gone, so I was glad I snapped this one.