Asiatic lilies (Lilium asiatica) are considered to be one of the easiest to grow and hardy blooming plants you can enjoy in your garden. They come back each year and sometimes will actually multiply! We always enjoy our colorful lilies.
Nature
Creepy black and white with no head
Imagine seeing this moving across your yard at 3AM…
I had driven past this snag for years and always wanted a photo. There was no space to pull over. However, a couple of days ago my son was driving, he slowed down letting me snap the picture. I think B&W treatment is appropriate.
This rose shares its beauty
The first rose after pruning in late April
Dew drops on morning threads and an insect
A bit later Earth’s glory is on display
A lovely start to the month of June, 2023
May morning in the garden
It’s only 40 degrees F on a sunny mid-May morning. Still there is Nature’s beauty on display.
Red young growth on the rose is due to the presence of anthocyanins. This coloration protects the bush from UV rays .
Chives flower
Asiatic lily thinking about blooming
The first rose bloom of the season
Mallard duck feeding styles
The dainty hen calmly grazes the top of the water. Her mate the drake with no abandon just dives in and feeds off the bottom. No table manners here!
River ford now closed
Before the ford was closed
The 10 acres for Kennedy Park in Shelbyville, Indiana were bought and donated to the city in 1929 by Fred Kennedy. Among the features of the park included a concrete ford that crossed the Little Blue River to East Franklin Street. For years it was a place to drive across the river by car or bike. It was also a place to wash your car, which of course you couldn’t do today.
The video pans from East to West and shows the last complete concrete section of the old ford. You can also get a glimpse of the recently completed steel pedestrian footbridge over the river.
Crow showed up and we talked
Last fall Sher and I were visiting our daughter, her husband and our 8 year old grandson who live in the Seattle area. One day I was in our daughter’s backyard taking photos of some of the leather medicine bags that I have been making.
My personal medicine bag trimmed with the colors of the 4 directions, a silver feather and a gift from the sea.
While I was arranging another leather medicine bag for photos, I heard a loud “caw-caw” from somewhere up the street. Almost immediately a large black crow landed in a small tree about 15 yards away. Crow then began to “talk” to me with varying tones and volume. I responded to him, and thanked him for sharing his space with me.
Crow and I shared space and spirit together for several minutes. Sharing time with animals is so inspiring to me, and I consider them exceptional opportunities to relish the chance to be at one with animals, Nature and Earth. I asked him if I could take an image of him. Crow did not want his image taken, and he flew off as we said our farewells.
I cut some pieces from an apple for me, and then I took the rest of the apple and put it in the tree where Crow had been perched while we conversed. It is always a nice gesture to leave a gift whenever you have contact with Nature. When I have been gifted by Nature with stones, feathers, shells or even a leaf or flower I always leave a gift in thanks for the find.
Black Onyx from Peru
A few day later we all went to a wonderful gem and mineral store in the fun town of Snohomish. I needed to get some sage for cleansing and smudging ceremonies. In this store I was immediately drawn to a display of beautiful carved crows made of black onyx that had been imported from Peru. I was strongly drawn to one and he went home with me. My past interaction with Crow reinforced that the black onyx Peruvian crow was supposed to be. Yes, I believe Crow joining me for a bit was indeed a good sign.
Medicine wheel four quarters
The term “medicine” is not always just a means for healing. It can, in some belief systems, also refer to the knowledge and power found in every life form. In many cultures around the globe the circle and cross of the medicine wheel is also know as “the four quarters of the world”.
The basic medicine wheel is in four parts and represents the four directions, each with a color, element, and one of the four “races” of the world. North is white, represents air and the animal people. South is red, represents water and plant people. East is yellow, represents fire and human people. Finally, West is black, represents earth and the stone people. Positioning of these may vary among the many medicine wheel traditions found around the world. For example, having south’s color green (for the plant people) instead of red is not uncommon.
A trio of cranes in flight
Spotting a flight of Sandhill cranes was quite thrilling!
I did hear them coming, and the last shot shows how low they were flying.
Inch Worm wants off the metal feeder
This little fellow somehow ended up on our hummingbird feeder and kept “inching” around the edge. He wanted off, and we assisted him in a trip to some foliage.
Roadtirement 