Nature plays a trick on us

Monday, 6/12

A couple of days ago we posted a picture of a white Asiatic lily bloom that was on an individual plant that has always produced colorful blooms. This was a puzzle, and we asked if anybody knew, botanically at least, what was the story here. (Thanks to those who responded to our questioning!) Imagine our surprise when we noticed a change in color of that white bloom this morning.

The color on Wednesday, 6/14

This transformation from white to faint coloring was not really expected, but has brought a great deal of interest. We had a long soaking rain yesterday, perhaps that had something to do with the change? It is going to be fun watching if further darkening of the color will take place. Nature is amazing, be it the complex cyclical changes of the seasons to the simple change in color of an intricate bloom.

So where did the white lily come from?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve been blessed with lovely Asiatic lilies blooming recently. Today a white bloom showed up. We’ve never seen one before on our plants, and can’t figure where it came from. A quick search found a reference to heat affecting coloration, however all of the blooms have been exposed to the same environment.

Any botanists or horticulturists  out there have an idea why we have this pure white bloom? This is the third year of blooms for these Asiatic lilies.

Very strange dandelion

Today I noticed a couple of strange looking dandelions in our backyard. Instead of individual stems for each brilliant yellow bloom several had grown together in one solid super stem. You could sort of feel the cluster of stems in these large “stems”.

One big stem, multiple blooms

Another large stemmed one…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are plenty of “normal” dandelions nearby. Any botanists or agronomists or anybody who knows anything about these dandelions? I’ve never seen anything like this. Appreciate any comments or answers.

Roses after the rain

Rose against a gray sky, morning glory vine grows under the bloom

Getting ready to open

Bet there are fresh raindrops caught in the bloom

Color is peaking through, delicate drops perched on the bud

We had an nice surprise when an unexpected downpour came through right after 12 noon. We had a good 20 minute heavy shower. The air is so fresh and clean right after a rain. Earth’s local cleaning service…

 

Tomatoes going red and some mushrooms

These home grown beauties ripen fast once they start to turn

There were several more that almost made a Fairy Ring…

Our two tomato plants have done quite nicely the past month, giving us, as you can see, some nice fruits. The backyard also was fertile ground, it seems, for quite a few mushrooms that showed up overnight.