Gardens

detail of friends' garden--lovely pond in the backyard

Sunny Point Cafe, Asheville, North Carolina--kitchen garden detail

A young boy dreams in beautiful Krutch Park, Knoxville, Tennessee.  Whimsy, a sculpture by Pamela Reithmeier is on the right.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny is so much fun!  This week our assignment is letter "G."  Come see others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!




photos by me © 2013 and 2014

Garden

Yesterday, I took a spin around the yard, camera in hand.  I love to see what's blooming, who's visiting the flowers, and what edibles are ripening.

Orange double-flowered day lilies have begun blooming.

Pink lemonade blueberries are getting riper.

I love the combination of blue nigella next to yellow moonbean coreopsis.

Purple "green beans" are becoming larger, nearly ready to pick.  When cooked, the purple beans turn green.

Bees were delighting in the deliciousness of flower nectar.

Black raspberries have been ripening and must be picked before the birds find them.

an experiment this year--growing cucumbers in a pot on my deck.  Already baby fruits are forming!  This one is about the size of a little finger.

I love this color combination--so vibrant and summery!  chartreuse potato vine and bright pink brachyscome

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is  "G." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!  


Thank you, Ms Jenny, for hostessing another round!

  
photos by me  © 2014   all rights reserved

gorgeous Mount Edith Cavell

 

In September 2013, my husband and I hiked the Mount Edith Cavell trail to Cavell Pond in Jasper National Park, Canada.  It is a short, easy hike at 11,033ft (3,363 m) elevation.  The views along the way are spectacular!

There are several glaciers visible on the North face of the mountain.  Angel Glacier (above) forms in a bowl or cirque.  The glacier flows downward.  Some of the ice breaks over the vertical cliffs forming the angel's wings.  Because of the constant movement, this is an avalanche area.  We did see several while we were here and heard their resounding BOOMS!

I love the patterns, colors, and shapes of the plants, lichens, and rocks.  stunning decoration!

If you look very carefully in the middle of the photograph, you will see a person in blue.   This will give you an idea of the scale.

See the people--blue and red?

Cavell Pond is just below Cavell Glacier.  Ghost Glacier is the highest snow area above on the left.  In August, 2012, a very large chunk (equivalent to 1428 city buses) of Ghost Glacier broke off and avalanched down the mountain into Cavell Pond causing a tsunami that closed trails and the parking lot.  (video link below)

Icebergs float in Cavell Pond.

silly photo of me

pattern and texture

Back to the beginning of the trail, Cavell Lake can be seen in the distance, a gorgeous turquoise blue due to the suspension of glacial flour.

LINKS:
Banff and Beyond trail description and photos
lots of photos AlbertaWow
Parks Canada
Map  nearby roads and trails 
video of the avalanche (warning:  4 -letter word at the 5 second mark)

about Edith Cavell, a British nurse in WWI who saved many lives

My Post:
water  a couple photos of Cavell Pond and Cavell Lake

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter  is "G."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 



photos by me  © 2013     all rights reserved

Green

from my yard today...

Endless Summer hydrangea blossoms

green bean!  As an experiment this year, I planted bush beans in pots on my deck.  The experiment seems to be successful!

cherry tomatoes.  With all the rain lately, the tomato plants are going gangbusters.  I've already picked 2 romas and 2 cherries.  See the rain droplets? 

Echinacea blossom

Citiline Paris hydrangea

yikes!

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "G." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 


photos by me © 2013   all rights reserved

Green: Close Up

All the above were taken in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada in late August 2012.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "G"  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!

 
photos by me © 2012

glorious blooms and bee guides

Many species of  flowers display patterns or "guides" on their petals to direct pollinators to the nectar or pollen they possess.  Sometimes these patterns are visible to humans, sometimes not.  In some flowers, these patterns are visible to humans only under ultraviolet light.  This is the case of many of the "sunflower" type flowers.

(Note that "bee guides" have also been called "pollen guides" or "honey guides.")

Besides the guide lines on flower petals, pollinators are also attracted by flower shape, size, scent, and color.

Next time you're looking at flowers, think of the patterns as landing strips!

LINKS:

Plant Pollination Strategies US Forest Service (an interesting site to peruse--lots of facts on "Celebrating Wildflowers.")

Flower Adaptations for Pollination, a teacher resource guide by Diane Wang

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock, as we work our way through the alphabet.  Please do go visit the other students, for you never know what gems you may find--humor, poignancy, information, visions of far away places, stuff you've never even dreamed of!  Check it out HERE.  You may even wish to join in yourself!  This week our letter is "G."

photos by me © 2009 and 2010

island

of Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles/Saint Martin, French West Indies

Pointe de Bluff

entrance to Baie Lounge

Pelican Bay

St. Maarten, a Caribbean island, is the smallest landmass shared by two independent countries--The Netherlands in the South, France in the North.

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "I."  Come and join HERE.  You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found!  Here is Ms. Matlock's submission.



photos by me (except map) © 2007 and 2008,  all rights reserved