Garden Party

Summer has been here for 59 days now, and it has been a very pleasant one, 

but it is finally showing its true colors with a few sultry days.

While everyone is trying to cool off...

a young female cardinal wonders what's going on in the flowerbed.  

It's a party, of course.  

The Salvia and Rosemary sent out fragrant invitations on the breeze to the butterflies and hummingbirds:

You're invited to a garden party.

Refreshments will be served as the nectar lasts.

Please wear your dazzling colors.

And so they have come, dressed in their finery.  

When the party began,

 the rosemary flowers were all standing straight as soldiers at Buckingham Palace 

and forgot to bend a few stems for the hummingbirds to perch on.  

Fortunately, there was some thin, rusty wire in the shop that worked for seating.

If you build it, they will come.




Linking with:
id-rather-b-birdin
Saturday's Critters
and Wild Bird Wednesday

Thanks to Kim Klassen for her texture Cecile on the first image.

I Love Sunflowers

It's sunflower season, and I love sunflowers.

I love the magic encased in their spiky packages,

and how their petals unfurl...

and turn toward the sun, catching its fire.

I love the way the little stars of pollen appear and multiply...

sprinkling out stardust like parmesan cheese on a pizza.

I love the way they adorn an evening table...

the gentle curve of their leaves...

the graceful arch of their stems and the stiff white hairs that cover them.

I love sunflowers, but more than that, so much more,

I love the One who made them,

who also made the stars,

who gave His life so we could live.

Linking with Weekly Top Shot,

Little Things Thursday

and Friday Photo Journal

First published on 9/12/11

Morning Praise

On this bright new morning, a robin greets the sun from her favorite fencepost.

Two bucks, most likely two year old twins...

now spar, preparing to be rivals. 

A juvenile purple finch perches on the supplejack,

and a tufted titmouse is silhouetted against an orange sky.

They all give praise to their Maker, doing what He created them to do.

Years ago, we used to sing a children's song in church, 

one that I believe holds true for God's children of any age:

The birds upon the treetops sing their song;

The angels chant their chorus all day long;

The flowers in the garden blend their hue,

So why shouldn't I, why shouldn't you praise Him, too?

If you'd like to see a very cute video of a little girl singing this,

click here.

Linking with Little Things Thursday,

 Good Fences 

and

Wild Bird Wednesday