Gentle Joy Photography: Flowers

Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Red Wing Blackbird and Echinacea Flowers...

A red-winged blackbird was at the park and I was finally able to get some photos of one of these colorful winged birds.

He seemed rather comfortable on the dock area, like he was accustomed to visiting each day.

He kept moving, staying busy, yet was only about 3 feet from me.

What a treat to see one of these birds up close, that I usually only see briefly as they flit through a roadside ditch or field.

Echinacea flowers are colorful, beautiful and perennial. I had many of them at the old house, but since we moved, I have lost many of my wonderful plants and echinacea is one of the lost ones. I have started some from seed that are still not blooming and I'm hoping that maybe next year, I will have them.

Another plant I lost and hope to add to my country garden, is the passionflower. We had the purple one, called Maypop, I think. It doesn't smell too pleasant, but it is beautiful and exotic-looking. We would really like to have them here for our bees as we have a hive, but have had trouble finding a plant. I have planted seeds twice now, but they have not done well, so we will try again next year. I think fondly of the volunteer plants that are still growing at our old house. When I finally get passionflower going again, I will sure appreciate it.

Moving to a new place can add new plants and I do enjoy that, but it can mean missing some old favorites. If you move, it is a good idea to take some starter plants with you. We did that, but lost them in the bitter cold of our first winter here. Still, the herb garden is increasing little by little and our small farm keeps growing.

It was nice to see them at the park as I do enjoy their beauty.

Echinacea is a good plant for the herb garden, lending color and usefulness.

Soft beauty.

Another thing I love about these beautiful flowers is that when the petals fall and the seed pods stay, a beautiful shape is present in the winter garden, though I would rather not think about that yet. :)

So much beauty in the natural world that God created and I sure enjoy it.

Thank you for visiting.

~Gentle Joy

Friday, April 10, 2020

Little Squirrel and Spring Blossoms

A little squirrel enjoying climbing in the Bradford Pear... and it was a treat to get a glimpse of him through the branches.

The colors were beautiful.....

My intention was to photograph those beautiful blossoms against the rich blue sky... and seeing a little squirrel in there was an extra treat. :)

You can just barely see him hiding in there and eating something... he was shy and kept moving.

Our world is a strange place these days with the coronavirus, stay at home orders, social distancing, businesses closed, work on hold for many and so many things going on that we hadn't imagined could happen.

How nice to see that the beauty of spring goes on anyway... the blossoms flower, the animals and birds have new young and the weather changes.

Hide and Seek with a squirrel is a new thing, but he didn't seem to mind as I moved to see him better.

This photo shows the new blossoms and leaves and also the old dried fruit from last year that is still clinging to the tree.

I love the colors... and the beauty of God's creation and it reminds me that He is the same yesterday and today and … FOREVER!

I hope you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. So much going on in the world and many fearful things happening and out of our control.... but they are not out of His control.

"In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and His children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26

Thank you for visiting today and I hope you are also enjoying God's creation this spring and learning to lean on Him more and more. I know He keeps teaching me more of leaning on Him and trusting.... it is good to keep learning more and more and I am so very thankful to be one of His children.

Do you have a verse that is comforting to you in this time? I would love for you to share it in the comments. May God bless each of you with safety, peace, trust and hope in God in these hard times.

Other Gentle Joy Photography Posts you may enjoy.... just click on the link:

Those Funny and Frustrating Squirrels

Lessons From Squirrels?

Baby Squirrel Out of the Nest

Monday, August 12, 2019

Scenes From the Garden...

The garden is a place of changing scenes...

A garden visitor who has just snacked in the garden and seemed to consider going back for more.

A place of quiet in the early morning stillness and light fog.

The fog wraps around the fruit trees and highlights their beautiful shapes.

The view from a distance seems peaceful in the light of the rising sun.

Thank you for visiting today. I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Farmstead Garden Pictures....

What beautiful gardens on the farmstead. We sure enjoyed visiting them.

We visited the Farmstead with my parents and we all had a good time. It was a special treat.

Dad wore his straw hat to protect from the sun... and used his cane... and wore his insulated vest so he didn't get cold! :) You can see him in the picture below.

So many beautiful flowers...

This shows my Dad, 2 of my daughters and one son.... and my son is actually pushing my mom in a wheelchair. She can walk, but long walks like this are too hard on her since she injured her back a couple of years ago, so we push her in a wheelchair for such a trip.

This woodland garden was quiet and peaceful.

There was a nice collection of large chimes in the trees in the woods and what a beautiful sound they made!

A fun idea for a planter... appropriate for a farmstead garden!

I especially LOVE the picture below! That little girl had just hugged the statue of the little girl. I didn't get a photo of that, but I did get this photo of her saying good bye to the "little girl". So sweet! :)

The grain bin tops out there house an eagle, bobcat and other animals and birds.

My dad loves the farm equipment and he tells us what each item is and if he used it when he was a kid on the farm. These are precious times.

The bridges in the woods were closed because of flood damage and some of the paths were closed. This tree's roots have become exposed by the flood waters and hopefully, the tree won't be damaged from it.