Monday, August 24, 2015

Late Summer Yellows


Scrolling through my photos on this late August morning, a subtle theme became apparent.  Little bits of yellow popping up here and there.  Like, for instance, this volunteer sunflower.  It volunteered at the base of one of my camellia bushes and soon soared past it.  Since the camellia was only recently planted I didn't want the sunflower to take away the nutrients from the root ball so I let it bloom, took it's picture and then cut off the seed head to feed the birds.  Not a bad deal for a free flower.

 The butterflies have been keeping me company during my morning flower watering sessions.  I never ever tire of the beauty and movement they add to the garden.

 The container gardens are still hanging in there.
While they aren't quite as lush as they once were, the bees and butterflies don't seem to mind a bit. 
 
 The American Goldfinches are daily visitors to the feeder, coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans.  
Like the butterflies they add movement and beauty to the garden.


Yellow spaghetti squash made a recent appearance in my kitchen.
In the past I've always roasted it in the oven.
Did you know you can poke some holes in them, plop them in the crock pot along with 1-1/2 cups of water, set the timer for 6 hours on low and have it ready when you return from a day on the lake (or wherever your day may take you)?  Well, you can and we did and it worked very well. 

 The tomatoes are ripening up fast in my little veggie garden.
We bought four different heirloom varieties this year.  The long skinny ones above look orange, but they are really yellow and quite tasty.


 Yours Truly floating around the lake with her yellow noodle.
While my brother and sister-in-law were here last week we spent a wonderful day together on the lake.  I'm always a bit hesitant to feature other people on my blog without their consent so you'll have to imagine them floating around with me.

Hard to believe school started here today and summer will soon give way to fall.  Personally I'm ready for the heat and humidity to hit the road.  Until then, I'm content to enjoy the many good things summer has to offer.  Birds, butterflies, flowers, garden produce and dips in the lake to name a few.

 

9 comments:

  1. I do love volunteer plants. :) Pretty little goldfinch. Amazing how they can perch on stems like that. Saw lots of bees and butterflies while in the States. My youngest son said, seriously, how many pictures can you take of bees? I got excited every time I'd see them, so I have many, many pictures. It is sooooooooooooo humid here right now. Have a good week.

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  2. Nothing better than a little lake time. We've had a little of that this summer too. :)

    Your flowers are still pretty...I'm jealous because ours have pooped out.

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  3. I have two volunteer squashes that look like your spaghetti squash so maybe I should just go ahead and roast them and find out when I cut them open if indeed they are Spag. Squash?
    I see a lot of yellows and oranges in my garden at this time too. Good thing I'm find of those warm colours.
    Your tomatoes are quite amazing!
    I was also amazed that school starts out your way already since here kids don't go back until Sept. 8th.

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  4. That looks so cool and refreshing, Kim. Makes me want to grab a noodle and join you. Glad that you had a great visiit with your brother and sister-in-law. Thank you for adding the sunflower photo even if she did come to a swift end. I'm pinning it for my yellow folder...such a great yellow.

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  5. Your photos are a delight, Kim. Butterflies, pretty flowers, and lovely birds really make the summer worthwhile. The sunflower is gorgeous - or should I say was. You look quite content floating around on the lake. I'm glad you had a wonderful time with your visitors.

    I, too, am very ready for cooler temperatures. Today it was 106, at least that was what my car thermometer read. Moving this weekend so I'll be quite busy. Have a glorious end of August, Kim ♥

    Hugs,
    Marianne

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  6. Kim, I have not visited you in awhile. I have started blogging again. I have missed all of you dear blogging friends. Those tomatoes are so unusual. I would love to grow heirloom plants. I have a feeling that they taste twice as nice. We start school Sept. 8th. I'm ready for some rain. Our beloved Willamette Valley is very dusty right now, and not so green. Kathi

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  7. Love the tomato art - they taste so good straight from the garden. I'm not much of a fan of yellow, but at this time of year I welcome a little when it shows up in my garden. Your yellow touches are pretty, and reflective of this transition into autumn. Swimming is a great way to keep cool and refreshed - and FUN, too.

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  8. Love taking a look around your garden. Things looking very pretty and colorful.
    Fun to see you floating around out there in the water - looks nice and refreshing.
    Our summer are so nice here - usually low humidity and it rarely gets past 82, so I'm not ready for it to end yet!!

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  9. Glad you are enjoying some water time Kim! Anything to beat the heat which really is getting tiresome.
    Love the pix of the flowers and wild life - goldfinches are so beautiful - sunflowers awesome!

    I recently did a spaghetti squash, but in the oven, and loved it - great way to cut back on not so healthy real pasta!
    Hugs - Mary

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