Picture This!!

That's a beauty Lisa. My sister who lives downstate was just commenting on the lack of Monarchs this year even though I read an article in the spring acting like overall there had been an increase in their population after a drastic downturn. I haven't seen in any other than that Butterfly House i visited. In fact I have seen very few butterflies in my yard this year.

Very pretty flowers Nancy..so colorful...I am partial to hibiscus because of all the varieties and colors. They are year round in the ground here but are apt to get white fly..I planted these to attract some monarchs and these..

and of course they love the milkweed to lay their eggs

Thanks Lisa. Prior to my bc dx I went crazy with flowers. I had no place to sit on my patio because they were covered in flowers. I have cut way down since I have a new patio as of last summer and since I want time to spend with my camera and not all the time with my yard and flowers. This is what my old patio used to look like. One big reason I cut back is that my impatiens got this terrible disease and the soil is ruined for years. They were probably 40 -50% of my yard either in containers or in the yard. Finding a viable alternative just hasn't happened yet,

Are your flowers gallaridia? Very pretty. I didn't realize that last pic is a tropical milkweed. I don't know if we have those around here. Are those two different types of milkweeds? Pretty pictures. I would love to have something for the butterflies here.

I finally got in to see a specialist regarding my GI problems I have had since March. It looks as if I contracted food poisoning at Navy Pier and then initially got very sick with that and then it turns into what they call post infectious IBS, The PA said this could go on for months. For some it goes on for years. I was given some meds to try and I just don't know how much they are really helping but I will give it some time. Since I had a gallbladder ultrasound just a couple of years ago she didn't think it was that but willing to have some tests if i wanted them. I am pretty bummed about this, If I knew there was an end in sight and a way to feel better I would be more hopeful. For some this could go on for years.

I am taking a five and half hour nature photography workshop on Saturday with another retired band director friend with an interest in photography. Hopefully i will be able to get through the session without any terrible stomach ache, At this point I never know how food is going to affect things because there doesn't seem to be any rhymn reason to what affects what. She did not think it was gallbladder but obviously when you had yours out they hadn't thought it was that either.

I have had a tree recently taken out of my yard and I had considered planting something for the hummingbirds and butterflies. Sill debating. I am enjoying my hummingbird feeder. I have mainly females that come but have only seen a couple of males.

Have a good night.

Thanks Barbe and Joanne. This summer has been hard on my annuals in my flower beds. The hot and humid spells don't work out so well with some of them. One of my flower beds is next the the tree I had removed and those poor flowers have been in shock with shade and now almost full sun. When I planted that bed I was not certain about taking out this tree at the time and it was meant for some shade and some sun. Oh well. Maybe next year.

Nancy

Scottie, beautiful collage. I can't wait till this one area blooms at our Arboretum so i can get some yellow swallowtails. I think they are one of my favorites. You can certainly get great up close shots with a zoom. Your shots prove that!

Pretty pics Lisa. That hibiscus looks like it is very tall. Love the lake pics too.

That is a holly hock I think.

FAB shots Jo!!!!

jo, a canon sx 60hs.

Today I hiked in the woods to.see Leatherstocking Falls. I did it many times as a kid. This time it took forever climbing over logs and slippery undergrowth. We got there and the once easy climb down to the creek was daunting. Maybe it is age or the effects of having the broken arm or both but I couldn't get the shot I wanted.

DARN!!!!

oh wow. I have a note 5 also.can't wait to see the 6

Here are some pics at the Lake near me. I am at my mom's now. I ordered a long lens for birds and it should be coming here tomorrow. I am excited. I got these with my Canon 50x zoom,

I am so happy to be home again...fun to be in Cooperstown for the Baseball Inductions and being where I spent my summers, but this old body likes the familiar...my hummer is back too