Thank you Jakeroo and Sherry! I'll keep an eye out for flowers, and take more photos. The garden it is in is beside a brook and rather boggy bit of woodland, though you can't tell from my photo, so it would seem to fit.

One of my palms is totally amazing at the moment with flowers, the other only has one flower bract.

Sue, your photo is a great image for Jersey tourism - could easily be in the Med
PDAZ, here's a 'flying flag' image of the star spangled banner, taken at the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London today.
OK, I'm a day late for USA flag day, but I hope y'all forgive me

I am not sure if there is a connection but the person in the house next to me has removed a leylandii hedge since last year which was fairly tall and right next to the party wall. The palm has gone crazy, I haven't seen any others with so many flower bracts, it is just smothered.

It's possible, as when I moved in the house I'm in 13 years ago next week, there were nine crepe myrtles along the back fence, not counting the seventeen trees in the yard. They slowly died out as there were too many. Now, there's one tree and a rose of Sharon. There will probably be one tree added, and that's about it. The tree that was in the backyard had to come down, as it was blown partially apart in a storm in February 2007. We had sustained winds that day of between 45 and 55mph, with gusts upward of 65-70mph...and no storm cloud around.

welding

Been off for a few days of vacation. As usual so many great photos to catch up on in viewing.

Sherry - I LOVE that Patti's Plum Poppy and wish I could smell that gorgeous rose.

The picture of Alex coaxing ClaraSue into a chase is so cute. - As are the fighting seagulls and the dressed up zuchini.

The strawberries look more than good enough to eat. (Or dip in chocolate)!

Sue - That palm is simply stunning and thanks Picqero. Beautiful Americana picture and much appreciated.

Welcome MadMags. If your butterflies are the first offering we all look forward to many more!

Now I will send everyone a little bluebird of happiness. A nesting pair had some babies up under the corner tile. I spend a lot of time watching them ferry in the smorgasbord.

Rainy day

Copago, I think I'm going blind looking at your photo!

Tredici, love the bluebird. We used to have so many bluebirds visit our house in NM. I sure miss them.

Bhs, it seems like SC is getting an awful lot of rain this year, doesn't it?


A rock squirrel in California poking his head out.

We're out of the drought!! We had two thunder/lightning storms today -- morning and late afternoon. It has rained every day for the last week and half, at least. I can feel the mold LOL.

Thanks for the welcome liz and Tredici.

Gorgeous palm, and I love the fun zucchini!

Sat, your photo looks so peaceful.

Santana, you set my mouth watering with the jars of jam!

Roses, dinosaurs and stained glass - all great captures.

Tredici, loved the bluebird! How lucky to be able to watch the comings of goings of such a wonderful flash of colour.

Not so brave now, huh Heidi?



My German Shepherd who will gleefully chase, catch and eat any and all insects, was quite trepidacious when confronted by this Stag beetle. The beetle, however, showed no fear whatsoever as it reared up, waved its pincers menacingly and clicked noisily at her.

Please tell me that is an unusually small German Shepherd!

Another beautiful English rose "Jude the Obscure"

Lovely shot Sherry, I can almost smell the perfume!

Quote:

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Please tell me that is an unusually small German Shepherd!

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I had a matchstick in some of the photos, which didn't show up in this one. It was longer than the matchstick, I figure about 2.5", maybe a tad longer - about 7cm for those who prefer metric.

Here is a road for Satguru. (-8 One where you can drive off into the clouds.





This is from Trailridge Road in Colorado. I believe it has some type of distinction as the world's highest paved roadway. At the summit you are in the Alpine Tundra, above timberline. The poles you see are to mark the road for the snowplows or any vehicles unlucky enough to get caught in a storm or fog. Sounds scary but the road is only open under safe conditions and the views are breathtaking. I will post some on another day.

Last week we visited the Farne Islands where thousands of seabirds are nesting. These are puffins, tough little birds which spend most of their lives at sea.

I love those little guys, lol, what a great picture. Farne was on Springwatch last week... you probably missed that because you were there!

Who says there is no more beauty once a flower has bloomed then faded? Some may see this merely as a dead amaryllis lily. I saw it as four young girls deep in conversation about boys, music and other teenage mysteries and delights.

Cool, Mags.

They look a bit medieval to me. Girls talked about those same subjects back then, didn't they? I can hear the lutes now from the rose garden....

Nice selection, and there is even some guano for me as I just wrote a quiz on it. You can walk along the Thames for miles in Surrey with similar scenes and I've been on a number of boat trips from east to west and in between over the years.

This is the De la Warr pavilion in Bexhill on the south coast from a day trip we took mainly to see it in 2002

This little family decided to head back towards the river when I started to get a bit to close to them.

Oh Picqero what a great shot. Such darling feathered friends. Another beautiful offering from MadMags.

Hmmm... I haven't seen many Canadian Geese lately. Guess they've all gone home so SLiz can photo their offspring.

This is the "frozen tundra". Some of the scenery along the aforementioned Trailridge Road.

Another image from my Farne Islands visit last week. These birds are guillemots, part of a huge colony of many thousands. To hear their cries, mingled with the cries of other seabirds, click here and turn up your sound

What a noisy bunch! Amazing images picqero. Did you creep up on them? Not one is looking your way!

This hibiscus is one of several photos of flowers I took in Sydney, just after a light shower.

Sat, I see that pavilion was built in 1935 and yet it still looks futuristic today.

Liz, I never thought I'd be a bit homesick for the Canada Geese, lol. Good to see them again.

Gorgeous shot, Tredici, what untouched beauty! Picqero, such a noise from those little guys! Nice shot.

Well, I should have been washing dishes and cleaning up after a barbeque, but instead I wandered into the kitchen, camera in hand. Crumbled foil reflected in an unwashed wine glass and suddenly a counter that needs clearing away took on a different dimension.

lily, I took so long to post my photo , you snuck in between. I love hibiscus, that's a beauty. Lovely capture!

SUPER photos, everyone!!

You're dead right Mags, modern is a design school originating in Germany in the late 19th century rather than meaning recent, and peaking in the 30s.

This however is ancient as contrast, the church in the little village of Aldenham in Hertfordshire

Oh my. A run of terrific photos. And speaking of which does anyone hear from McShellsie? I miss seeing her splendid contributions.

This little one posed so nicely for me I thought I should oblige and take his portrait.