And yet even more mushrooms...

Here are some more pictures by Kirstin of the mushrooms growing in the woods.























What an amazing variety there are!


Have a beautiful day!

More mushrooms...

As happens when Fall grows closer, mushrooms are showing up everywhere.



Around here, our woods are a favorite place with them.



I have no idea how many different varieties live out among the trees.



I mentioned previously on my blog that I don't know the names of mushrooms,



so I just look at them and enjoy them. But I don't eat them. (Not even the ones from the store.)



And another view of the same guy.



How's this for camouflage?



Thank you to Kirstin for taking these pictures for me.


Have a beautiful day!

The Fairy...

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what more do I need to say?







Have a beautiful day!

So many butterflies...

Have a beautiful day!

African Blue Basil...

I went out this evening (to the immense delight of the mosquitoes) to find something to put on my blog, because I really didn't know what I was going to treat you to today. Isn't it amazing how the garden rejuvenates and revives and always provides something interesting to enjoy?




Have you ever grown African Blue Basil? I used to grow this one in California, where it is a perennial! Yes, a perennial Basil. Of course, it's not perennial here, but I grow it anyway because I love this plant.




What do I like about it? Well, for one thing, the Basil fragrance. And I think it is so cool that there is a perennial Basil when Basils are annuals. But the best thing is all the bees that it attracts. It's always alive with creatures. I didn't see any honey bees in it this evening, as I often do, but there was a cute little bumble bee.



There was also a funny orange bug. I have no idea what it is (do you?), but don't the orange of the bug and the purple of the plant look interesting together?



Growing next to my African Blue Basil, I have a Calamint plant (it's perennial) and look at the beautiful butterfly sipping its nectar. I love this type of butterfly. (You can click on any picture for a larger view.)



And I got another great photo this evening. Can you see what I captured on "film"? This is a very exciting first for me.



Ta-daa!


Have a beautiful day!

Black-eyed Susan Vine...

This is the first time I have tried growing Black-eyed Susan Vines (Thunbergia alata).



I started them several months ago from seed with the thought of growing them on the tuteurs in the containers on either side of the front porch. But after planting them there, I realized it was way too hot for the vines, as they began to wilt and die. I shaded them to try to help them survive.



Finally I decided to transplant them somewhere else to give them half a chance of living. I stuck them in the ground under the rose arbor and they have been happy there.



Yesterday, I discovered the first bloom: a white one with an intensely dark purple eye, which is actually a funnel, similar to a Morning Glory. I plan to grow them again next year since they are very charming. And I have found a place they like to grow.


Have a beautiful day!