Project 48 ~ 26:48

Self-Portrait in Gazing Ball

Brown Bird with Petunias

Orange Berries

Bloomin' Lily Pads

South-End, Lake Coeur d'Alene

This is what a picture-perfect weekend looks like to me:  Saturday, spent at the shop, working with Scott and a Sunday run. 

On Saturday, I brought my camera to the shop to take some pictures of a project I'm working on and got completely distracted.  First, there was the self-portrait, with the shop in the background.  Then, I spotted the bird, sitting on the table looking at the flowers. 

On Sunday, we drove through Plummer to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.  We started at the Chatcolet Trailhead and ran 4.6 miles out to Sqwe'mu'lmkhw (The Familiar Place) and back.  We saw all kinds of wild flowers, including butterfly bush, a tree with orange berries, lily pads in full bloom and some of the most amazing views of the lake yet.   

Enjoy!

Project 48 ~ 25:48

Yellow Daisy

Lavender

 

Daisies & the Sky

Ring of Yellow

Beetle on Daisy

Petunias

Unexpected Beauty

I love this time of year.  All my favorite flowers are blooming and there is so much to choose from.  I love the warmth of the yellow daisies, the softness of the lavender and everything about the white daisies.  Apparently, the beetle feels the same way.  The cone flowers look so regal with their crown of yellow.  And the petunias this year are fierce.  The ones shown here (both the shot of the petunias and the shot with the gargoyle) all came back from seed.  I was feeling very lazy last autumn and I didn't clean out my planters like I usually do.  This year, there are three planters that I didn't even have to touch - they had so many petunias come back from seed.  I didn't even know they would do that!  It was a lovely surprise.

Project 48 ~ 24:48

Yucca & Yarrow

Pink on Purple

Yellow!

Hanging Baskets

Newton, the Tennis Shoe Turtle

Half way!  It's very hard to believe I'm already at the half-way point of this little project. 

This was a busy week, working every extra minute at the shop to get ready for the 2012 Coeur d'Alene Garden Tour.  I did manage to sneak some time away for photos.  The yucca is blooming and this marks the first year it's bloomed in back-to-back years.  The yarrow is almost as tall as me and made for a nice yellow backdrop for the yucca.  The wild yarrow (pink) is beautiful right now and looked especially pretty against the purple scabiosa.  I just love the one yellow pansy amidst all the purple.  And the hanging baskets at the shop are loving the cool, rainy weather we've been having. 

The final shot is Newton, the Tennis Shoe Turtle.  He's one of many items we stained and painted for the Garden Tour.  We were very fortunate to be at the Rosenberger Garden.  Ron and Shelley Rosenberger were very gracious hosts and they have a lovely home and garden.  And in spite of it raining most of the day, we had one of the most successful Tours ever.  It made it worth all the hard work.  Enjoy!

Project 48 ~ 23:48

Bird in Flight

Big & Little

UFO's

Straight Up

Blue & Gold

Colorful

My Favorite

Fireworks!  When I looked back, I hadn't taken any firework shots since 2009.  I thought it might be time.  Then, when the remote release on my camera still worked, a plan began to form.  We showed up at our Hayden Lake "secret place" only to discover it was now thousands of others "secret place".  Bummer.  So we drove around to Honeysuckle Beach & set up our chairs.  The light show was fantastic - thanks Hayden Lake Country Club.  You put on a helluva show!  Enjoy!

Project 48 ~ 22:48

Death-Head Spider

Dancing Death-Head Spider

Pansy in Sunlight

Wild Yarrow

A Red Rose

Painted Leaves

Pink Penstemon

This totally made my week.  Not only are things blooming in the garden, but the critters are back!  I couldn't believe my luck with the spider on my daisies.  Is that not the coolest little spider you've ever seen?  His back looks just like a skull!  Or an alien head...  Either way, very cool.  Much cooler than the moth I thought he was from across the lawn.  And the flowers ~ daisies, pansies, yarrow,  roses, gaillardia and penstemon.  All so colorful and pretty.  That and the sunshine makes a girl (and a spider) want to dance!