This is New York Ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis; but it is also called Ironweed.  

 

Ironweed is a native plant in the eastern US, and it is blooming right now.  There is some in the field just before you turn onto Mocassin Church Rd, and this one is in the Union County Methodist Church parking lot.  They grow from 3-9 feet tall, and bloom from August-October.  Butterflies love them for their nectar:  lots of flowers close together.  

 

You can see them in waste places, roadsides, and low ground from New York south to Florida, and west to Alabama, Kentucky and West Virginia.  So be on the lookout when you're out for a drive.  The color of the flowers just takes my breath away.  Here's a close up pic.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Nancy gave me this puzzle last week.  It was in 1000 pieces.  I started putting it together on Saturday, and was finished by Thursday.  I love puzzles:  Crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaws, all kinds.  This one was so fun, and beautiful.  All the butterflies are numbered, and named scientifically.

 

I sent Nancy a picture when I started, and a couple progress pictures.  She is doing a 1500 piece puzzle of birds.  The center one is a peacock with about 50 "eyes."  This winter we are going to swap puzzles.  She'll get the butterflies and I'll get the birds.  Hey, as Momma would say, "It keeps us out of the pool hall."  

 

I did make one BIG mistake, though.  I started putting it together on the living room table, which stands 16 inches off the floor.  By the time I realized my error, it was too late to move it to a higher table.  So every piece was added by bending over.  AAK!!!  I surely won't make THAT mistake again.  

 

Next time I will monopolize the dining room table for however long it takes.  

 

HAPPY DAYS!!!

 

 

 

Happy hour on the porch with Henry and Tere is fun.  We sit at opposite ends of the porch and solve the problems of the world.  It takes HOURS!!!!  The hummingbirds are right there in front of us.  They buzz in and out at warp speed.  

 

I love this picture.  I set my phone camera to the Live option, and took a few pix as they flew in and out.  Then I could watch them again in motion and pick out the best shot.  

 

Thanks, friends for entertaining us this weekend.

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

A couple years ago, Jon turned 70.  We had a three day birthday bash.  It was tremendous fun!!!  Over 50 guests in all came to celebrate the BIG day.  I had to spread it out over the three day weekend to have enough room to put all our friends.  Everybody chose their own day to attend.  It worked beautifully.

 

We celebrated like kids, with 3 cakes and 3 different homemade ice creams, and presents.  Everybody had fun!!

 

Not to hog the gift-giving prize, but.....when he came home with this yellow Jeep to take me for a ride, I said YES!!! Let's buy it and call it your birthday present.  It has been so much fun every summer since.  Remember that old joke:  How can you tell a happy motorcyclist?  By the bugs on his teeth.  Well, that's how happy this Jeep makes us.  Whenever we drive it, we're grinning from ear to ear.  

 

Today is his birthday, and the Jeep is still the present.  ;D   If you happen to see him on a walk or in the Jeep, be sure to wave.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON.

 

 

I found this Papyrus growing in a ditch at Nags Head.  Yep, that Papyrus, the plant that the Egyptians used to make paper.  It is beautiful, and it really surprised me to see it growing there.  I cut three stems and put them in a vase on the picnic table for the weekend.  

 

OK, when I looked it up in my Exotica book, I found that it is NOT papyrus, but in the same family: Cyperaceae.  Papyrus is Cyprus papyrus, and this plant is Cyprus strigosus.  So, same genus, different species.  Like the difference between the Trout sisters:  same genus, (Trout) but different sisters: Linda, Betsy, Gerry, and Julie.  

 

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:    Cyperus papyrus, papyrus sedge, is a species of aquatic flowering plant belonging to the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is a  native to Africa, and forms tall stands of reed-like swamp vegetation in shallow water.  Papyrus sedge (and its close relatives) has a very long history of use by humans, notably by the Ancient Egyptians—it is the source of papyrus paper, one of the first types of paper ever made. Parts of the plant can be eaten, and the highly buoyant stems can be made into boats. It is now often cultivated as an ornamental plant.

 

 

So you can see they are very similar, and now you know the difference.  Well, I am going to keep calling this Papyrus, because I can remember that.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

Hi Julie.  Happy Birthday!!!  I bet you never got flowers like these before.  

 

Years ago, Sharon gave me a cutting of her Night blooming Cereus.  It rode in the back seat all the way home.  Last year it started blooming, and this year it has bloomed twice.  This time with three flowers!!!  They started opening about 10 pm, and were fully open (this picture) by 11.  Each flower is bigger than your open hand, maybe 8-10 inches across.  And they smell heavenly!!  Wish we coulda had a party.  They closed up about 4 am: done......until next time.  

 

I wish you had been here.  Hope your birthday is HAPPY!!!  ❤️❤️❤️

 

This Hoary Mountain Mint is growing down on the Creekside Trail, but it's also growing all over the mountains and in fields. 

 

It is definitely a member of the mint family, with square stems and opposite leaves; and when you crush the leaves, you can smell MINT.  This particular mint looks as if the upper leaves have been dusted with white powder.   It blooms from July through October.  The small, purple dotted, whitish flowers are arranged in dense rounded heads.  See?

 

It is really easy to notice the plants at 25 mph, growing about 2-3 feet tall, right on the sides of the roads.  Be sure to look for it on your next road trip.

 

HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

 

Al told me he sat for 15 minutes to get this picture of a Fritillary on his Verbena hanging basket.  If you know Al, that is nothing short of AMAZING!!

 

What he was waiting for was the butterfly to land with its wings open.  I am so glad he waited;  this picture is gorgeous.  I thought it would be a nice way to start your day.  

 

Thanks Al, for sharing with all of us.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

These are some of our neighbors:  Ron and Buttercup.  They have other family members too, but these are the two we usually see when we're out on our evening cruise.  Buttercup is a 10 year old Pomeranian and weighs about 5 pounds (soaking wet!).  She has a funny little voice, just barely a bark, but friendly.  

 

Ron says she still has her Kujo, and can be a bit bossy when she needs to have her way.  

 

I'm not sure who loves who more.....but you can kinda see it in the picture.

 

I'd love to show your pets here on the blog.  Just email me a picture and a little story, and we can share stories about our "kids" and their antics.  

 

 

HAPPY DAYS!!!

 

Wow, this picture looks huge.  Actually this mushroom is about 12 inches in diameter, and grows right on the ground.  But you couldn't miss seeing it;  it sure grabbed our attention.  It is commonly known as Berkeley's Polypore.  Its scientific name is Bondarzewia berkeleyi.  

 

From Wikipedia:  Polypores and the related corticioid fungi are the most important agents of wood decay, playing a very significant role in nutrient cycling and carbon dioxide production of forest ecosystems.  Huge responsibility there.

 

My National Audubon Society field guide says it is edible when young, but as it matures it becomes tough and intensely bitter with a rank odor.  Yeah, No thanks.  It also says that they often attain a span of 3 feet and weigh more than 50 pounds.  That's a lot of decomposition!!!  

 

We had so much rain in August, the mushrooms have been popping out all over.  And we have had the privilege to see some in the wild.  

 

 

HAPPY HUNTING!!!