Summer's Final Reflection Photos

With Summer steadily winding down, comes the climax of many beautiful reflections. I hardly know where to start with my own. First my bountiful vegetable garden has yielded many lovely treasures. I layered my perfections on metal skewers pictured above, creating a splendid barbeque feast for our dinner tonight!

Mouth watering cherry tomatoes, zucchini, green bell peppers, pearl onions, and carrots, were all my garden veggie delights surrounding chicken breast chunks. I used a special dry rub sent to me by my good friend Nazarina, paired with a terriyaki marinade. To say the least, I couldn't grill them fast enough to fill my families plates.

I've had an abundance of greenbeans, which are still coming strong! I've frozen a good bit of these vegetables for my soups, sauces, ect for the Winter months ahead. I started drying out my sunflowers to make sunflower seeds as in the past.


My daily walks with Sierra dog has given me wonderful solitude, gazing along the countrysides of my farmer friends farm. Isn't the view just breathtaking? The corn is about a good 6 to 7ft, ready to harvest shortly. This farm goes on for miles, carrying into another farm.


The sun was setting on an evening this past week, when I shot this photo at a different angle. The soybean field directly in front of me, and the rolling hills that Pennsylvania is know for far off in the horizon. Farming is a unique and beautiful art in itself, these great folks work hard to keep this farm looking immaculate as it does.

My flowers seem to always look their most beautiful at the end of Summer, and through most of Fall. The flower plants are at their fullest and most brilliant color. My hotpink petunias just light up my flower garden with their elegant and delicate presence.

I only had one set of my purple coneflowers come back this year. These beauties are one of my favorite flowers. The birds love pecking and eating the centers out of the daisylike flowers.

School is starting in a couple days, and the nights are growing cooler. It's been a hot and humid summer, and I look forward to cooler nights walking with Sierra dog.

Soon the flowers will fade, and the leaves will start turning. But I won't rush a moment, not too fast or hastily. I'll take them as they come and revel right here Literally in the moment!!

Stunning Minature Rose Photo & Haiku

A real stunning photo of a minature rose from my beautiful flower garden!!

Early Spring Flowers II & Gardner Snake Photos

I had transplanted these lovely deep orange poppies last Fall. I was excited to see them bloom the earilier part of the week. Poppies add a touch of beauty to your Spring flower beds! These are my first poppies to grace my flower beds!


My hot pink tulips bloomed for the 3rd year in a row. The tulips have spread and are a gorgeous compliment to my purple phylox to the right!


The centers of the tulips are a bright yellow, giving a stunning contrast to the hot pink petals and long green leaves.


I stepped out to check laundry on the line yesterday, and guess who was back. My friendly gardner snake, was almost underfoot. Surpisingly he let me get this close with my camera! I was almost afraid at how close I was! These snakes have red tongues, which slide in and out of their mouths so fast. So now I must watch where I step, because one of these snakes could be lurking about! Gardner snakes love to bask in the sun too!

Were expecting storms today, the weather has been grand in the upper 70's. A cold front is coming through and we'll be 20-30 degrees colder! So is the crazy seesaw weather of Pennsylvania! How is your Spring going! I've been very busy featuring dogs on death row, here and on facebook. Some have gotten homes, and others have been rescued or sponsored. I'm elated to help these sweet dogs.

More photos and great stories to come, as always stay Literally In The Moment!

Gorgeous Purple Stripped Crocuses Photos

I couldn't resist taking a couple more shots of these beautiful crocuses, on my nightly walks this week with Sierra dog. These lovlies were growing in a small cluster beneath a maple tree. The colors so stunning they grabbed your attention immediately laying your eyes upon them!



The yellow centers resembling the cheery sun and the long awaited arrival of Springtime! They seemed to close up as the light of day faded, and the petals closed together as if they were going to sleep. I've seen many dark purple crocuses, but not many like these with the fine stripes!

We've had some awesome weather here in Pennsylvania as temps ran up to 85 degrees today! Of course I hung clothes on the line! Getting ready for a busy Easter weekend, nursing a horrible cold I caught!

Wishing you all a great Easter Holiday, and stay Literally In The Moment!

Early Spring Flower Photos

The delicate Crocus is one of my favorite Spring flowers. Crocus flowers have been blooming everywhere here. I picked this purple and white beauty one evening walking Sierra. This crocus was blooming along a creek near a huge maple tree. I put the crocus in the leaves of my poppy plant, which is also coming along soon! I love the fine lines on the petals!


First daffodil has graced my flower bed with white petals and yellow center! Great to have flowers which come back on their own every year!



More yellow growing by our pool. Nice too see yellow and green after our long cold, snowy Winter! I've many tulips, lilies, dianthus, and poppies coming! I can't wait for them to bloom. What Spring flowers are blooming in your area! The baby bunny in my header I took late Spring last year! I was surprised how close the bunny let me come, to get this great shot!

Dried Tulips Resemble Asian Flair

Within

Time strips life from us
Our true beauty still remains
If we search within

©Jo A. T. B.

We still have a lot of snow here on the countrysides of PA. We ran out of wood last weekend! It's melting slowly, and has finally stopped snowing! My Valentine tulips however are fading beautifully. They resemble Asian flowers now, taking on a whole different perspective.

I played around and added some backround color. Haven't had much time to dable in my manipulative photo art. Too many things going on at one time! Hope you like my haiku! We're headed for a meltdown the end of the week! Stay warm and Literally In The Moment!

Desperately Seeking Spring ~ Valentine Red Tulip Photos 2010!

Hoping everyone had a good Valentine's Day. My Sweet Valentine of many moons presented me with a beautiful red tulip plant pictured above. He included a nice cat card, and my favorite chocolates ~ dark chocolate M&M's, and Hershey's special dark chocolate kisses. I've been basking in dark chocolate Heaven since, and gazing into my deep red tulips pining for Spring! Dang he still loves me!

Along with many Pennsylvanians I'm more than ready for an early Spring, wishing for mild Winters we're accustomed to here! We're expecting 4-6 inches today and tomorrow on top of the almost 3ft of snow we already have since the blizzard of Feb 6, 2010, and it's snowed everyday since! Snow keeps freezing into ice as temperatures remain in the teens, and roads and sidewalks remain very slick! I'm glad to have my silky Cuddl Duds, and Land's End winter boots. We've put our winter clothing to very good use in this record breaking snow and cold, in fact this is the 2nd snowiest snowfall per month in history!

The snowy weather is taking it's toll on everything and everyone! Our snowplow is broken, moving icey snow in piles of up to 4ft -5ft. Our huge wood pile stock is almost depleted, and we'll be lucky to burn what we have the rest of this week! The artic blast has continued for almost two months, leaving many folks with high heating and electric bills. Snow piled on homes and buildings are on the verge of collapsing, and our schools were closed all last week! Mail and garbage pick up has been delayed, boo hoo!



I think red tulips are as pretty as red roses! I looked high and low in search of the perfect backround for these lovelies, and it finally dawned on me the snow on my front patio! The light contrast of white snow against bright red tulips was so captivating!

On the bright side, Spring is almost on the horizon hopefully only a month away! I'm longing to see my gorgeous tulips growing around my home! When my tulip plant fades, I'll save the bulbs to plant in my flower garden in the Fall. Aren't these red beauties just stunning? I'll be admiring them for awhile!

My camera is up and running for the moment thank goodness! Thanks for visiting, keep safe, and stay ~ Literally In The Moment! xo xo xo ~

Done In!

Woke up this morning to a killer frost, my beautiful flowers are now shades of black! The photo above was the last photo of my hot pink zinnias with frost! We've been cold for days, but last night was in the upper 20's. I could've covered some of them, but I decided it was time to let go. The nights have been cold off and on for over a week! I wish I could capture their beauty and keep them alive forever!

Yellow Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Pollinates My Zinnias Awesome Photos!

As the hint of Fall arrives here in Pennyslvania, a beautiful tiger swallowtail pollinates on my Zahara scarlet zinnias. My zinnias have finally grown fuller, a whole 28-30 inches wide. Took all summer for them to reach maturity, due to all the crazy PA weather! Seems I see monarchs in my area usually in the Spring and Fall! This fellow was the first yellow monarch I've ever seen!


I shot several photos of the yellow swallowtail fluttering against flowers, and the wind blowing his delicate wings. His stunning colors were beautiful against my bright scarlet zinnias. I was surprised the closeness he let me come within! My header displays the yellow monarch on my Double cherry zinnias. I thought very fitting for Fall! Isn't he just awesomely equisite!

Fall has descended quickly here in PA, especially the past few evenings. Lows have been in the high 40's. I do fear swimming weather is over in our region. We'll still experience Indian Summer, but the night air cools the pools temperatures even with a solar cover on! Sadly it'll be time to close our pool! School has started, back to an earlier schedule!

I've been busy freezing vegetables from our garden. We've had an abundance of green beans this season. Our corn did well, and I'm still picking salvaged tomatoes saved from the blight. Our cherry tomatoes did well, I love them in salads, and they're good in soups too!

Looking forward to Labor day weekend, we may catch a rock concert in Pittsburgh! We haven't been to a concert in awhile, love outside rock concerts!

Enjoy the beautiful Fall sights,stay tuned for more exordinary photos to come! :)

Hot Pink Stargazer Lillies And Gazania Photos!

My stargazer lilies have finally bloomed! They're an eye catching pink, with green star centers! We've had a record low July so far here in Pennsylvania! My flowers are finally perking up! We had a 4 inch deficit of rain, and now catching up with all the rain we've had. We are expecting rain everyday for the next week !



I picked up a six pack of Gazanias for only $1.50 at a nursery near my home! They remind me a lot of daisies! Gazanias do well in dry conditions! Plus they caught my eye, because they were in dire need of planting! I loved the color of the one above!

Mid summer is a good time to buy annuals, and perennials at a bargain price. I needed some flowers to fill in an empty area! I planted a total of 66 flowers this year!




Last week my pool turned green! I mentioned the cooler than nomal July we're having! The nights have gone down in the 50's, and days only in the 70's. Great for those who like Spring and Fall like weather, but I like it hot for swimming! The lack of people in the pool, and stagnant water has left our pool to collect algae! The chlorine has also dissipated really fast. We've since cleared it up! It's very expensive to keep up a swimming pool, all the pool chemicals have skyrocked in price!

I've had my Ester Williams pool for 15 years now, and I love it! My husband and I like to do laps back and forth, the main reason we chose an oval pool! We have a deep end where you can jump in and get wet, 6ft! Today is really humid, but the water is cool from the cold nights!

I've been keeping busy painting my house since the past weather has been ideal for painting! We've only one big wall left to do! How is your summer going so far!

My Mother's Day Flower Planting Ritual!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there! Every year my husband and daughter buy me planting flowers for Mother’s day! I prefer live planting flowers as opposed to cut flowers, because I can enjoy the lovely flower plants long into the Fall months. Ever since I became a mother years ago, I’ve received and planted flowers on Mother’s Day! My mom used to come and plant with me! Do you have a special tradition that you do on Mother's Day?



We always make the trip toward the mountain to Laurel Nursery, where I’ve been a loyal customer for many years. The flowers are always hardy, and I can always count on them to grow well when planted. Mostly I need flowers which do well in the direct full sun, because my flower garden surrounds my house. We receive full sunlight most of the day around my home!

I usually start out with two flats of annuals and perennials. Flat number 1 above is a fine collection of Reddy Salvia, Mix Portulaca, Double Cherry Zinnia, Zahara Scarlet Zinnia, Red & Deep Purple Petunias, and the ever beautiful Yellow Dahlia.



Flat number 2 is a brilliant collection of Blue Ageratum, Double Madness Mix Petunias, 3 packs of Montego Mix Snapdragons, Red Petunias, Big Boy Tomatoes, and Eggplants!

Lastly I picked a pack of Majestic Giants II Sherry Pansies. I’ve noticed a lot of the new packs have gone from six to four flower plants per pack! We went last weekend to pick these out, because there are slim pickens on Mother’s Day weekend. So I’ve had my baby flower plants for a week already, and can’t wait to get my hands in the earth to plant my gems. We’ve had rain almost everyday this week, so the ground is too saturated. Seems we may have a break after Mother’s Day!

I’m missing my mom so very much, and I think of her every Mother’s Day. She was a major part of my life, and I’ll never stop loving her! If you’re still fortunate to have your mother, cherish her and spend all the time you can making memories. You’ll never get back that time, when your loved one passes on! My Mother’s day weekend is very full, spending quality time with all those I love! Have a good one, and party down!

Siberian Crabapple Blossoms ~ Tree Sapling For Unique Mother's Day Gift!

My Siberian crabapple tree has bloomed. The Siberian crabapple tree is so gorgeous with sweet fragrant white flowers, adding a special beauty to our yard!


The lovely buds are hot pink, and bloom fully to a beautiful white five petal flower with yellow pollen centers. The photo above reminds me of a Hawaiian Lei.

The white flowers add a special contrast to any backround, as seen above with the blue sky backround.

Our crabapple tree was a gift, and planted when we were first married 19 years ago. The tree planted as part of a tree conservation campaign taking place in Pennsylvania. If you’re looking for a gorgeous low maintenance tree, the crabapple will bring you many years of stunning Spring blooms.

We've lost many forest and city trees in our Pennsylvania region over the years. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources join in efforts to restore millions of lost tree coverage in our Pennsylvania region. Tree Vitalize endorsed by Governor Ed Rendell in 2004, is planning to plant 1 million trees in the next 5 years, which by the way will not replace all the lost trees to our area! Present count of Tree Vitalize planted trees 93, 885!

We’ve lost millions of trees due to modernization and mother nature, and wild fires, all across the USA. Plant A Tree USA is another dedicated organization reforesting lands throughout the USA. You can even donate land from your estate to be reforested!

Trees look beautiful in many areas, trees help keep our air clean, shade buildings and pavement, and controls storm waters on our grounds. Arbor Day has already passed in the U.S., but now is still an excellent time to plant a tree in your yard, along sidewalks, or on large property areas.

AmericanForest.org is another interesting site offering a huge amount of tree replanting information, including buying a tree for a Mother’s Day gift. What a unique idea, donate to plant a tree in your mother’s honor, which benefit different tree projects of your choice. Check it out! Or simply go to your local nursery, and pick out a couple tree saplings for your mom as a Mother’s Day gift.

Keep our planet beautiful, plant a tree today. Check your area for planting schedules, we just may help fill the deficit while beautifying our horizons for a future greener earth! A valuable gift to cherish which keeps on giving for many generations to come!

A Sunflower Smile!

I declare the magnificent sunflower Summer's official flower. These huge flower cluster beauties are growing abundantly in our vegetable garden. The bees were happily pollinating among the large heads, not disturbed by my presence at all. The stunning, vibrant yellow pedals make them a favorite for arrangements and flowerbeds alike.

Sunflower seeds make an excellent snack for humans, and also used as bird food. Sunflowers are made into peanut butter, or sunbutter. Sunflower oil is used for cooking, made into magarine, and used to make biodiesel. Some sunflowers are even higher in monounsaturated (healthy) fats than the ever popular olive oil.



I counted 18 flowers growing from one sunflower plant in our garden above.

I can't help but smile when I look upon the cheery petals of a sunflower. Artist Vicent van Gogh made the sunflower popular in his many sunflower paintings. I see sunflowers sold in several stores, and we have them growing here free every year. The seeds fall off naturally and are tilled for the next summer season. Amusing to watch the birds eat from the seed clusters, pecking in all kinds of positions. This year I plan to dry the seeds to make for snacks, and save a batch for bird food in the winter.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Excursion 2008

Father’s day we took a scenic 1 1/2 hour bike ride up through the Laurel Highlands. I love the uninhibited and exhilarating feeling riding on a motorcycle, and low on gas too! We walk the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail at least 2 times a year. The changing of the seasons is remarkably beautiful along the trail. The stone trail is rough in spots as rocks of all sizes are scattered everywhere.



Humbled by the gigantic trees towering over head, with the sun beaming through. Reminds you of an enchanted forest in a storybook. Looks as if you are viewing a piece of Heaven on earth!


Midway through the muddy trail, a spot was littered with flower petals, and I found a couple of the most gorgeous flowers. Almost resembling a wild water lily. I placed the flower in a pond, and took this photo.



Lush green ferns grow in abundance all along the trail. Even more stunning with the sunlight beaming down upon them!


The mountain laurel which is Pennsylvania's state flower is also abundant in the woods of the Laurel mountain hiking trail. The woods are remote and serene, you hear the birds and nothing else. I’ve always felt a bit intimidated because this is bear country. Many hunters hunt here in the fall for bear, deer, ect..., but we’ve never seen any animals when we were there. You can walk the whole 70 mile trail, it took my brother -in-law two days to complete the trail. There are huts along the way to sleep and rest in. A wonderful place to go if you like hiking, and enjoy remote nature sites.

On the way down the mountain we stopped at a friendly biker bar called Walets. They are known for their ham sandwiches which are a good pound or more of thick sliced baked ham on a huge bun. I never saw so much meat on a sandwich for five bucks. All their sandwiches are humongous, and the place packs in big crowds of bikers and customers on a regular basis.

Ruthies Diner is also another good restaurant in the Ligonier area for good eats. Great homemade soups, sandwiches, dinners, and desserts.

We made one more stop on our way down Laurel Mountain, which I am going to include in part two of our Laurel Highland Excursions!

Dandelions ~ A Bad Wrap!

A lot of us welcome Spring with open arms, but for the most part folks are very
unappreciative of the yellow dandelion sprouting throughout their yards. Hundreds of dandelions can make a perfect yard enthusiast pull out their hair literally by the roots. Yet the dandelion is a perfect yellow spring flower, adding tiny bits of the sun to green landscapes. I remember as a child along with my little friends, picking these yellow dollops and rubbing the yellow flower pollen to our wrists to see if we liked butter. Of course we all liked butter! Also when my sisters and I would build our little tent houses, we would always have a huge stash of dandelion flower food in our pretend pantry.

Talk about food, dandelions are a great source of vitamin A, C, Iron, and calcium. The greens can be boiled or saute, and dressed with garlic, beacon, vinegar or butter. White sap from stem and roots have been used to treat warts. Flowers are made into dandelion wine, or jam. Dandelions are an important part of the ecosystem by attracting ladybugs, which in turn eat pest aphids. When dandelion plants die off, their long roots naturally fertilize the soil.

So maybe before we spend hundreds of dollars to eliminate dandelions, we might want to take a closer look at all the wonderful benefits this yellow faceted flower has to offer!

©Jo A. True-Burkholder 2008

Resources:

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides NCAP: http://www.pesticide.org/dandelions.html

Dandelion ~ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion