Garden Walk Week 20. Walking with a new friend is always a pleasant surpise.

I love the colors of this flower.  It makes me think of fall, and 

the fact that I am not ready for fall.  It's  right around the corner though.

One child is already at school, the other starts next week.

I love August mornings they are so cool and crisp.

One of the flowers that I took photos from different angles.

Black Eyed Susan's were a hit this year at the gardens.

I met up with a person that I met last year today.

We walked the gardens together and I really thought because of this

that I would have less photos to share.  But 

I still managed to take quiet a few photos.  

It was nice to catch up and chat about life.

The Humming birds love this flower.

This spot in the garden is filled with little flowers that the humming birds love.

I like the focus of the purple flower with all the yellow flowers

in the background.

I think this is a pinwheel zinnia.

I like the big white flower surrounded by the purple flowers.

Zinnia's last a long time.

Look at all the texture of this thistle plant.

I'm not sure what this flower is but it just looks cool.

It seems like the lilies have been blooming all summer.

We had such a weird summer.  It was much cooler and there was rain 

almost every week.  It was nice.  The gardens did well with this.

My friend and I found a lot of the dinosaurs that are hidden in the 

garden.  I have to say I haven't really been trying to find them this year.

I think it's the constantly looking up that is a bit too much for me.

This plants flowers smell like buttered popcorn.

Last week I posted a photo of a humming bird that just kept flying around me.

Little did I know that I had been standing near it's nest.  Can you see the baby humming bird beak sticking up.

I am getting ready to start putting together some photography books.

I think one of them is going to be filled with quotes about gratitude. 

If there is one thing I am getting right in this world it's being thankful. 

" Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."  Henry Ward Beecher.

Have a wonderful week.  I can't wait to get to the gardens this week.  

not sure when I will get there, but I will get there.  

G.G.

Garden Walk Week 19. Flowers Make Me Happy

I joined instagram a few months back. 

You post a photo and then do this hash tag thing.

One of the ones I see often is # flowersmakemehappy.

It's good for you to be out in nature, to 

stop and look at the flowers. It helps you

to remain mentally healthy.

It's August and that makes me think about my college years.

I wonder how my parents felt as I packed up and left every year.

As a young adult I never thought how they felt as their children

grew more independent and left for college.

My daughter is all packed up and ready to leave

for her second year of college.  She is excited and

nervous and I think that is causing me to be a bit out of sorts.

Our son will be commuting this year and then 

he hopes next year to move out and live on campus too.

This spot is the humming birds favorite spot, I counted

five birds while walking by. 

Did you know a group of humming birds is called a "Charm"?

As much as I have loved summer, I'm a bit worn out.

I am hoping fall brings a less crazy pace to it.

With my children in school there will be 

less running around.  

This is a beautiful Lilly.

I hope to get back to working on family history.

I've taken a long break and feel its time to

get back to searching for my ancestors. 

I also look forward to looking 

through all my photos and making some photography books.

I've collected more new flowers. It will be fun to look 

them up and learn about them.

This was my focus flower.  Just taking

photos from all different angels.

Here is a quote for the week :  Those who contemplate

the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

-Rachel Carson.

I think I need some of the strength this life has a way of beating people up.

How has your week been?

Do you have a favorite garden you like to walk?

I like instagram because I can see gardens from around the world. 

Just little snapshots into peoples lives.  What about you?

G.G.