Random Stuff

Four Nerve Daisy

Just a random day- no real theme.  I was out today taking photos of various things.  I spent a lot of time trying to capture this one butterfly that I knew before I started that it was not going to show up well but went for it anyway.  I was right.  

 Here he is flying away- you can almost "get" how pretty he is.

The problem is you can hardly see him in the photos.  He is bright yellow and so pretty but when his wings are together appears almost white/ cream. (i.e. hard to photo in the sun....).  He was so funny- he would fly around but come full circle every time back to the Pride of Barbados.  I finally realized this and just sat and waited for him to come back after making his sporadic rounds.

I had tons of shots of the bees though none really turned out that great other than these.  There are three types of bees that are constantly in the salvia- the yellow and black big one,(above) the all black one (below) and then the little bee.  They all seem to get along just fine. 

The front planter I think is coming along just fine- I pulled out the variegated society garlic I had at the back, I didn't like how it looked after all.  The hearts and flowers are growing like mad and have overtaken a lot of the space but I still like the way it looks and how it spills down the column so I am leaving it.  

I trim it back here and there but it is just so lush and green I like leaving it in a mass. 

The Dwarf Plumbago is such a pretty blue but so hard to capture.  I am still toying with the manual mode on my camera - not proud of any of those shots yet but this was the best shot I could get of them.  I really like the brilliant blue, I just wish it showed up better.

Ok, I realize there are other plants out there...

Ok, I realize there are other plants out there other than these Cereus that I have posted a few times but I just saw THIS.  A fruit!  Who knew.  See, still learning so much.  I thought it was a going to be a purple flower and got all excited and went to show Michael who informed me it is a fruit.  Who knew.  Pretty cool though.  

I went out to the nursery for a bit just to visit, I have missed it so much.  Everything looks so happy and is in bloom.  The Pride of Barbados that I planted have just exploded along the fence line.  I can't believe it!  I planted these just at a month ago and when I did they were really not that much to look at - look at them now!   I snapped a few photos of some things but will take more when I am more up to it.  I can say however, that you can totally tell it rained, if only a little.  The plants have really responded.  It is crazy (in a good way) how much they really seem to transform with a little bit of rain.  

I am worried my little succulent pot that I planted is getting too big for it's britches.  I guess I will have to put it in a bigger pot.  I really like this style of pot though.  I got it from the guy next door that sells pots.  I am not so much into this style of pottery but I did like this one as it was plain and straight lines and thought it looked good with the succulents.  

This is a close up of the Desert Rose bloom which I think is so pretty.  This is a new one for me and I really like it.

  I am undecided on the mix here.  I think it just needs a little more time.  The Tecoma have exploded as they tend to do, the Furcrea still looks really good and the Ice Plant is growing like mad. I guess it is just not done doing what it is supposed to do.  The Pink and White Salvia (at the back) was cut back, I think when that fills back out (and it is on it's way) I will like it more.  I am happy with each plant individually, the Hamelia looks good, the Queen Victoria, I just don't know... I guess it just needs a little more time to fill out.  Like I said, when I look at them individually I am happy, it is just as a whole I guess it isn't my favorite, at least right now.   I am going to give it a little more time then I might mix it up.

Loving the Clouds!!

Who knew that a few clouds could make such a difference.  It was so much cooler this morning and I finally was able to get out there and take a few photos.  

The Caesalpinia yellow Pride of Barbados is blooming and they are so pretty.  The regular ones are blooming as well but I only photographed this one as I thought it was so different.

The bark on the Arbutus Madrone 'Marina' is so captivating.  I love how it is red and it peels.  I think it is such a neat tree, someone came in the other day and said they had grown up calling it a Strawberry Tree, as the fruit it sets resembles a strawberry.  (but does not taste like one.... I tried it....).

I have finally been able to capture the fish.  They seem really happy as of late and the lily pads have a really pretty bloom that has opened up. 

 These two little ones (Huey and Duey) love to come up and say hi.  I know they think every time they see me they are going to get fed.  Such is not the case.  Luey did not make it as I reported earlier in a post but these two guys seem happy as can be.

 Cleo has finally warmed up and comes up to the top now.  I will admit I had to throw a little food in there to get her to come up, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 Here is a shot of Cleo and Alex.  Alex is still realllllllly shy and comes up for a SPLIT second and whoosh is gone again.  This was the best shot I could get.  They are so much fun.  If you have not been to The Austin Aqua-Dome, I highly recommend it.  It is a great place for the fish, lily pads, plants for the pond etc.. and they are so helpful.  (and patient I might add....) I had a lot of questions as this was my first little fish pond/tank and they could not have been more helpful.