A Simple Bouquet

In the late afternoon, before the sun set, I took a walk by myself around the farm. The weather was hot and balmy, but I enjoyed the solitude. As I walked I clipped bits of this and that to make an arrangement. Cyprus, night musk, and leaves from a loquat tree. I don't know what the salmon-coloured flower is. The blooms droop as though they are sleepy.

 

The finished bouquet. Not especially pretty... but it's what was on my walk today. Tonight the heady scent of night musk will permeate all the corners of my house. 

Day or night... hard at work

I took a walk tonight with my camera to see if I could shoot some interesting pictures of some of the cacti in my garden at night. This particular plant was interesting because it had ants hard at work gathering something.. .. I couldn't figure out what from the bases of the spines. There are small round yellowish looking spheres. The plant has already flowered and the flowers have dropped off, so it couldn't have been pollen. The spheres almost look like eggs - but ants don't lay their eggs in cacti. Maybe something else does. It was fascinating to watch what ever it was. 

I'm always so surprised when someone tells me they are bored. Open your eyes - there are interesting things going on all around us!

Weeds

I took a walk and waded through the weeds.

Sunflower at night

A few weeks before my father-in-law passed away we sat down and had a nice chat. He told me that one of the things he wanted to do in his life was to plant an entire hectare of sunflowers - just for fun. He said sunflowers were his favourite flowers and that they made him feel so happy.

Last summer when I was in America, I bought a packet of sunflower seeds and this spring I planted them next to our gate. This is the first flower to open. I hope to save the seeds so I can plant more. Who knows, maybe I'll fulfill my father-in-laws dream one day and plant an entire hectare. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Thistle

Not many wildflowers this year due to the lack of rain. Seems to be mostly thistles.

The Nest

While I was out walking this morning I came across a tree in blossom with an abandoned nest resting in the branches. I wonder if the birds who lived in it before will return here again. I'll have to wait and see. The recent rains are bringing out the green grasses and wildflowers. The cool air feels fresh and crisp - perfect weather for taking walks.

Dreaming of Spring

Just one lone blossom on this tree. I think it's dreaming of spring.

One

Our scarecrow... waiting to be put to work.