Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Ranch hands Elsa and Norman are here to share some of the urban nature we encountered this week. First though, we begin with our usual “broken record” lament: it’s been hot, hot, hot. Again/still. The good news for anyone else totally over it only forty-five days until the official arrival of autumn. You can bet we’re keeping our eye on the calendar. But enough of our whining, let’s join our weekly hosts, Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard. Don’t forget to click on their link, to see what they and others around Blogville shared. So let’s get started, alrighty?
In addition to several bunny sightings, we’ve been seeing one especially pretty plant on our morning walks; Evening Primrose (Oenothera fruticosa). This one looks beautiful mixed in with some orange penstemon. As the day warms up, the blooms close so it’s best to check them out in the early mornings when the sun isn’t too intense. There must be something extra fascinating about this one because that barmy brother of mine sure likes to check it out. Mom won’t let him sniff too closely or for too long since there’s a rule of no peeing on flowers while on our walks.
Another favorite mom likes to walk past is this Angelonia angustifolia. Often called Narrowleaf Angelon or Summer Snapdragon, it’s a colorful plant she can see as soon as we turn down this street. Native to Mexico and the West Indies, it comes in colors of deep mauve to violet, white, blue, light pink or bicolored. It’s typically known as a perennial in Zones 9-11. Since the Ranch is in Zone 5, it must be similar to its cousin, the common snapdragon since it reseeds itself every year. It’s quite drought tolerant, a good thing for our area which hasn’t seen rain in oh, let’s see…forever. Mom thinks we’ll may see snow before we see any rain.
You may recall when Norman showed off the volunteer tomato plant in our garden a few weeks back (click here for that story). Mom noticed a red spot this morning and took a quick pic (she was trying to avoid getting sprayed by the sprinkler). It’s pretty exciting to see lots of little flowers and tiny tomatoes all over it but to see the first one turning red just blows mom’s mind. Hate to break it to her that it’s going to be the world’s tiniest salad since these are cherry tomatoes but she’s still pretty excited.
Every day we walk past a cute little cottage garden and notice this piece of garden art out front. Doesn’t it seem rather appropo with the way things are trending these days? Comedy and drama.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend and are able to experience some of the beauty nature provides. We’re enjoying the return of our favorite sport. While it’s weird to be watching hockey in August, we couldn’t be more thrilled with its arrival. The league and its players have been über diligent playing in their bubble with no positive cases of coronavirus (with much thanks to our Canadian hosts for providing two safe venues in Toronto and Edmonton). Let’s hope mom hasn’t jinxed her team now.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I enjoyed meeting the two of you and you truly are beautiful. You are giving those flowers a run for their money and this is one of the prettiest nature varieties I have seen in a long time I skipped over post for today that is the picture of Mexico which is gorgeous and it looks just like it looks here in Florida because I wanted to come down and look at your beautiful faces
Aww, thank you for those kind words. We may not be able to travel in person but there’s no rule that says we can’t relive great past trips.
All we can say is, “Go Blues!”
🏒🥅🏒
Look at those beauties!!! The flowers too.
Aww, you’re too kind!
What a great mascot Norm makes! 🙂
Lovely flowers!
Stay cool!!
Thanks! We’re trying, just wish Mother Nature would be a bit more cooperative. Yesterday was 98. Good news…43 days until autumn arrives. 😉
Your blooms are making me feela wee bit cooler…they always look great! In any weather…we had Evening Primrose at my parents, they were so pretty. They do not like to grow here…
It’s always lovely to see evening primrose blooming in the coolness of the early part of the day. I may have to plant some next year but right now, I am over gardening!
Pretty flowers and cool masks
Thanks!
I would hate to have all that hair in the heat. Thanks for showing the pretty flowers. We love the comedy and drama masks.
Those masks are pretty striking for garden art. I like to think the pups prefer short haircuts in the summer but we still take our walks during the coolest part of the day. 😊
A different kind of mask…for a place that’s not allowed to be open in most areas. Looks like you have a new “mate” to help cheer on your favorite team.
A new netminder. He’s been pretty good for the most part. 🥅
I think of all of you every time I walk by our own volunteer tomato plant that’s growing out of our front steps! It’s just blossoming now, but I’m sure the chickens will get any tomatoes before we do (luckily we have plenty in the garden). 🙂
It’s exciting isn’t it. And to think I nearly plucked it out!
Norman, if you’re going to be a goalie, it’s OK to wear a mask.
I picked 7-8 ripe tomatoes and tiny bell pepper this last week a few miles north of you. I’m happy to see the produce coming!
It’s so exciting for me to have a bit of success. It helps when you think your little tomato or pepper only cost $350 this season after you add it all up. 😆
I try not to think of the water costs. Mine are also Early Girls and they live up to their name. Our growing season is so short, it isn’t worth it to get plants with a longer maturation time. My tomatillos are beginning to strut their stuff, too, with lots of babies. I hope to get some before first frost. Usually, they are still going strong when they are cut down by the first freeze.
My first tomato plant croaked shortly after planting and took me a while to find a replacement. It was just serendipity that I found the early variety to replace it. I’m such a novice when it comes to veggies, it’s always luck that anything produces. 😊
me too!
Just don’t go near Mexican Primrose. We made the mistake of getting a pot, such a nice pink. 3 years later it was in every flower bed and the lawn. 10 years later of weed pulling and Roundup it was finally gone. That was 3 years ago. This year I ripped out 5 plants. It makes bermuda grass look tame.
No salvia? I am surprised, almost all salvia are drought tolerant, water every 10-14 days in 90-100° days. Comes in every size from 12″ to 6-7′. Comes in just about every color.
Whoa…I’ll stay away from the Mexican Primrose then. Sounds a lot like mint. Awk!
Oh yes, there’s loads of salvia around here and it is quite drought resistant. It’s also a spreader. 🙂
No peein’ on the flowers??! Such nonsense! Ma also tells me I can’t do that! sigh. There is also the ‘Ruby, don’t eats the flowers’ rule, and the ‘don’t eats the plants’ rule….which I don’t follow btw…BOL!!
Looks like you guys have some beautiful blooms around your hood!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
You’re so right, Ruby. All these restrictions. Pfft! What kind of malarkey is that? 🤣
The faces of comedy and drama were interesting and of course, I loved the flowers. Norman and Elsa looked well, as usual. You complained it was hot, hot, hot – well, here in the arid lands it was cold, wet and miserable and to add insult to injury there was snow – yes snow – in the Flinders Ranges National Park and some flurries of snow over at Port Augusta. It really was cold here.. Ah but spring is just around the corner, but I have to say it’s a long corner
Oh man what I wouldn’t give to see some of that wet and miserable. And snow?! That’s music to me ears. Both dogs send many thanks for the kind words.
Yeah, we don’t get to pee on flowers either – might destroy their sweetness:) We love all the flowers you found especially the pretty lavender ones.
The garden decor is interesting – nice masks.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
They’re really neat. Especially when they’re covered in a bit of snow. 😊
Very nice post! I love the metal faces & the no peeing rule! Have a great weekend! 🌞🌺⭐️
Thank you! Yeah mom is a real stickler on that rule. She doesn’t want dogs peeing in her flowers and thinks it’s only fair that turnaround is fair play. Have a great weekend.
Such beeuteefull flowerss there Norman an Elsa! An wee sorry still no rain! Our frendss over at THE Miserable Gardener are allso inn yore State an waitin fore rain! An they even had funder a few nitess ago an it looked like rain butt it nevurr rained?!?!?
An Norman you look so hansum inn burgundy!!
**purrss** BellaDharma
Thanks dear kitty. Yeah it clouds up but then heads south or east of us. 😥
CATFISH! That must bee so annoyin Miss Monika an Elsa an Norman!
You got that right. We’re so over summer and long for crisp autumn days and nights.
Miss Monika wee so ‘over’ Summer or as mee callss it “H*LL-O Kitty” seeson!!! 😉
That’s a good way to describe it!
Mee callss Fall Awww-Autumm….wee LOVE Awww-Autumm!! 😉
I imagine Roy wearing a jersey with “Norman” on it. Turnabout = fair play!
🤣 I’m sure Patrick wouldn’t look at it the same way 🥅🏒
What a pretty bunch of flowers this week…we especially like the primrose!
Have a pawsome weekend!!
We had evening primrose all down the slopes to the river at the house in France..they glowed in the early morning light.
It’s so pretty especially in the early morning hours. That yellow is just plain cheerful!
I love evening primrose. it was a lovely walk about, Norman. Thank you. By the way you look handsome in the hockey jersey.
Thanks, John. Norman is becoming quite the fan and has learn the game well. He’s learning how to box Elsa out in the corners! 🥅🏒😆
😁
You both look awwdorable, and that sweater looks so good on you, Norman😸We’re in a little heatwave too right now. I have to stay inside, but I tried to sneak out this afternoon with 38 degrees, so I sing with you ♪♫♪Feeling hot hot hot♪♫♪ Those flowers a so beautiful, it looks like the Snapdragons are singing too 😀 😸Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to you all🐾😽💞
Ugh, the heat is just awful. Both dogs are more than happy to stay inside where it’s air conditioned. Have a happy weekend!
Elsa and Norman look both so happy in every picture, like smiling.
That’s kind of you to say. Neither of them were very happy to pose for me; there were several shots taken and this one was the best(?) of the lot. Sigh. We need more practice at it I guess and more treats for posing nicely.
I think treats are good for a big smile.
Apparently not enough of them in their eyes! LOL
Try better treats! Lololol!
They’re greedy. These guys operate not only on the better factor, but much more of the better. 😂
I have had some dogs in my life and I know how important eating and treats are.
Egad…I must be turning into a dog because I’m all about eating and treats! 🤣 But seriously, it is great advice when training them-they learn quick what’s expected and that there’s a wonderful reward when they get it.
What wonderful nature shots and then there’s hockey too. It’s a win-win. It’s hot here too, but it’s always hot here in the summer.
Have a wonderful day and weekend. Scritches to the pups. ♥
My favorite time of year is when hockey is on. 😍 Here’s to a great weekend out your way-hope you are able to get out on the water.
You are surrounded by beautiful nature. Love the yellow flower photo.
Thanks, Paulette. Most of the blooming perennials blooming now are yellow but the primrose is super pretty in the early morning hours.
norman you look very buff in that hockey shirt. Elsa, so glad to see you out modeling in nature
Begrudgingly. Norman makes a great netminder. Nothing gets past this boy.
Wonderful walk. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for checking things out with us. We hope you have a ‘wagnificent’ weekend.
It will be hot and sunny and I’ll be working 25-26 hours of it. 😏
However, it means happy golfers so…
Let’s hear it for generous tips!
Hear! Hear!
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Enjoy your weekend!
And a great weekend to you as well! Stay cool.
My husband is very happy that hockey is back too!
So exciting! Norman is becoming quite the fur-fan.
My cats sometimes like to watch them skate around.
Norman has pawfected the art of boarding. O.u.c.h.
LOL!
Beautiful flowers despite the heat!
Thanks. It’s always amazing things survive in our climate.