Whoa…is it really August already? Egad, this year seems to be flying by after last year’s slow roll. Hard to believe there are only 47 days until the official arrival of autumn. And rumor has it that the pumpkin spice season is set to arrive in the near future, maybe even as soon as three weeks. With temperatures back up in the 90’s, I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of social phenomena where things begin quickly evolving to the later seasons of the year when pumpkin spice everything shows up now and Christmas decorations not all that far behind. Last year I think Costco had decorated trees up before September 15. Ugh.
As usual, we’re joining those adorable fur-kids, Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard. And don’t forget to check out what others have shared by clicking on the highlighted link. Today Norman is going to share this week’s nature finds.
Norman: Thanks, mum! Yes indeed mates, flowering shrubs are taking center stage in the Mile High. On one morning walk this week, we passed by a border of beautiful hydrangeas. I wanted to stop and read the canine bulletin board, but mum quickly ushered me along, well out of ‘reading’ range. I can’t believe she won’t let me leave my two paws worth of life observations at those bushes. Trust me, it’s not for lack of trying either to leave messages for other neighborhood chaps (she gets a real upper body workout when I put on the brakes). I mean, how can a well informed doggo stay in the know when they can’t read/leave messages? Mums can be so rude sometimes! It’s not like I’m some kind of paw dragging barbarian. Sheesh.
If bees can leave messages, why can’t I?
Another showy bush around our manor is the beautiful Rose of Sharon or common hibiscus. It can grow to a height of 9- to 12-feet (2.5 to 3.5 m.), is native to eastern Asia but well adapted to growing in most USDA plant hardiness zones. It often reaches a spread of 10 feet (3 m.) and makes for a lovely privacy border. It’s easy to grow and attracts birds, butterflies and other pollinators. Rose of Sharon bush prefers moist, well-draining soil, although it will tolerate most conditions except those that are soggy or extremely dry. They come in a variety of shades including white, pink, purple and red. This particular beauty lives at the Sloan’s Lake park. The lake area recently closed due to blue algae being found at the lake. Mum won’t let us anywhere near the water but this beauty is near the playground and restroom area. It’s not nearly as fun staying on the path around the lake as when we can roam close enough to the marshy reeds where we can check out all the cool critter scents.
There are still flowers blooming around our neighborhood and mum was raving about these Zinnias being so pretty. She spent a few days earlier this week deadheading and removing most of the lupine in the garden saying she wanted to plant some zinnias in their place next year. They’ll provide color all season long which is lacking in our garden right now.
We hope you’ve been enjoying some of Nature’s gifts and are able to get out over the weekend to spend some time checking it out. It can be good to leave a message for us neighborhood pooches when your mum says it’s ok. After all, we enjoy gossip just like you uprights do. Have a pawsome weekend doing whatever you do. Okay?
Live, love, bark! 🐾
What?!? Your Mom grounded you from the canine version of Facebook?!?! How rude! ~Lily
I know, right?? What’s up with that? P.S. Nice to meet you Lily. I’d offer to play with you; I’m mostly gentle but don’t seem to know how big I am. At least that’s what the rude mum says.
Your friend,
Norman 🐾
Lulu: “The Pumpkin Spice must flow!”
Charlee: “What?”
Lulu: “I don’t know. Dada told me to say it.”
It can flow, just not in summer! 😉
Your flowers are wonderful!
Why thank you!
“If bees can leave messages, why can’t I?” sounds like a song, just can’t think of which one. Our zinnia’s died almost as soon as I planted them in the old grill. *sigh* Have a good weekend, and don’t fret about how soon Christmas will come…it’s inevitable.
Norman you have a most inviting nose – I’d like to “beep” it but I doubt you would like that. Anyway, you sure do have a lot of BEAUTIFUL flowers to enjoy……we don’t see many this time of year really because most things have dried up OR are just plain exhausted from the heat and humidity…..our lantana in the front of our porch is trying hard and Mom is cheered up by our beautiful BIG fern on the front porch even though it’s not colorful………..oh well……..as you say Autumn is almost here. Autumn leaves are beautiful so we’ll have to be happy with that!
Hugs, Teddy
Norman does have a most ‘boopable’ nose, doesn’t he? While certainly not in my garden, it’s nice when things bloom continually over the entire season. Still, autumn is our most favorite season. Costco did big business yesterday with folks purchasing their autumn mums so it’ll be here soon.
We have a huge rose of Sharon growing in the courtyard where I work.It is loaded with blooms and so gorgeous!! Lucky the peeps whose rooms have their windows facing out to the courtyard!
That is one pretty hydrangea, too.
And Norman, you are looking so cheerful!
I love encountering those large Rose of Sharon bushes. They are so showy and really brighten up the late summer garden with colorful blooms.
Ferst thingss ferst: ***kissess*** Sweet Norman rite on his black button nose! Mee lovely poochie yore so clevurr an smart an have fine taste inn flowerss.
Miss Monika so many purrty flowerss……ourss are outta control…butt happy enuff 😉
Wishin efurryone at THE Mile High a safe an sunny an happy weekend!
***purrss*** BellaDharma an <3 LadyMew
Thanks sweet kitty for the kind words and kisses. We 💙 you!
Mee an LadyMew lovess all of youss’ two!!!
An mee speshelly <3 LOVESS <3 Sweet Norman 😉
Leave it to Norman to take us on a great tour, and this one rocked. Those colors are so vivid, you really would believe a paint brush was responsible. And as far as pumpkin spice anything, I’m probably go to take a pass.
Have a great weekend guys
Thanks, Marc. Yeah, we’re not a fan of the uber sweet PSL phenom. Blech. Norman manages to find some of the prettiest blooms in the neighborhood. And a good weekend to you, sir.
Haha! Well he is not only a handsome devil, but he also knows his way around.
He’s becoming a decent enough Master Gardener with a good eye. Now if only he could pick the plethora of weeds that sprout after a 16 drop ‘rain shower’ which only seems to fertilize the weeds.
Even the greatest among us have stuff they must work on. He’ll get there.
😊 He’s a good boy, with or without a spade or trowel.
Haha!
That Rose of Sharon bush is the only red one I’ve ever seen. It practically took my breath away when I came upon it. And the blooms are enormous!
It is a real beauty.
Excellent tour, Norman – many thanks. There is not much in the way of colour in my garden. Flowers and flowering plants are difficult to maintain when the temperature hits 36c and above. When we used to have six meetings a year and I was away more often, such plants and flowers that I had got badly burned in the nigh heat and never recovered – mainly through lack of water. Annabell was not able to go out and do the necessary watering. Still I have a little bit of colour – green is a colour. What with the high costs of water here, many people are reducing the amount of of grass and plants that they have and replacing grass with coloured gravel or stones Sorry Norman this post seems to have vanished so I am posting it again. I really hope it does not become two replies like it did once before.
Your comment appears nicely, for which we are grateful. Yes, I completely empathize with not wanting to spend a fortune on watering turf and water thirsty plants. We plant things that can survive my stinginess with water and typically that means native plants or those that can adapt to our arid climate. Have a terrific weekend and give Benji a nice ear rub from us.
Pups always want to go to the water, don’t they? I remember a woman attempting to pull a very stubborn long-haired Chihuahua along the Ralson Creek Trail. “He wants to go to the pond” she said as he stood there stamping his little feet.
I think the wetter areas accentuate some interesting smells. I doubt Norman would wade in any amount of water, but his nose would likely take him where all the really good scents are. Sometimes I wish my eyes did like wading in water or even swimming, but alas…they don’t. Even Angel Sam used to walk around sidewalk puddles-his dislike for wet feet was so pronounced. 🤣
Yes, it must be the smells and maybe seeing the ducks and other critters….especially if they don’t like getting their feet wet!
Wanna see our flowering weeds?
Weeds are just perennials we didn’t buy.
First pumpkin spice reference noted.
Hey, not my favorite, just acknowledging a strange phenomena that has gotten totally out of hand. Personally it’s way too much for my sensitivities.
Very cute photo of Norman!
He’s got one of the most ‘boopable’ looking noses I’ve seen in a long time. 🙂
What a wonderful array of beauty this week Norman!! I especially enjoyed the zinnias…and Mama just loved the hydrangeas. I can’t believe your Mama’s rudeness in rushing you!
Have a pawsome weekend and thanks for joining Nature Friday!
xoxo,
Rosy and the Gang
Yeah, me mum is pretty rude about letting me sign “Norman was here” messages on flowers. What’s up with that? Hope you guys have a swell weekend!
Have a great weekend!
Many thanks, to you as well!
What a lovely tour, Norman. Your mum isn’t trying to be mean but you know you guys are worse than a bunch of school girls with your gossiping at every single potential place… 😉
Who’d have thought boys were so interested in gossip? 😂
They are worse than girls, we all know that!! 🤣
Hee, hee.
😉😉
That was a lovely tour, Norman, thank you! We are happy to say it actually (finally) feels like August here today! We don’t want to think about fall or pumpkin spice yet. And you will not see Christmas things in my shop until after Halloween!!
Ahhh, yes. Halloween. Costco had jack-o-lantern decorations yesterday. Whaaattt?!
Beautiful flowers! Yes, you should be able to leave doggie messages for your friends.
That’s what I think, too. Mum is downright unbudgeable on any messaging on flowers I try to leave. 😕
Boogers!
Would that make it a cottage industry?
You go, Norman!
Hahahaha!
Beautiful flowers!
Have a great weekend, too.
Many thanks! Enjoy your weekend and stay cool.
Beautiful flowers and a handsome Norman. It couldn’t get any better.
Have a woof woof day and weekend, Norman. My best to your sibling and your wonderful mom. ♥
Thanks, Sandee. We hope your weekend is better than pawsome!
I absolutely love hydrangeas and of course, Norman’s nose!
They both make quite the statement, don’t they? 🤣
thanks Norman you are quite the botanist
He’s learning the how to’s of an English cottage garden. 😆