Cross your fingers and throw some salt over your shoulder — it’s Friday the 13th! We won’t be doing any battles with a machete-wielding maniac in a hockey mask today but instead let’s throw caution to the wind on this most superstitious of days and join our pals Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard on their weekly blog hop by sharing some pawsome photos from Nature’s banquet table.
Despite the Friday the 13th cultural superstition in Western culture of Friday the 13th, no black cats or broken mirrors can dominate this week’s beauty even if believers can’t quite explain why we have this fear. Oddly enough I learned there is actually a term used to describe the irrational dread of today’s date as “paraskevidekatriaphobia” (Say that fast 10 times!) which is a specialized form of “triskaidekaphobia,” the fear of the number 13.
Enough of the superstitious hocus-pocus, let’s see what Mother Nature dished out with us on our daily jaunts this week. While we haven’t had any rain for the past 10+ days, an early morning supplemental watering showed water droplets on a blooming lily. Water drops on blooms or foliage always draws my eye and captivate my attention. That old saying “Water is Life” is more true than ever in our arid climate.
On a recent rare morning where the sky was actually blue rather than smoky grey, we found some Origanum Libanoticum flowers (commonly known as Lebanese oregano or hopflower oregano) near the merry-go-round carousel in the old Elitch Gardens neighborhood. I can’t remember the last time I saw blue skies like this. The smoke continues to foul the air in the Mile High City most of the time and we continue to pray for all those affected by the wildfires in the West.
Don’t you just love those cascading bracts?
Phlox continue to bloom their sweet little heads off and fill the air with something other than a smoke infused scent. I had to stop and get close to smelling these when normally I could smell them nearly half a block away.
We pass by a border flower bed filled with Rudbeckia every morning that just compels me to stop and stare. Such a beautiful shock of color.
Last but not least, my feeble attempt at imitating Georgia O’Keeffe with this gorgeous Rose of Sharon bush that just started blooming. The centers are incredibly vivid while the blooms themselves are a creamy shade of pale pink
Well that’s all for this week. May your Friday the 13th be a safe one but you are able to get outdoors to revel in the beauty Mother Nature shares with us all when we take the time to look. Stay safe, avoid walking under ladders but make sure to enjoy the weekend.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Lulu: “We’re glad you got blue skies for Friday the 13th! That’s one mouthful of a word, though. I bet even our clever Mouse friend couldn’t pronounce it.”
I tried, Lulu…and failed. 😊 It’s a real tongue twister.
SO much beauty in this post!!! Hard to pick a favorite. But those cascading bract are amazing. And we also had our first really blue skies today after weeks of haze from the smoke. Thanks for the lovely flowers.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
You’re most welcome. Thanks for the kind words.
That first picture is FAN.TAS.TIC!
Have a great weekend,
Pit
You’re too kind. Thanks. Wishing you, Mary and the baby deer a Texas sized weekend!
Gorgeous, gorgeous and gorgeous……so love seeing the beautiful flowers – all the flowering things have decided to close up shop here due to the extreme heat and lack of WET. I can water all my porch plants and five minutes later they’ve fainted from heat again. Anyway, we still had a HOT but Happy Friday the 13th. I’ve always thought of it as a LUCKY day instead of a DOOMS day…the power of positive thought maybe!
Hugs, Pam
So glad you had a good Friday the 13th. Positive thinking makes everything better, doesn’t it? Happy weekend.
A beautiful feast for the eyes. Have a nice weekend!
Aww, thanks! You guys have a great weekend as well! 🥰
You sure found lots of beautiful flowers around your home.
We did, but I suspect our neighborhood is much like anyone else’s.
We don’t have much color left around here. Thanks for sharing.
Happy to share with you guys.
Your (art) gallery of Friday captures is proof that Friday the 13th ain’t nothing to worry about.
Aww, that’s too kind of you, Marc. Thank you!
Happy Weekend
That oregano was super…I covet it!
We spent the day on a long run over dirt roads hoping the ‘phone map would not run out of juice as we had no idea where we were most of the time….but the curse of Friday 13th did not strike – though i should be cautious as the day is not yet ended….
Goodness. Sure hope the rest of the day is as lucky. ☘️☘️☘️
Saturday 14th: Yesterday (13th) I spent the day driving 430 klms to Adelaide. Quiet drive However, I did get to Bunnings ( large hardware store) and bought a number of plants. I will plant them when I get home sometime tomorrow. I will be home tonight but too late to do much. Annabell says Benji hears a noise and runs to the door but I don’t appear. I miss him when I am away. Hope the conference does not last too long. As far as I can see from the business papers – not a ,lot to discuss since the lockdown and then the restrictions and social distancing, have closed several places for a while. Us usual your Friday page Brings delight and I have started to get some more pot planted with different flowers.. I would like to have some colour for Spring – 17 days away..
You’re too kind, John. Good luck with your new plants. A spot of color makes everything right as rain. Happy weekend. Please give Benji extra ear rubs from us. It won’t be the same as yours, but I just can’t resist him.
The water on the flowers may not be water. You have dogs who water the flowers
Ha! They are not allowed in the flowers so I’m pretty sure of the source of the moisture.
Mee-yow wow what gorgeeus flowerss Miss Monika an Sweet Norman an Elsa…
What xactlee are BRACT plantss? They have kewl flowerss two.
An Miss Monika yore last foto iss *speck-taculur*!!!
Wee LOVE Furiday THE 13th here……iss all wayss a nice day at THE Purrfect Pad.
Wee sure hope those Wildyfinress can bee put out….stinkin smokey air iss not guud to breethe.
Have a wunderfull weekend!
**purrss** BellaDharma an <3 LadyMew
Thanks sweet kitty. You’re too kind. Bracts are part of a plant’s reproductive system, in this case, those droopy things hanging down. We keep hoping the wildfires get under control; California is literally burning down. It’s so incredibly sad. Have a good weekend!
what an art show!!! Your photos… yes I like the cascading bracts a lot, and love phlox… a lesson for us is even if you’re small if you group together you can achieve greatness! Each tiny blossom adds to the whole effect! The water droplets! astounding
I don’t think we’ve had blue skies all week, and I had to take a benedryl after going out with Milo after lunch for him to do what he does in the yard. smoky again.
I think I heard there’ll be less smoke this weekend. Sure hope so, we can use a break. 🤞🏻
Weekend’s starting…I have to get the phlox out of here.
🤣
So much beauty!! That last picture is a definite WOWser!
We have had smoke in the upper atmosphere giving us a pink glow, but luckily if hasn’t gotten thick on the ground yet thanks to the winds.
Thanks! Most mornings the sun is a red glowing ball. Amazing but kind of terrifying at the same time.
All beautiful, but my favorite is the lily with the raindrops.
I have black cats for Friday the 13th. Black cats are most lucky and so is Friday the 13th.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a smooch to Norman. ♥
We’re big fans of black kitties (and black dogs). They often are the last to be rescued. 😕
Lovely tour, Monika. Thank you.
My great pleasure, John. Thanks for swinging by.
😁
Well that’s a new word for me, but will never be able to pronounce it, its good I don’t have that fear! LOL!
The Rose of Sharon is beautiful!
Have a wonderful week-end!
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, that’s quite the tongue twister isn’t it. You have a great weekend.
This is a wonderful post, Monika. Filled with one beautiful image after another. And, as far as I am concerned, Georgia herself would have let out a WOW on that Rose of Sharon.
Happy Friday to you and the hands!
Blush, blush…thank you dear Dale. You’re far too kind. One thing I’ve learned is taking time to savor the sights on our walks, even when I’m running behind. You just never know what nature will provide you when you slow your roll. Happy Friday, happier weekend.
Blush away. I am in awe of your beautiful shots! It is the best thing to take the time to savour the sights, I could not agree more. Slowing your roll opens things up beautifully 🙂
It definitely does. Especially when you least expect it. 🥰
Those are the absolute bestest ones 🙂
We are getting some hot and humid weather here (finally) and we’re getting a break from all the rain we’d had. Now everyone is hiding indoors because it’s too hot! I’m starting to think New Englanders are wimps. I suppose that’s easy to say from within my air conditioned shop! 🙂
Beautiful flowers!!!
Bwahahaha! It is easier to deal with when one is in a comfortable surrounding. Maybe I was a New Englander in a previous life since I’m no fan of hot and humid. Enjoy the weekend!
So pretty…love ornamental oregano!
It just begs running your hand along and feeling those bracts touch you, doesn’t it?
Yes, I love the idea of them cascading over a raised bed.
It makes that somewhat neglected planter more interesting. When it was initially created, there were so many beautiful plants in it but time has been less kind as the old amusement area has developed into a mixed use development.
Denver real estate!
It’s crazy and waaaay too busy anymore. Guess that old adage of “I remember when…” is quite that statement about changing times that are sometimes hard to digest.