Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we’re joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang for their weekly blog hop. Wilson here and it’s been an interesting week. Mum tricked me by taking me into taking a ride to the dog wash place but they were closed which meant she had to take me back to the house to endure Chinese water torture treatment (aka a bath). Have I mentioned I. don’t. like. baths. At least at the dog wash I’m restrained and elevated which makes it easier for Mum. At home she has to contend with me trying to escape every 3 seconds and she has to bend over…a lot. Naturally I’m going to turn into a bucking bronco. Good thing Mum is wise to a lot of my usual tricks and was only able to escape just once. I did manage to get her completely soaked and it took her longer to mop up the bathroom than to actually bathe me. Heh, heh. This of course was necessary because this is my week spending time visiting patients, staff and visitors at the hospital. Yesterday was quite busy-I saw nearly 50 people before I even went to our assigned floor. Of course I love all the attention and the treats are pretty doggone good too. Mum keeps telling people I can’t have a lot of treats because I tend to lose focus. I just blink at her like I don’t understand what she’s talking about. It seems to work out nicely if I do say so myself. I managed to make a bunch of new friends and we ended up staying twice as long as usual. I became BFF’s with the security guards in the emergency department and they had me pose for photos for them. I did so many photos with nurses and hospital visitors that I may need to hire an agent.
But enough about me, let’s get to the nature we saw this week, eh?
Wilson: Chrysanthemums are exploding with color around our neighborhood and these red beauties caught my eye. Just look at all those blooms!
The Mum: Those mums are beautiful and can see why they caught your eye. This is definitely the time of year where these flowers truly shine in the glorious golden light of September.
Wilson: You’re right, Mum, the light this month makes even flowers passed their expiration date like this oversized sunflower look good. Mum loved it, even if it’s droopy.
The Mum: You are correct there, House Pony. I think if we’d have received any of the forecasted rain instead of only very loud thunder, it might have been more perky. But I did like it and viewed it from all angles.
Wilson: You’re so weird Mum. I mean when I stop, I at least sniff. You just stand there and look at flowers. That’s so lame. I just don’t understand why looking is enough for humans.
The Mum: Are you kidding me? The magical light this time of year is enough to look in awe and appreciate the light as well as the form.
Wilson: Whatever floats your boat, Mum. So what’s the story behind this zinnia? I heard you squealing about it and when you came inside; you looked proud as punch. Looks like they were splashed with paint.
The Mum: Well I planted this new variety of zinnia seed called Confetti. It’s taken all summer long before any of the ‘confetti’ actually showed up. You can see a couple of pink ones in the background. All the flowers were only solid colors but no confetti so I was somewhat disappointed, even though the few flowers that displayed the confetti part were a lot less exciting than the picture on the seed packet. It was underwhelming by comparison but I’m grateful at least a few finally germinated even if it was somewhat subdued.
Wilson: When we were out walking before our hospital shift began yesterday, we noticed this little vertical garden just down the street. Look at this cute little pumpkin…just hanging there…waiting to be picked. It’s the first time since the owner installed that steel arbor that had something like that grow. Going vertical in a limited space seems brilliant.
The Mum: It was a clever use of the narrow ‘hell space’ that rarely gets used effectively. And a plus is there’s no misshapen form from the bottom from laying on the ground. Win-win.
Wilson: Nice, Mum. A couple doors down the street we found this youngish Ginkgo tree. The city has begun including them in the inventory of trees used to replace the troublesome silver maple trees as a different option for city landscapes. Ginkgos are large shade trees that are resistant to wind and snow damage. They have a distinct and unique fan-shaped leaf but are a slow growing tree that requires at least 6 hours of full sunlight and well watered and well drained sites. Native to eastern Asia, they are like living fossils as they’ve been around for 290 million years.
The Mum: I find these trees quite fascinating with those interestingly shaped leaves. This one is slowly starting to turn golden. It seems like the changing colors of leaves is a bit slow this year, at least in the city. Oh sure there are some spots showing up in the tree canopy but nothing really suggesting that autumn will officially arrive next week. It’s been a strange prelude to this magical time of year. In fact, I was surprised to see this Stella de Oro daylily blooming. It’s often called the perfect perennial because of its many wonderful qualities (beautiful flowers, drought tolerance and the ability able to withstand heat stress, and its low care requirements). It maybe a miniature daylily but it packs a big punch in a city landscape.
Wilson: While it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, it is quite toxic for cats so be careful if you plant it in your yard and you have a kitty that likes to stroll through the garden looking for mousies.
The Mum: That’s interesting-I did not know that about its toxicity to cats.
Wilson: Well that’s it for this week, Mum. We hope everyone has a great weekend and are able to get outdoors to experience this fabulous time of year.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Trust me, Wilson…you are wayyyy more popular after surviving a bath than asking others to survive with you not having one. Look at it this way, the sooner you get in there and get all cleaned up the less time it will take. That cute hanging pumpkin is a perfect snapshot of Fall. Love it!🎃
Regrettably, logic is not a dog’s strongest suite. I just have to do the best I can at home or make sure I remember the exact days our favorite dog washing place is closed. Enjoy a super weekend!
Wilson, you are hilarious. The Chinese water torture you speak is no fun whatsoever. I relate, my man. I got in many a sticky situation when I was a pup and mom always took me out back and hosed me down. Never fun.
Chrysanthemum . .mum . . mum . . mum . . mums . . . look marvelous! And that sunflower, they are just so funky and cool. And pumpkins . . pumpkins! We have arrived!
Wilson continues to surprise me when it comes to baths. I don’t recall any of the other dogs having such a visceral reaction to them.
Mums make for such a nice pop of color before everything goes brown or white, so I’m enjoying finding them in bloom around the neighborhood.
Real live pumpkins…yes! That syrupy sweet smell from all the marketing hype-blech!
We had a Viszla growing up and she was sweet AND ornery, Both. And umm . . baths were not something she took to very kindly. I was tasked with them.
They are so cheery.
Hahahaha!
Girl dogs tend to be ornery. Add a breed that’s high energy…well talk about a perfect storm!
It was! Penny was hilarious. She would greet, not bark when someone visited. But . . she would bark and chase when they left!
Sounds like a Vizsla to me! 🤣
She was the best!
We have never seen a hanging pumpkin before. I guess the really big ones wouldn’t work that way but smaller one will. None of us like baths here either. Mom considered having Bailie be a therapy dog but the bath thing, some places don’t allow dogs to eat raw, Mom decided she didn’t have enough interest in it all to abide by the strict rules so we lucked out here! Hope you had a nice weekend!
Baths are the bane of Wilson’s therapy life but he does enjoy the people (and treats). A raw diet is disqualifying? Whoa…have never heard that one. It was a lovely weekend-we love the cooler temps.
Wilson, I’m afraid I have to give a lot of credit to mum for getting you all bright and shiny. I’m not sure you’d be so popular if you didn’t have regular baths. I love that drooping sunflower and all the other photos. My favorite is the one with you peeking our from the towel. I hope you have a great weekend.
Thanks Dan. Wilson is always a big hit at Lutheran but when his white furs are bright and clean, he becomes even more popular. He wears a towel like a true drama queen/king and cracks me up with his expression. I think sunflowers manage to look good throughout their life, fresh or droopy. Such a cheerful flower. Wishing you and yours a ‘wagnificent’ weekend.
Oh Wilson, you look spiffy being all clean! You should thank your sweet mum for making your fur shine 🙂
I would squeal at the zinnia too! My favorite photo but they were all fun to see. Thanks for another fun Friday with pretty pics! Happy Weekend, my friends! ❤️
That’s me…Mr. Spiffy Floof. Mum really was hoping for zinnias as pictured on the seed packet but she’s always glad when they germinate. They bloom all year until the first hard frost so the color, whatever it might be, is always welcome. Have a colorful weekend!
Your fur-iend,
Wilson 🐾
You are a fabulous foof, Wilson!
Thanks! We may try a new German restaurant today, and go to a bookstore, so it should be a great day. Books and food. What more does one need? Oh, yes, dogs! I got my snuggles this morning from Abbi. She sends tail wags your way. 😊❤️
Sounds like a ‘pawfect’ weekend! Enjoy some schnitzel for us.
Will do! Hope your weekend is Paw-some too! 😊
Lulu: “Wilson! You totally look like a Jedi in your hoodie towel. That being the case, have you tried using some mind tricks to get out of taking your bath … ?”
I may have looked like a Jedi but the Force was decidedly NOT with me, otherwise I could have successfully escaped and not gotten wet. But all is well now and everyone at the hospital was very excited to see a real life Chewy character. Have a super weekend.
Beautiful flowers and pumpkin. Have a nice weekend. 🙂
Thank you, Ellen. Seeing that pumpkin suspended from the steel arbor still makes me smile. Hope you and the kitties have a great weekend.
Chia: Hey, Zenia, you got featured in Wilson’s blog today!
Xena: *turn back and walks away with a kick of back leg*
Lucy: You sure do look handsome after your unwanted bath, Wilson. I am so compliant, even though I don’t really LIKE baths. I just jump in the tub when Mom tells me and wait to tell me I can before I jump back out.
Wilson has never liked baths and trying to do him at home in my bathtub is a bit of a nightmare. I’m too old to be steer wrestling! Hope you guys have a nice weekend.
Wilson I don’t blame you for being a little bit UPSET at being captured and given another bath……but I bet the folks in the hospital appreciated your nice clean fur! Tee Hee Love all the flowers – especially the “sad” sunflower!
Hugs, Teddy
They are always appreciative and I do smell amazing but I still don’t like baths. Period. Glad you enjoyed the flowers. Flowers this time of year seem especially lovely. Hope you have a great weekend.
Your friend,
Wilson 🐾
Fabulous tour, Monika and Wilson. Wilson, you look so handsome after a bath. It seems to me that you would like baths. Those mums are gorgeous. We can’t grow them here. Too much late-season heat. I enjoyed seeing the vertical garden. What a great idea. I hope you two have a super weekend.
Thanks for your kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the tour. Wilson has never been a fan of baths. Worse than any dog I’ve ever had but we somehow manage to splash our way through. LOL Have a marvelous weekend.
You look so smart after your bath Wilson and well done for seeing so many people at the hospital! 💗 The chrysanthemums are so gorgeous and it’s great to see your mum’s confetti zinnia flower 🌸 Wishing you both a happy weekend too! 🤗💖🐾 xxx
Aww, thanks. He cleans up nicely-it just takes an army to hold him still. LOL We hope you and Bria have a wonderful weekend!
Wilson, you clean up nicely (even if you don’t like it!). I’m amazed that stem holds the weight of the pumpkin! Cool!
Thanks, Kate. He really does, but the effort to do it at home is ahem…a nightmare. I picked up the shampoo the groomer uses and he smells sooooo good, everyone comments on that.
You know, I thought the same thing about that pumpkin. Pretty incredible! Have a great weekend.
Good boy, Wilson!
Wilson: Thanks, Lisa. Tell me Mum so she’ll dish out a few more treats. She’s being stingy again. Have a great weekend.
You look quite spiffy in that picture with the security guard.
Thank you, Herr Pit. He was very kind to me and we saw him again today. Hope you have a terrific weekend.
Your fur-iend,
Wilson 🐾
The flowers were all so pretty, good hunting Wilson! I know you won’t admit it but I’ll bet you feel better after your baths!
Thanks Terry. Like most dogs, Wilson has a short memory for bad stuff. 😉 Have a wonderful weekend.
I, too, love to take droopy sunflower pictures!
I had those day lillies at my last house – I had no idea there were toxic to cats, either!
We have quite a few ginkos in our ‘hood and I love how brightly yellow they become in fall. They are practically reflective!
Have a marvellous weekend.
Thanks Miss. Dale. Let’s hear it for droopy sunflowers! Especially when they’re contrasted against a crystal blue sky…they’re just perfection! Have a great weekend.
Oh yes! I have one of mine that is just like that and I absolutely love it 🙂
You, too, have a wonderful one!
Great finds, you two. Fall flowers are the last hurrah, and I esp. love the asters that are blooming all over around here, both wild and in yards. Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Eliza. Flowers this time of year seem to go to beautiful lengths to extend summer. Hope you have a pawsome weekend.
gorgeous photos! The sunflower is lovely in it’s end days
My lab chelsea used to jump in the shower with me uninvited!
“Mama! why play in water without me? ”
LeeAnna
Aww, thanks. You’re too kind. You’d never catch Wilson jumping in the shower-he’d avoid water like nobody’s business! 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Wilson…concats on your escape. I know you had your Mom buffaloed! And, my mom has to say she LOVES Silver Maples. You oughtta see the huge one in my human brother’s front yard. They are so so beautiful. I am so sorry your city yes as though they consider them not good. That’s what we in my are think of Ginko Boloba. They are invasive I think…I think….don’t be mad at us.
Thanks. Yup, the bucking bronco was a bit of a buffalo-size wise at least. 😆 We like silver maples but as they age, they rot from the inside out. There have bee so many branches that have crashed on cars in our neighborhood. The city sends the forrester out and condemns them. I had to remove one myself, So far, they haven’t objected to the other one. There are many other varieties of maples that are better trees for the area and they will replace but egads…it took 50 years for them to get to be so tall and majestic. Sigh. Progress can be cruel when dealing with bureaucracies. Have a great weekend.
P.S. I know Ginkgos have a gross smell to them but the leaves are so fascinating.
Lovely light…..not quite autumnal, but soft.
September is amy most favorite month. Things are always awash in such a soft golden light. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Helen.
Thanks, The autumn light brings out the best in flowers this time of year. Have a great weekend.
Beautiful fall flowers…love seeing them this time of year.