Anyway, this week rather than specifically focusing on the 4th of July, we thought we’d instead, take a trip to a garden center for Nature Friday. Let’s get started, shall we?
The Mum: Thanks House Pony, I know I get worked up about fireworks going off so I appreciate your showcasing flowers from the garden center down the road from the house.
Wilson: Sure, Mum, No problem-o. It’s good to investigate some of the nearby centers close to our house and I know you were checking to see if they might have a replacement bowl for our birdbath. So far, we haven’t found anything that will work with the solar fountain but we did see some nice plants. This is a small, family garden center and you were impressed with some of their plants. Just look at these beautiful Echinacea plants. Who knew there were so many different collections separate from your standard plain variety. Those ruffly ones were pretty cool. Looks like the bees liked them.
The Mum: Yeah, I was rather impressed with the various colors. When I went into the greenhouse, I was followed by a hummingbird. He zipped in and around the flowers and while the photo that I managed to capture of him, it isn’t great since I only had my cell phone but it was entertaining watching him flit this way and that among the flowers.
Wilson: It’s not horrible..for a cell phone. Still, I see you had to highlight it because he was so quick and so tiny among the blooms.
The Mum: You know me, any critter comes within 20 feet of me and I’m all in.
Wilson: Right…you do tend to lose your mind love it whenever you see critters of any kind. You need to start being prepared better with cameras. You missed a great shot of a large doe in the wildlife habitat area on the trail. ‘Course she wasn’t willing to wait for you to pull your phone out of your pocket and focus on her. She took one look at me and was gone in a heartbeat.
The Mum: Yeah, I totally missed out on that one but remain hopeful that we’ll see her again on one of our walks.
Wilson: Like you always say, hope springs eternal. I noticed you spent a lot of time looking at the zinnias too.
The Mum: Guilty as charged. I just love them and the had a nice selection of some very colorful ones.
Wilson: These were especially colorful. You do like the unusual in plants, don’t you?
The Mum: I really do. Showy and out of the ordinary colored blooms are my jam. Like this Scabiosa (pin cushion plant). I just loved that deep color.
Wilson: And the bees seem to like it too.
The Mum: There were lots of bees all over the center. It was nice walking through the various plant rows. Here’s a gorgeous impatiens with bright color and striking foliage.
Wilson: Here’s another plant we found near our house. The bees were all over those pretty purple flowers. I could hear them buzzing!
The Mum: Yeah I think that’s a Blue Mist Spirea shrub. They’re pretty drought tolerant and have a long blooming season. Pollinators are drawn to those purple flowers. We found a twelve spot dragonfly this week. While they aren’t very good pollinators, they are a large insect predator. These guys can devour pests like mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and midges. They aren’t interested in pollen so they generally don’t visit flowers. When you see these guys it indicates a healthy local water quality and they tend to show their habitat has an active, balanced ecosystem. I was thrilled to see this guy on the sidewalk. I only hope he followed us home to nosh on the irritating midges near the front door.
Wilson: He wasn’t too keen on my sniffing him.
The Mum: Well I think he was startled by you since it looked like he was resting.
Wilson: Well that’s it from us. Happy 250th birthday to the U.S. We hope everyone has a safe holiday and hope people are considerate to those who aren’t fans of loud fireworks.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
So much Nature Wilson an Miss Monika!! THE flowerss are all so vyebrant an beeuteefull…iss grate to see Beess doin theiur thing two. An that 12 Spot Dragonfly iss purrty specktaculur! Wee nevurr seen one like this beefore. Stunnin!!
Wee approve yore poster 150% purr cent. Firewerkss are purrty butt two noisy!
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
Thank you. Mother Nature is pretty upset and delivered lots of hot weather to prove it. We hope she begins to moderate soon. Have a great week.
What a pawesome collection of flowers, sooooo much better than boomers! It was pretty bad here on Saturday, but luckily it settled down last night.
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny (and Beth)
Glad things calmed down. A good friend texted me her frustration at ongoing boomers from floor of the back of her closest as she was trying to calm down her poor stressed Westie. We hope you guys have a pawsome Monday.
Sorry we missed this on Friday, but we’re here now! The flowers are pretty, but all the pollen has kept Xena miserable, on top of the flea bites that she’s allergic to. I was finally able to find someone to come cut the dog lot, and it was so long they had to use a weed eater. (The neighbor kids who cut it had gone on a 2 1/2 week vacation.) Now it’s covered with diatamacious earth, and, hopefully, the fleas are dead! Happy 4th of July weekend!
We’re very sorry to hear Xena is suffering from allergies. Poor little thing-we feel so badly for her. Hopefully the DE will take care of those nasty fleas. 🤞🏼
We sure hope so too! Mommy’s gonna get more of the food grade DE this week for the rest of the yard! XOX Xena
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Excellent
The nature center is a delight. I’m listening to the booming now and not happy about it. The people who need to hear the message most are those who will heed it least.
So sorry about all the fireworks. I just don’t understand why people feel they have to blow them up when they can easily see laser and drone shows that are quite amazing. Luckily with the windows closed, we didn’t notice any boomers. Good thing, too. I might have gone hunting them down-the state is on fire and one tiny spark could burn a house down easily. People are so inconsiderate anymore.
Wow! Wilson is adorable all dressed up for the 4th!
I hope they can get the fire contained. Hopefully, individuals aren’t using fireworks.
Thanks Julia. He’s such a good sport. As of this morning 85,000 acres have burned with zero containment. We’re just crestfallen about this situation. We hope you have a safe ‘howliday.’
I hope everyone in the path of that fire got out safely.
We sure hope so, too. 🤞🏼 Tomorrow there should be a bit of humidity (instead of the single digit that has been prevalent all week), it may even get up to 25% which will help the firefighters tremendously.
Such beautiful flowers Monika and we wish you and sweet Wilson a peaceful and blessed 4th July ❤️🤍💙 xxx
Thank you, Xenia! We were very impressed by this small garden center. Such bright colorful flowers and a lovely vibe. Have a wonderful weekend.
As always, enjoyed “walking through the flowers” with you … and agreement with your words on the intrusiveness of fireworks. Enjoy what you can of the weekend ahead …
Thank you, Ann. We love having you accompany us on our tours. Last night was decently quiet and hope tonight stays the same. May your holiday weekend be full of peace and quiet. Try to stay cool.
Very cool report on a very hot day but no matter how hot it gets our spirits will never “wilt” right friends? Beautiful flowers brighten the spirits and remind us what a beautiful world it CAN be if we look beyond our worries. In this extra hot and VERY dry summer setting off fireworks can be such a dangerous thing to do. The woods around us here are dry as can be and it doesn’t take much to set off a disaster. We are hopeful people remember that today. We haven’t brought fireworks in years and years and are mindful of the destruction they can cause to man AND beast. Finally we want to say with all our hearts – GOD BLESS AMERICA. Happy 4th to all.
Love and Hugs, Pam and Teddy
Many thanks, Pam and Teddy. Glad you enjoyed the garden center flowers. I really get wound up about fireworks. It’s stupid to celebrate with gun powder in a cardboard tube with all the technology we have. I wish people would do lasers and/or drones to celebrate-it would be less invasive for pets and peeps who struggle with the loud noises, not to mention safer when ultra-dry landscapes are threatened. Have a safe holiday weekend and try to stay as cool as you can. 🇺🇸 Happy Fourth!
Wilson looks amazing!
And that image you got of the hummingbird, also amazing when you consider those cute little guys are harder to capture than Bigfoot!
Beautiful colors, as per usual. And let’s hope the knuckleheads are are kept to a minimum when it comes to the fireworks. Honestly, I never understood the fascination myself.
Have a beautiful weekend
{Blush} You’re too kind, Marc. Thank you. And Wilson says thanks too.
I just keep asking myself why gun powder rolled into a cardboard tube? What could possibly go wrong? Ugh. What is this, the Ming Dynasty? Why can’t people get current with lasers and/or drones? Gawd knows they have their noses in phones all the time…I’d think they would have read something about that. Anywho, we hope you can stay cool, calm and safe this holiday weekend. Take good care.
Back atcha mama!
Beautiful blooms. You look adorable and so patriotic. I love the idea of buying food for a shelter instead of fireworks. Have a nice 4th! XO
Many thanks, Ellen. I live the idea of people buying pet food over a bag of fireworks too. Makes much better sense. Hope you have a safe and quiet weekend.
Trying to tell my cat to prepare for the noise this weekend, not sure he understands, LOL. Happy 4th!
Let’s hope he’s ok or at least not too bothered by the noise. I hope you have a calm and safe weekend, Lisa.
Cool glasses Wilson, you handsome dog! 😊
Thanks for the tour of the pretty flowers! The pin cushion one is especially pretty. Hadn’t heard of that one before.
There is a burn ban here in many areas, too, because of the excessive heat this week. So it should be a quiet weekend! I hope you both have a wonderful, relaxing 4th and yes, Wilson, your mum is right. Hope does spring eternal. 😉
Thanks, Carolyn. I’m a big fan of Scabiosa and that dark wine color was just gorgeous. Let’s hope people adhere to the fireworks ban across the country. I know everyone wants to celebrate the 250th but they need to be sensible about it. Hope you have a safe and quiet weekend.
Yes. The wine color is unique and I love it!
Exactly about people being sensible!
Thanks! 💕
Such beautiful blooms! I thinkI should invest in a spirea shrub, since parts of our yard seem to have very dry and hot conditions, it would be great to bring in the bees and butterflies. I try to keep things in our yard that attract various pollinators and birds, too. Right now our bee balm is blooming, and hopefully the hummers will enjoy it too.
Have a good Fourth of July and let’s hope no more fires will be ignited and the awful one gets under control.
Wilson you look great in your patriotic gear!
Thank you, Ingrid. I planted some of that spirea years ago at an old house and it went crazy despite heavy clay soil. There were tons of bees all over it.
We’re hoping it’s a quiet weekend for everyone with pets. Just saw a report that said the winds will be less and there may actually be a bit of humidity to help firefighters. Nearly 70,000 acres burned and my brother had to evacuate after receiving an evacuation order. So far zero containment but hope it improves over the next couple of days. Here’s hoping you have a calm Fourth of July holiday weekend.
A great show of plants. I had to laugh at Wilson’s spectacles. They are really cool. I’m with you on the fireworks. When we lived on the Texas coast, they were never-ending. Thank you for the lovely tour, Monika
Thanks, John. Our pleasure. As a boomer I couldn’t help but get those glasses for our patriotic photoshoots. The fireworks were obnoxious in our old neighborhood but I’m hoping the new one is much more mellow. Thanks for coming along on our little tour. We hope it’s a quiet and safe holiday weekend for you.
What a great gardencenter with so many, beautiful plants, Wilson and what a beautiful dragonfly. I caught two of them last week and * whispurrs* I caught one today too. Two were saved by Granny and the one of today was saved right into my belly…🙈Extra Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to you and your wonderful mommy too and Stay Safe, both of you🐾😽💞
Thanks. You made me chuckle out loud about today’s dragonfly. I would think they’d give you a bellyache. Glad you enjoy our little tour. We hope for a quiet and safe holiday weekend and hope your weekend is the same.
I love seeing the plants and the bees and the hummingbird. That’s so cool that he followed you inside. Our town had fireworks last weekend. I’m not a fan. After having had four dogs and two bouts of sudden hearing loss, I do my best to avoid them.
Many thanks, Dan. Since i was a kid and got shot with a bottle rocket, I’ve never been a fan but when I see how fireworks affect many pets and veterans, I get really upset. We hope it will be a quiet weekend in this new neighborhood. Stay as cool as you can and I hope it’s a safe, relaxing weekend.
All of our dogs were upset, but our first one was the worst. One time, she went downstairs and shoved herself under the bottom step. When the fireworks were over, we couldn’t get her out. She didn’t fit. We had to remove all the stuff that was stored under the stairs to get her out.
It’s so heartbreaking when they get so distressed like that. I had a dog who got wedged under the bed. Had to have someone help me lift the mattress up and get him untangled from between the bed and the wall.
That was a super garden centre…I wish we had something like it here
For being so small, it was well stock with very healthy looking plants. The fact that it was just down the road was a terrific bonus. We’ll go back. Have a lovely weekend, Helen.
That’s a bunch of pretty blooms! We sure are NOT looking forward to the evil firework show across the street at our lake, most kitties will be in hiding. Happy Independence Day Wilson and Mom!
Thank you, Terry. Mum was impressed with this little garden center. We hope the fireworks aren’t too bad. We hate them and hope the new neighborhood adheres to the ban. 🤞🏼 Hope you all have a safe and lovely July 4th weekend.
Have a lovely weekend and I hope not too many loud bangs 😍
Thanks, Paul We hope your temps have cooled down and you have a lovely weekend.
To Wilson and family, have an awesome Fourth! And Wilson, just remember that you can handle the noise, and soon it will be quiet again.
Thank you! We hope it’s a quiet weekend. Hope your weekend is pawsome.
Love Wilson’s smile-inducing, patriotic outfit! 🙂
So did you come home from the nursery with any treasures? I love the vibrant joy of summer annuals, and those echinacea weren’t so shabby either. 🙂 Happy Fourth! 🥳 🇺🇸
Thanks, Wilson is always a good sport about being ‘decorated.’ We had a good walk around that small garden center. Such lovely plants from one end to the other. Wishing you and yours a safe and Happy July 4th.
Oddly, for the last couple of weeks it’s been rather on the cool side here in SoCal although I’m told that will end very soon. I share your loathing of wildfires! As for fireworks – that’s for the pros. Have a great Fourth! With Mr. Wilson and Miss Reiko you need only add Red and Blue to have all three colors represented.
Yeah, the wildfires are getting close to one of my brother’s place. He’s loading up his trailer and truck to evacuate and will stay at my other brother’s place in Castle Rock. The reports from the fire command are just sickening. And the last thing we need are fireworks in the tinder dry region. Wilson and I will be spending a hopefully quiet weekend. Wilson gets groomed tomorrow so he’s got other priorities. 😉 Have a safe holiday. I hope the Mauzer has begun to forgive you for the flea debacle.
Not so you would notice.
🙁
Fire works! Not a favorite noise here. They’ll start tonight, Friday and go thru the weekend. Poor wild life critters and indoor pets. Love the green house tour! And the hummer. We only have the Ruby Throat in our part of the US. And they get fed sugar water here as we love to see them and feed them. Wilson, use ear plugs this weekend if they make puppy ones.
Yeah, we are not fans of fireworks. At all! Wilson doesn’t get too overly crazy with fear but I know they aren’t his favorite. I’m hoping the neighborhood stays quiet (this is our first year here and it’s a TBD thing). There are other ways to celebrate.
I’m hoping my son can hang a hummingbird feeder here soon. We just need to find a tall ladder. 😉 I love watching them. So fascinating. Have a safe and quiet holiday weekend.
Love the flowers! It’s so hot here, Chester has missed his long walks, but mom can’t make it that far so we’re keeping them short!
Thanks, Martha. I know what you mean about the heat. We do our walk at dawn when it’s somewhat cooler then. That’s when I usually see all the critters we encounter so it’s a double win for us. We hope you have a safe holiday weekend and survive the gawd awful heat and humidity.
Gorgeous flowers, and love the glasses. Gracie now wants a pair too!
Thank you, Debra. I was impressed with that garden center. A nice selection with reasonable prices. Let Gracie know she might be able find glasses like that at the Dollar Store. Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.
You’re so handsome, Wilson. All ready for the 4th.
Love the idea about buying pet food instead of fireworks. Our babies hate fireworks.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Love and hugs to you and lots of scritches to handsome Wilson. ♥
Thank you, dear Sandee. Wilson is pleased you like his attire. I love the idea of buying pet food in lieu of fireworks. I’ve only seen one pop up store so I hope people will think twice before buying fireworks. I’ve had too many bad experiences with fireworks. People don’t realize just how dangerous they can be, not to mention how destructive when a spark goes array. We hope you have a safe and happy July 4th weekend.
While the cats aren’t as reactive to fireworks, I hate them too. They rattle the deer, birds, ground rodents and what not. I’ve seen spectacular drone shows with no noise. They were done to music. Wonderful!
I totally agree. Laser and drone shows can be amazing. Gunpowder packed into a cardboard container…what could possibly go wrong?
We hope you have a safe and mellow Fourth of July weekend.
Good reminder. We don’t go out for fireworks, but Casey can still hear them in the distance. I will take care of my pup.
We hope you are able to keep dear Casey relaxed enough. Have a safe Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Buddy, I love those glasses! I told my mom she has to get me a pair for next year! The girls here are terrified of the boomers so it will be a very long weekend but we have to power through. Mom hates them too because the idiots shoot them off all day and half the night. We like to sleep at night. It is sad that we can’t look forward to celebrating our country’s day because of the legalization of fireworks. Anyway, the flowers today are gorgeous. We all love bright colored flowers. Try to enjoy your weekend!
Thanks, I think I found those glasses at the Dollar Store several years ago. I get very worked up about people shooting off fireworks having been in a professional town display that blew up from a spark, sending people in a panic and watching dogs suffer when they go off. I don’t understand why they can’t make them without the noise. Colorado is literally on fire so firework bans makes so much sense. I just hope people don’t set them off in yards. Everything is so unbelievably dried out, a single spark could cause a fire.
Glad you enjoyed the flowers. That center is small but had such lovely flowers. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.