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! 🐾

Welcome to the last Friday in the month of July. As we typically do on Fridays we’re joining our Pacific Northwest pals, Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard on a blog hop. Make sure you click on the link to see what else others have shared.

Once again it’s been hot and dry in the Mile High, but don’t despair, the King of Purple (with his long-time collaborator, keyboardist and friend, Morris Hayes) managed to serve up some good purple ‘moisture’ from his infamous vault with a new release debuting today. If you’re a fan of the Purple One, this one from the grave is a pretty poignant release penned back from years ago. Here’s a sneak listen. Take it away, Prince!

Ok, now that we’ve gotten a lovely purple shower, let’s see what Nature is singing around our neighborhood landscape.

Lilies have been putting on an amazing show. From the dark exotic ones to beautiful peach/rose-colored hued, they are screaming “it’s summertime, peeps and WE. HAVE. ARRIVED!!”

It’s that time of year where things are also beginning to prepare for the next season with shrubs beginning to produce fruit. If there were bears roaming the city, they’d be happy as a clam at high tide with these offerings seen around the ‘Hood.

Doesn’t that Red Currant look luscious?

But for me, the signal that maybe, just maybe, summer is starting to transition toward autumn is seeing Plumbago starting to bloom. Plumbago is probably my absolute favorite garden groundcover. It fills in nicely with a lush shade of green even during the hottest part of summer and then blooms with beautiful little blue flowers in late July and August. It performs equally well in shade or full sun and isn’t too picky about its soil though well-drained is always preferred. Two additional bonuses for including this plant in the garden is its low-water requirements and deer resistance. Late next month, the leaves will begin to turn a gorgeous shade of mahogany making this plant a multi-seasonal star in our urban landscape.

Wherever you’re at, we hope your weekend is beyond ‘pawsome’ and you’ll find sufficient time to take in the beautiful sights that Nature so graciously dishes up. For you summertime lovers remember there are just 54 days until the official arrival of autumn so enjoy it while you can. The Ranch Hands are nothing if not great inspiration for savoring walks while taking time to stop and smell the roses.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Happy Fri-Yay! Please join us for this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we join those lovable ‘anipals,’ Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard but don’t forget to check out what others shared by clicking on the link.

It’s been another week of heat with the Ranch Hands wilting. We’ve been going out on our morning constitution at 5:45 am. to avoid the warmer portions of the day. I guess when you wear a fur coat the season known as Hades summer isn’t that enjoyable. And then there are the smoke filled skies that drift in as the day unfolds. Not exactly conducive to walks except early in the day. We continue to hope all the current wildfires get controlled soon. In Colorado as in most of the western U.S., wildfires continue to rage while last year’s burn areas are causing flooding conditions on nearby highways. I-70 has repeatedly been closed this week to cleanup mudslides near last year’s Glenwood Canyon fire.

The urban landscape though is full of sun-loving perennials. Let’s take a gander at a few we’ve encountered, shall we?

First up, a gorgeous trumpet vine. They guys are amazing. Strong and vigorous, they can shimmy up a wall or structure like nobody’s business. Although frequently considered invasive, pruning and deadheading can corral their vigorous growth which can reach between 30-40 ft. (9-12 m). They should not be planted near a house or at the base of a tree as they can damage foundations and strangle trees. Still they are beautiful on a telephone pole. Rated at Zones 4-9, they are readily adaptable in most conditions. Hummingbirds enjoy the tasty nectar while other birds often make nests or otherwise hide in the dense foliage.

While running an errand this week, I noticed cattail was in full glory near a small drainage area. A herbaceous perennial sometimes referred to as reeds, these guys have always captivated my interest. There’s a large batch of them near West Pines that Sam used to investigate before we visited patients. Leaves are hairless, linear, alternate on a jointless stem that bears flowering spikes. The ‘flower’ forms a dense sausage-like spike on the stem. Once fully ripened, the heads disintegrate into a cottony fluff from which disperses seeds by the wind. What would otherwise be a rather unsightly drainage ditch becomes beautified with the addition of these plants.

Back at home, the lupines continue to form seed pods oh joy but are being crowded by numerous sunflowers that mysteriously appeared a couple of seasons ago. In their 3rd year, they are beginning to seriously crowd the lupines. It’s certain heavy duty garden tools may have to be brought out to bring them both to heel as they’re both becoming too invasive. Still, how can anyone not smile whenever they see a cheerful sunflower, even if said flower ‘looks’ the other way (actually I couldn’t get a decent shot straight on because of the position of the sun)?

Wherever you’re at, we wish you good weather, clear skies and enough spare time to enjoy spending time in nature. My cherry tomatoes are finally beginning to ripen. The smell of fresh, garden ripened tomatoes are filling my senses and teasing my tastebuds.

Live, love, bark! 🐾