Time to Hit the Gym

Bill and I had the dead branches trimmed off of our oak tree in the backyard this past week and in the process uncovered the most unusual freak occurrence of nature. If you look closely at this picture you can see a cross limb that has grown between the two trunks of the tree. Both ends are completely grown into two separate trunks of the tree. So, I had to get a snapshot of this pull-up bar before it was gone. Who knew I had a Gold's Gym for squirrels in my tree? Now I guess they'll have to work out somewhere else! I'm sure my dog China would be glad to help with that - anyone up for a run?

Come on squirrels

fall in line

don't you know it's pull-up time?

What! No bar?

I guess that's done

Time instead to have some fun!

Yes...borderline corny but I couldn't help it.

It's a Jungle Out There

Well, what have I been up to lately? I've been hibernating...While bears hibernate in the winter, I tend to hibernate in the summer. Now I'm not sleeping all through the summer but I am certainly cocooning myself inside the air conditioned house! It's so hot here! Just 10 minutes or less outside and a person is just damp from head to toe. So, needless to say, I have not seen much of my garden in the last month. Today was very overcast with rain thanks to Storm Ana passing through, so it was the perfect day to go out and inspect what's been going on and - Wow! It's a jungle out there! I actually had plants in front of my porch door, making it hard to open. Anyone who's ever seen my backyard knows I like things kind of woodsy but it's gone from woods to jungle. Must be all the humid, steamy air! Maybe I'll compromise and say it's a rain forest. Anyway...so I was cutting back the plant invaders from in front of my door and guess what I found growing in between the pavers - a lemon basil plant! I was quite surprised and wondering how it managed to establish itself there all on its own and then I remembered that last year when I cut down the old basil plant I laid all the stalks with the seed heads on the pavers so I could group them together to keep for seeds. I guess some of the seed pods fell into the cracks and - presto! - like magic a new basil plant is born in its time. What a pleasant, unexpected surprise!

Lemon basil, from where did you come?

Yes from seed, but did you travel some?

No, no, no you were left in this spot

a long time ago and then forgot

but now you appear and I'm so glad

Welcome back to my backyard pad!

Calling All Gardeners!

Pop quiz for today! What is this?

This is what Bill and I asked ourselves today. We were casually eating lunch at the kitchen table when we both spotted this creature flitting about the flowers. It was pretty big, at least 2 to 3 inches long and a wing span of about 3 inches. We wondered, "Is it a really big bee?" I grabbed my camera and went outside to investigate. Well, as soon as I saw it close up I knew it wasn't a bee...okay...but what is it? It has a third little "wing" on it. That little thing on the back end was flapping just like the wings...never seen anything like it before. I'm thinking to myself that it moves like hummingbird - wings flapping so fast a person can't hardly see them and flitting from flower to flower...maybe a really big moth or butterfly? So I snapped a few pictures and then away he flew into the sky. Now Google is a wonderful thing. It took me a little while but I did find out about this mysterios creature. Are you ready for the answer (or maybe you already know the answer)?

This amazing little flying machine is indeed (drum roll please) - a hummingbird moth (a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe to be exact)! Who knew there was such a thing? I sense some skepticism from some of you. Just Google "hummingbirds/bird or bug" and you'll see.

This has been the most fascinating discovery this year in my garden. I'm completely enthralled. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go refill my hummingbird feeder!

Baby hummingbird?

Are you sure?

Can I take you at your word?

It has antennas don't you see?

It really is a mystery.

But look closer my dear friend,

wings fast as lightening

and a feathery rear-end!

Waterfall of Herbs

So my herbs are doing quite well on their own these days. With all the rain we've been getting, I barely even have to fill the planters with water. The chives, tarragon, and mint make this wonderful little cascade over the edge of the planters that I find really beautiful. They're just reaching for the sun, leaning and looking for the source of light. It's so similar to what our own souls do - always yearning and looking for the Source of Light, the Creator, our Maker, the One who shines on us. When it's dark in our lives we search, so it is with these little herbs. It's not surprising but it is wonderful how consistent and constant our Lord is with all of nature - including us!

Whether the sun be out or not,

Whether the clouds pass by my spot,

or the sun shines bright on a particular day,

My Creator is never far away.

So my soul look up and see

The gift of love that looks on me.