Blue bells?

I don't know the name of this flower; maybe blue bells? These flowers grow in nooks and crannies in the sidewalk and in other waste places. That probably means they're native to the area. Another hint is that I've never seen them deliberately grouped in a flower bed. Why is it that native plants are second-class citizens?

I think they're quite nice. About the only other blue flower (OK, this is more violet than blue) I see a lot of is chicory and that too is considered a weed, only growing freely in places that people don't care enough to mow them down.

Balance

Walking along the Cowhorn Creek, looking for critters. Frogs mostly, but fish, crayfish and the occasional duck are also attractions down here. Dad is a bad influence, because I walk on fallen logs looking for hidey-holes and it isn't long before the little one starts walking along trees that have fallen in the creek itself. He's smarter than I am though - he has a walking stick!

Balance is everything in life.

I know there are fish in here...

A late afternoon visit to our Central Park's Iroquois Lake. Someone is on the look out for sunfish, which nest in the shallows and can often be seen by quietly peering over the edge.

James at Newtown Daily Photo runs a theme called Weekend Reflections. Around a hundred photo bloggers post a photo containing a reflection; beautiful work. Click the link and go see!

Skywatch Friday

June is the month of thunderstorms, and it's a common sight to see a cloud like this grow from a wisp into this massive structure in 15 minutes! This particular cloud kept growing, but it was in a storm that was moving quickly over the ground, so it blew away from me before it got to be full sized.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.

Green bee!

We have an accidental sunflower in one of our flower pots. Don't know if a squirrel stashed her winter cache there or what happened, but it's about 3.5 feet (1m) tall so far, and it's one of those varieties that has a single flower.

Well, the flower wasn't there last night but it was open in the morning, and wouldn't you know it - a bee found it. And not just any bee - this one is green! I never saw one that shade before. Look at all the pollen she has on her legs, wow what a worker!

Confused moth

This moth was inside, fluttering about and despite a completely open door, wouldn't duck down low enough to fly through it. Of course, the cats were mesmerised and followed that moth like it was the last toy on earth. After a bit of a kerfuffle, I captured the moth and put it outside, whereupon it decided to rest on the stairs a bit before heading off wherever moths go during the day.

Watering the flowers

I was watering the flowers and the low sun looked very interesting so I snapped a few photos. Even though I haven't used film in a couple of years now, there is still that mentality to carefully frame and shoot every image. I should probably get over that - some photo bloggers are doing magical work with image manipulation programs.

Anyway, I just liked the way this came out.

Leeks

We planted leeks last year and left some of them in the ground over the winter months. This is what they look like now!

Today is officially the first day of summer and the weather service says to expect sun and 85F (29C). The garden is already providing us with lettuce, kale and collards. There's a stray mustard plant that self-seeded, so we'll have mustard greens soon. That also means weeding needs to pick up - what makes veggies grow also makes weeds grow as well!

Skywatch Friday

Every June and September, my amateur radio club goes up Mt Greylock, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, in order to participate in a radio contest. We set up our towers among the trees at the summit, hoist antennas and talk to as many other hams as we can.

The mountain is a beautiful place, and I'm very grateful to be a part of this effort, not only for the radio experience, but for the exposure to natural beauty (which often expresses itself in liquid form!)

This is the view from Bascom Lodge, at the summit, looking roughly south. The skies are a mélange of air and water, flowing over the ridges like an ocean. It's magical to see in person.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.




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Fiddleheads

This is a photo of a wind-blown fiddlehead fern. Even with the flash on I couldn't quite freeze the motion, but I like the effect anyway. The name comes from the curled appearance of the top, which some people think looks like the scroll of a violin, which is sometimes called a fiddle.

It's not typical to see these so late in the season; they are normally a springtime plant. This one got a late start.

Coreopsis

When the strawberries are ready, the coreopsis are in bloom, and following Mother Nature's timetable, here they are!

Hopefully, I'll be back from the radio contest by now and will be able to reply again!

Chive blossoms

One doesn't ordinarily think of herbs as beautiful, but chives have the loveliest flowers. Each one is a mirror image of the whole cluster. They always bring a smile to my face.

Strawberries!

It's early June, and that means the strawberries are getting ready! The very first fruits of the season, and what a treat it is to be able to go out into the yard and eat one straight off the plant!

Grape leaves

One plant does not a vineyard make, but it's astonishing how fast these grow. It seems like a week ago they were nothing but buds. Some sun, some rain and off they go!

I'll reply to comments when I return from the ham radio contest.

Weekend Reflection

I'm away from the computer, but I thought I'd submit a reflection photo anyway. Thanks James, for this wonderful theme!

James at Newtown Daily

Photo runs a theme called Weekend Reflections. Around a hundred photo bloggers post a photo containing a reflection; beautiful work. Click the link and go see!

Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday, sort of. I don't know how to set up Mr Linky ahead of time, but this is my contribution while I'm away from the computer.

Thunderhead building over Schenectady.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.

Bird's egg

I don't know what bird this belongs to, but it was abandoned. Such amazing markings - I had no idea a natural egg could look like this!

I'm away for a bit - the blog is on auto-post (I hope!) I'll reply to the comments when I return.

Moth

This moth was fluttering around the back porch light. I took it outside and it paused for a portrait before fluttering off.

I'm away for a bit - the blog is on auto-post (I hope!) I'll reply to the comments when I return.

Frog

A little while ago, I posted a weekend reflection photo of a frog. Here is one of his compatriots, close-up.

My young one loves animals and never resists the temptation to examine one up close. This beautiful specimen was humanely captured, jubilantly examined, photographed for posterity, given a name ('Hoppy') and put back gently into the shallows. When released, the frog swam one kick and hung out to see what would happen next.

We were all happy that he didn't feel stressed out.

We're keeping our eyes open for tadpoles!

Bee's nest

I have no idea what species of bee made this, or why they abandoned it. It seems so delicate, yet it has withstood several thunderstorms already. I don't even know what to call it. Is it a hive? A nest?

It feels papery to the touch but I didn't have the heart to tear it off to find out.

Ducks

Late afternoon and the sun is shining on 'The Casino'. That building has been called the Casino all my life, and I've seen post cards of it looking much the same from the 1930s, but I never remember any gambling going on there. It's always been hot dogs and ice cream; that sort of thing. One can rent a paddleboat there, too.

We've had a heat wave, and the lake is shallow, so the water warmed up quickly. The aquatic plants have really been growing, so the surface of the water is dotted with the tops of them.

James at Newtown Daily Photo runs a theme called Weekend Reflections. Around a hundred photo bloggers post a photo containing a reflection; beautiful work. Click the link and go see!

Skywatch Friday

I've been getting ready for the June ham radio contest so I've been spending some time up in the hills on the southwest side of the valley. The sky is a lot bigger up there and the sunsets are beautiful.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.



On a personal note, I'd like to thank the people who've stopped by and left comments recently. I do read every single one, but I've been too busy to visit and reply back. I deeply appreciate you and I will be visiting as soon as I can!

Thank you so much for your supportive words!

Roses

The roses simply burst open! One day, they were all buds, and the next, in riotous bloom. They must like the recent heat we've been having!

Peony

The ants that tend this peony have performed their miracle yet again, and the beautiful flowers have emerged.

Theme Day - Funny signs

On the first of each month, the City Daily Photo community post photos that realise one specific theme. This month, the theme is Funny Signs.

This sign is the only 'reserved parking' sign at this location. Presumably, the boss gets preferred parking. I wouldn't make this boss angry.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants