Summer in the sprinkler

The bloom on my oregano-now that I have a good pic, I will cut it back as it is getting very leggy. I put a thin layer of mulch on the plant each fall and it comes back each spring.

The ever trusty coneflower. I want to get them in every color. Once you get them started, they are yours for life. Kinda of like kids!

Just simple beauty -one petal at a time

Hollyhocks-I would love to get these started. I have tried before. They are biannuals, but with the seeds dropping they can become annual bloomers, also. I will get them to a certain height, then a strong wind comes along, and bam, lays them flat.

You know my O'z ark blog has pretty much turned into a photo blog! The top pic is of the bloom from my red onions that I planted. I expected them to get as big as the ones in the grocery store, but they haven't. The package said to pick them once the blooms appeared, however, the largest one has been the size of a golf ball instead of a softball.

Daylillies

These daylillies are blooming today in my garden. They respond despite the heat and dry. I have more ordered for next year.

This beauty is as big as a saucer.

Snake in Eden?

I stepped on this little jewel, barefooted! Fortunately, it was already in snake heaven, but it is still a sqeamy feeling to feel the hard driveway and rocks mixed in with something that gives under your foot.

Okay, I used pillows piled up on the patio and lay down on the concrete for this shot of one of the resident mockingbirds. I can tell there is more clarity with the camera more still.

This meadowlark is a tenth of a mile away. A little far for the telephoto lens!

Super Telephoto-420-800mm lens

I am just now getting the hang of the telephoto lens. Even on the tripod, everything wobbles and weaves. By the time that I get it focused, the slightest breath and I have a blurred photo. I dreamed of shots that looked like National Geographic. I still have more to learn. It is impressive that this bird is so far away that I could just tell that it was on the wire by the naked eye. I think that I need to still work on the internal setting too for the camera because the sky is an unforgiving background. Also, it was 99 degrees so my patience level was a little off. I have ordered some more bird identification books as I gave Dad mine last summer.

Hummingbirds are the hardest little devils to catch on film. Just finding him or her has been a major achievement as it is feeding naturally in my garden. I don't have hummingbird feeders.

This black and white shot is of the mockingbird nest in my oldest willow. They are so protective and will swoop down within inches of your face when you get this close to the nest.

It always seem so desolate to me in this shot as this is where the boy's roping arena was in our former life. It has now been turned into a set of working pens for Eddy's cattle. The hill in the distance is at Sturkie.

Okay, I completely wore them out on our walk. Rebel is still awake and taking the first watch.

lenses and such

The top two pics are slightly different - a game for you like the Sunday paper holds. The other shots are with different settings of the camera.

Bursts of Bloom or Blooming Crazy!

These lillies and such just make me want to get online and order 100's more. They love our soil and climate. Each year they are taller and have more blooms.

Bursts of Bloom or Blooming Crazy!

Bachelor buttons

Red poppy

Miniature hollyhocks-my first time to try these-I have such trouble with old-fashioned hollyhocks in the wind.

Queen Anne's Lace-I believe it belongs to the carrot family.

Bursts of Bloom or Blooming Crazy!

Examples of my poppies through out my yard and beds.