Strawberry Picking

'Tis the season for strawberry picking. The season is drawing to an end, so the berries are so small and so sweet.

Pickin' up strawberries, put 'em in the basket

Pickin' up strawberries, put 'em in the basket

Pickin' up strawberries, put 'em in the basket

Way down yonder in the strawberry patch

An eye catching wildflower in the strawberry patch, an vibrant orange jewelweed.

Moose tracks heading to the water supply

A little dragonfly

A quiet ending

This Haba puzzle provided a quiet ending to our day.

Struggling through the day

Tickle, tickle

The day was off to a great start. Some tickle time with my little one, then she was off to make sea shell soup.

Then, we went in mommy's jewelry drawer. After that, there were too many nos for my little one and too many times I had to quiet my barking dogs. So, what's a mom to do? Just roll with it... on to a nature inspired art project, Feather Painting.

This was a very positive experience and after dinner my little one had earned her chocolate lollipop. Her mouth was covered with chocolate! Sorry no picture, I was relaxing on the couch.

Yesterday, what's in the bucket?

Quick, guess what's in the bucket?

Guess what else is in the bucket?

A tadpole.

Now, what's in the blue bucket? And the green bucket?

Guess what I'm going to ask next

Swimming with the ducks & geese

There was much to see in the park today, ducks and ducklings, geese and goslings, and turtles. My little one collected tons of feathers. Feather Painting anyone? 

I did not anticipate that my little one would end up swimming. Sometimes, I have wondered if I have I have given my little one too much freedom, which is why she will just jump right in, whenever, where ever. 

June perennials

I am sad to see the alliums color fade, but I love to leave the seed heads around, as they add visual interest. Now, I can enjoy the beauty of my labor. A garden is indeed a labor of love. 

My little one enjoying the bountiful Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'

Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' and Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

My grandmother hooked me on this plant. Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot' is eye catching. 

Veronica spicata 'Red Fox' was such an abundant bloomer, I had to add more plants this year. 

Anemone multifida "Annabella' produces such a delicate rose bloom. One of my favorite parts is the rounded flower head it leaves behind. 

For the butterflies, Asclepias incarnata

One of my all time favorites, Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'

Surprisingly tall for the front of my border, Nepeta Sunsessillis. I will have to move a few plants around this fall.

Centaurea dealbata will bloom again.

Anthemis 'Susann Mitchell' is overflowing with blooms

How could I refuse this?? Sanguisorba menziesii is so interesting and fuzzy.

Another favorite, Enchinacea purpurea 'Magnus'. 

Not a perennial for my zone, but Lantana Landmark 'Peach Sunrise' is better than I anticipated. 

Playing in the mud

This was the the very beginning of playing in the mud. A little water and a little mud on her feet.

Well, it turned into a mud bath. Complete with muddy shampoo. After the fun was done, we cleaned up and went on a new adventure.

Look at that smile.

Nothing lights up my little one's face like a toad, or a frog, or a crayfish, or a bluegill, or a tadpole, or a bullfrog. Just a few of her favorite things.