After the Rain

Urban Gardening

This past week and weekend we had really hot weather in the triple digits. Yesterday and today have been rainy with thunderstorms at night (very unusual here).

On my walk into work today, I noticed these tomato plants in old recycling bins at the nearby apartment complex. It looks like they've been pretty successful considering the weather.

Loads of Little Mushrooms.

They just popped up overnight all over the bark mulch in the landscaping around the library.

Ducks at Bethany Pond

Female Mallard - Anas platyryhnchos

Here's another photo of her with her wings down.

Halfway through my drive to work today, I realized I was an entire hour early. I decided to stop at the Bethany Pond powerline park and go for a walk.

Although summer is not typically a good time to see ducks, I did find a few. I also picked about a pound of blackberries.

Female wood ducks?

Still working on IDing these.

They were kind of shy and didn't come too close.

Pied-Billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps

I see these little ducks frequently, but they are hard to get a picture of.

Here you can see my other posts about the pied-billed grebe.

It's Blackberry Season!

Himalayan Blackberry - Rubus discolor

Unfortunately these blackberries are not our native species (Pacific Blackberry - Rubus ursinus).

The Oregon Department of Agriculture considers these Himalayan blackberries to be "the most widespread and economically disruptive of all the noxious weeds in western Oregon."

It's true, they're very invasive and you have to work hard to keep them out of your own yard. But they are quite tasty and easily available. So, there's a good chance we'll do some berry picking this weekend.

If you haven't had enough flowers yet...

Roses

Oriental Lily

Begonias

Begonia sp.

A Bit Tropical

Zinnia sp.

Four More Flowers

Marigold - Tagetes sp.

What a hot afternoon!

97F is about as hot as it gets here in Oregon.

I took a slow walk back to my car after work and stopped to admire some of the more often ignored flowers along my path.

Gazania sp.

Even this heat and drought tolerant Gazania was starting to get faded by the hot sun.

Here's another less faded one.

Ice Plant - Carpobrotus edulis

I love the way these flowers look almost metallic in the sun.

They also do well during cool wet weather like we had last October.

Lily of the Nile - Agapanthus sp.

These flowers are really pretty, but they have tall thin stalks with big bunches of flowers on top... which usually leads to some awkwardly composed pictures.

Luckily, the light was shining just so and I managed to get this very nice close up - my favorite pic of the day!

Finally More Fotos & Finials too

Shadows on the Wall

Between starting my new job and taking the SBA exam, this past week has been incredibly busy.

I was so happy to finally get a chance to get out and take some pictures that I couldn't even wait until I'd gotten out of the shopping center parking lot.

Morning Dew on Maple Leaf

(ok, actually it's from the automatic sprinkler, but that just doesn't so so poetic.)

Red Gladiola

This is from the same yard where I took the pictures of the Pink Gladiola. It's the only red one in the bunch.

Pink Cosmos - Cosmos bipinnatus

Bee on a Sunflower

Across the street from the library where I work there is a big field. Close to the road there is a "Learning Garden" tended to by the students on campus. Most of the food from the garden goes to the local food bank.

The sunflowers are growing along the fence between the garden and the road.

Sun Catching Sunflower

I'd been looking at these sunflowers for a week... but today the light was just right!

These next sculptures were made by Jim Johnstone's ceramics class. Jim actually works in the library, but he makes some amazing pottery and teaches a class or two.

Anyway, he came up with the idea of having his class make finials for the fence in front of the learning garden. There are some really fun and creative ones. Unfortunately there aren't any tags to indicate the names of the sculptures or the artists.

Jim's Pea

I was showing these photos to Jim in the library and said this pea was my favorite. He said it's his! Impressive.

Happy Nameday to Me!

Hey, it's my nameday!

(at least in Finland)

I'd totally forgotten since none of our calendars have the namedays listed. Thank you Karoliina for remembering and wishing me a "Happy Nameday!"

My name happens to fall in the "women's week" in the calendar. That's July 18th - July 24th. If you're curious to know more about namedays, here's the wikipedia article, and here's a calendar listing the dates for all the Finnish names.

Scotch Thistle - Onopordum acanthium

I saw these thistles growing by the road on my walk to work this morning, but I didn't think they quite went with the Calla Lilies post.

Calla Lilies

Calla Lily - Zantedeschia sp.

I love Calla Lilies, but I've never tried to grow them in our yard because they like really damp areas and I know they wouldn't get enough water in the summertime.

I found these lilies growing in the flowerbeds just outside the library. they looked like they were struggling even with the automatic sprinkler system.

Calla Lily - Zantedeschia sp.

I thought the tiny little white spider on this flower was so cute... but unfortunately the camera didn't want to focus on him. He was too small.

Gladiolas and Yet Another Poppy

Gladiolas - Gladiolus sp.

The gladiolas have started to bloom. These looked so cool and fresh on my walk to work this morning. I wonder how they will hold up as the day gets hotter.

Corn Poppy - Papaver rhoeas

Actually this could also be an Oriental Poppy - Papaver orientale. I'm not completely sure.

I think Poppies are my new favorite flower. I've made so many posts on them lately, and they just photograph so well.

Here's another view of the same flower.

Red Hot Afternoon

Daylily - Hemerocallis

Our weather has been hot and dry lately. Sometimes the bright sun washes out the flowers and plants and makes them dull looking. Today the sun was making the daylilies in front of the library look just brilliant!

Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum

The Japanese maple is a popular choice for neighborhood yards. The colors and the lacy leaves look great in spring and summer.

Here's another one.

Like Summer Snowflakes

Queen Anne's Lace - Daucus carota

I actually took this picture last Saturday - I've been pretty busy and haven't taken many pictures lately.

Anyway, I thought the tall Queen Anne's Lace growing in the strip between the sidewalk and the street was very pretty. Against the dark green background of the forest, the flowers looked a bit like giant snowflakes.

I also took a picture of dried Queen Anne's Lace last fall if you're curious to see what that looks like.

Invisible Baby Birds

Killdeer Eggs have hatched!

I made a post a couple weeks ago about some dramatic birds protecting their nest. Well, their babies must have hatched... I found this egg on my way into the library this morning. Still haven't seen a baby bird yet.

PS. I took these photos with one of the library's cameras... I accidently let my battery get too low today.

More Poppies (and a Rose)

Lovely Poppies

On my walk to work this morning, I saw more beautiful poppies. I decided that I really want to plant some in the garden for next summer.

Click here to see last Friday's Poppy Photos.

Another Pink One

A Beautiful Red One

And a Dewy Red Rose.

Curious Little Snake

Northwestern Garter Snake - Thamnophis ordinoides

Saw this cute little guy on my walk back to the car after work. I scared him at first, but then after I'd laid on the sidewalk for a minute he started to be curious and check me out.

Here's a full body picture of him.

Bird Drama

Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus

I first saw these cute little birds on my way into work yesterday. They look and act more like water birds than something you'd expect hanging around the flowerbeds on a college campus.

Drama Queen

While the first bird was racing around the flowerbed, this bird ran straight to the middle of the sidewalk and screeched and acted like it had a broken wing - all to distract me from the flowerbeds and the nest that must be hidden there.

Looks Good, Smells Great

Winter Daphne - Daphne odora

I was just walking along thinking how hungry I was (since I accidentally left my lunch at home) when I smelled something scented like Fruit Loops - only better. It turned out to be these pretty little pink flowers.

Loop-de-loop

Someone from the Aviation department was having fun this morning.

I didn't do my usual walk today, but I did manage to find this fun photo-op on my way from the parking lot to the library.

The Sun is Shining and I'm Getting Ready

Daffodil on Deerfield Way

The sun is shining and I'm hoping it stays clear tonight. I just learned this morning that there will be a total lunar eclipse this evening. (See my sidebar for details). So, I'm charging up the camera batteries and hoping Sami can get off from work a little early. I can't wait!

Pretty and Pink on Deerfield Way

Crocus Beneath the Pear Tree

'Pickwick' Crocus in our Herb Garden