24-MAY-2016
The Beautiful Calla Lily That Isn't!
I find the Calla Lily to be a most beautiful flower. The name calla lily comes from a Greek word for beauty, quite fitting I would say! But I learned that the Calla Lily isn't truly a lily, nor a calla:
"Calla lilies are not true lilies! Despite what their name suggests, calla lilies are not true lilies. In fact, they are not a calla, either. The calla lily belongs to the genus Zantedeschia and is a member of the Araceae family, along with the caladium and philodendron. It is also known as the pig lily, trumpet lily and arum lily, and begins to blossom in late spring. This flower was first cataloged in the mid 1700s. Why is the name so misleading? Because the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus made a mistake when he was naming the species. Later, the German botanist Karl Koch corrected the error and established the genus Zantedeschia, but the name stuck. The calla lily is native to Southern Africa, and has a remarkable strength – it can continue to grow in water and even survive frost." -
http://www.teleflora.com/blog/what-do-calla-lilies-represent/
25-MAY-2016
Twig of the Pussy Willow
Pussy Willows grow best when near lots of water. So those in Delta Ponds thrive! I find the shoots of the pussy willow tree to be beautiful.
"Growing Requirements for Pussy Willow Trees
Pussy Willows are hardy in USDA zones 4-8.
They grow well in almost any soil but it is a good idea to supplement the native soil
with peat moss, leaf mold or compost.
Pussy Willows require full sun to thrive,
but they will survive in light or partial shade as well.
As with most species of Willow, they grow best when given lots of water."
26-MAY-2016
Mikayla and Rhubarb
Our granddaughter, Mikayla, loves all animals and has some of her own, cats, birds, rabbits and others. She volunteered for a time at Green Hill Animal Shelter in Eugene for a while. Here she is with one of her bunnies, Rhubarb!
27-MAY-2016
A Small Vineyard
When on a search for another covered bridge, I came across this small vineyard not far from Wren, OR. I thought it was an attractive scene. Hope you think so too.
28-MAY-2016
Fantastic Flower
This beautiful wild flower was growing at Delta Ponds. It is a delight to the eye!
29-MAY-2016
Gone to Seed
Looks like this dandelion is about to spread its seeds on the wind. What an effective way for it to propagate! The fact that they are found everywhere pretty much proves that! Anyway, it's not an uncommon subject, hopefully presented in interesting light.
30-MAY-2016
Delightful Dark-Eyed Junco
The Dark-Eyed Junco is a favorite of mine, probably partly because it is also called the "Oregon Junco". :) The Junco is a bird that is easy to attract to your backyard feeder, and they prefer woodland habitats. When they fly, their white outer tail feathers show up beautifully. And they fly easily as they are nervous and flighty.
31-MAY-2016
Window to the World
Before we talk about what this scene is. what do you think you see?
The world isn't always the way it looks at first glance! This is a photo made looking through a window into what used to be a children's clothing store. The bright yellow and green part of the scene is painted on the inside wall. All of the rest of the scene (the sky to the left, the parking lot and cars and the wall with windows seemingly beyond the arches, it just naturally looks like it is really in a breezeway behind the arches), was reflected on the window right in front of me. I thought the combination of the inside and outside made for an interesting scene of its own. But it is all really an optical illusion! :) The window scene is in a small shopping center located where I did my photo walk this morning.
01-JUN-2016
Taming a Wild One
Where did daylilies come from?
The day lily is native to Asia and grew wild. But from the early 1930s, horticulturists in the US and in England have come up with a wide variety of daylilies. At first, daylilies were found in only yellow, orange, and a reddish brown. Now, we find daylilies in near-whites, pastels, yellows, oranges, pinks, vivid reds, crimson, purple, nearly true-blue, and other colors. The most common are yellow or orange daylilies and are often seen along roadsides. Today, daylilies of all colors are found in many gardens.
02-JUN-2016
A Lover of Gardens
A first year Golden-crowned Sparrow, less colorful than older adults. Golden-crowned Sparrows are easy to attract to your backyard with seeds from ground feeders, also the fruits and buds of flowers that grace your yard. But beware, they might also go for the cabbages, beets, and peas from your vegetable garden. Share and share alike, I say!
03-JUN-2016
The Kind of Stumping I Prefer!
During this time of extravagant politics and excessive controversy, when candidates crisscross the country stumping for votes, this is the only version of stumping I find delightful!