So far this summer, I have posted pictures of 8 different lilies which have bloomed in our yard. I posted one on June 6 (our first lily of the summer), one on June 10 (Treffer), and 8 on June 10. If you missed the June 10th post, click HERE.
Today I will show you six more lilies (with more to come in a later post). You all know how much I love our roses... WELL--the lilies come in a very close second.... As with day lilies, there are so many varieties---some with names and some without. Some of our lilies grow very tall---and soar above everything else in the garden. Note picture above. Granted, I was standing on the sidewalk and the flowerbed is raised. Even still, those lilies are pretty darn tall!!!!! Below are more of our lilies!
This lily is named AMERICAN ORIGINAL.
And let me introduce you to BUENA VISTA.
This lily is named CASABLANCA.
These beautiful lilies are named GOLDEN SPLENDOR.
I'll bet that many of my blogger friends will LOVE this pink lily. So far, we haven't been able to find out her name. SO---you pink-lovers can name her!!!!
This lily looks like it is a very pale green in some lights and in others, it looks more yellow. VERY pretty lily!!!!
Our lilies are so pretty in our yard since there are so many different colors. Between the roses and the lilies, we do have a colorful rainbow right in our own yard. NOW---if we could just get some rain and some cooler temperatures!!!!!
Hugs,
Today I have good news and bad news... First of all, the good news: Our Eastern Bluebirds (pictured above) are nesting again .. This will be Brood Number II this Spring/Summer. The Mama Blue is coming to our feeders --picking up raisins. You'll have to enlarge the picture to see the raisin in her mouth.
The bad news (or maybe SAD news) is our LACK of Hummingbirds this Summer so far. I began putting out our four feeders the end of April (when they usually get here). I've continued to change the nectar frequently--hoping that TODAY will be the day... But--as of today, we have seen NO hummingbirds at our feeders this year. Wonder where they are?????? I'm so sad. We always have had alot of these special birds! Sniff Sniff!!!
We do have an abundance of backyard birds. I made a list of all of the birds I have seen so far this Summer. They are (in no particular order): Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatch, Caroline Wrens, Song Sparrows, Goldfinch, House Finch, Eastern Bluebirds, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Brown Thrashers, Bluejays, Robins, and several woodpeckers (Pileated, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Downy). I'm sure there are many other birds around that I either don't know about, or haven't seen. I need my birder friend Kelly to come and live here for a month---to teach me more of our birds!
I haven't taken many pictures of the birds lately (except for our Bluebirds) ---so I took some time yesterday and took a few for you. Hope you enjoy them. I'll try to take more on another day.
The Tufted Titmice have to be one of my favorite birds to photograph. All of the backyard birds have had babies recently---and it's so much fun to see the 'young' ones come to the feeders.
We have two Mourning Doves which are now brave enough to scope out the deck several times a day. They love to clean up the sunflower seeds which the other birds drop on the deck.
The Downy Woodpeckers have also had babies---and the entire family comes to the suet feeder during the day. Our Red-bellied Woodpeckers come regularly also--but I didn't get any pictures yesterday.
This little guy is one I have never captured in a picture before.. He's a Song Sparrow. I know they are quite common (I grew up calling most little birds sparrows)---but he is the first bird to enjoy eating on the seed bell. Most of my birds turn their noses up when it comes to the seed bell. Have you ever heard this little guy sing????? He and the Carolina Wren can really put on a show.
I saved this guy 'til last!!!! He's one of two Brown Thrashers that LOVE the suet feeder. Between the woodpeckers, the nuthatches and these big Thrashers, they can really go through the suet!!!!!
Now--if you know anything about Thrashers, you will know that they are supposed to be ground feeders. WELL---not these two... They entertain us all day long--standing on the top of that suet feeder and bending down to reach the suet... Sometimes the feeder goes round and round and the Thrashers look as if they are getting dizzy. AND---when the suet gets smaller and smaller---they have a hard time reaching it at all. BUT--they stay there and try and try... They can't hang onto the sides like the woodpeckers do. SO---let me just say that our Brown thrashers put on a comedy show for us. One of these days, I'll try to get a short video. It's SO funny!!!
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I usually close showing one of our Roses. But today--I want to show you one of our beautiful lilies. This gorgeous orange lily is named TREFFER. Isn't it pretty?????
Have a wonderful day and weekend.
Hugs,
Yesterday was a fabulous day for George and me. We drove to Cleveland, TN (to the Cracker Barrel) and had lunch plus about FOUR hours of talk-talk-talk with blog friends, SHELLEY and LEEDRA. It was fabulous--and seemed as if we had known one another all of our lives. I don't know who talked the most, but poor Greg and George didn't get many words in!!!!! ha
I won't tell you what we said (that would take an eternity)---but I will say that we did talk about YOU... Favorite bloggers---Not-so-favorite Bloggers, Funny ones, etc..... Did your ears burn???? I'm sure your blog fell into the 'Fav' list of course!!!!!!!! Seriously though, we talked about our lives, our hubbies, and life in general.
Since Leedra and I both live in Tennessee, we want Shelley and Greg to come back (they live in gorgeous but cold Michigan)--and we will take them to the Smokies (Cades Cove specifically)... AND---the next time, any of you who live nearby are welcome to come too!!!!! (Sorry Jayne!) Actually, I'd love to meet more of you---if and when you get near us, and we can meet somewhere for lunch or dinner... OR--you can come by and see our Roses and Lilies.
The picture above shows the three of us (Leedra, Betsy, Shelley). More pictures are below ---and I'm sure you can see more on both Shelley's and Leedra's blogs. We ALL had cameras!!!! Are you surprised???? ha
Shelley and I had some time to talk about Leedra (Sh! Don't tell her!!! Ha) before she got there!!!!
George and I gave Shelley and Greg a framed photo of our favorite local waterfall, Fall Creek Falls. We want to take them there someday also!!! Leedra brought Shelley and Greg some beautiful Irises from her garden --for them to plant at their home in Michigan. Shelley gave both Leedra and me a bag filled with all kinds of MICHIGAN goodies. My favorite is a loon magnet... I have already put it on my frig---and can think of Shelley and her love of loons everytime I open my frig. (Of course, she also brought pictures of Scout -her new puppy-- to show us!!!)
Wonder what we were laughing about????? Think we were still talking about Leedra since she still hadn't gotten there??????? ha ha ha (Sorry Leedra!!! We just HAVE to give you a hard time!)
One more photo of the three Bloggers; Shelley's Greg was also there and my George---but they were always taking the pictures!!!!
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When we got home yesterday, I walked around outside and took some pictures of our yard. This picture is actually the view I have right now when I stand at my kitchen sink and look outside. Seeing and smelling the lilies certainly makes washing dishes more special!!!!! Wanna come and wash our dishes??? (Click on each picture to enlarge.)
I can sit on our swing on the deck and see and smell these beauties.
Next to the white lilies is a patch of yellow ones.. I love seeing them in groups like this!
Remember in spring when we had Dad Adams' Daffodils in this bed???? WELL---now we have Dad Adams' Daylilies. Aren't they pretty?
Several of you have asked for a 'tour' of our yard. It's hard to show it all---but this is a view from the street looking toward the house. Look carefully and you can see our hanging bird feeder near the Computer Room window.. I love sitting at my 'puter watching the birds come to that feeder!!! Fun Fun!!!
One more view of the front yard ; You can see the Roses --and also some Lilies in the round lamppost flowerbed.
If you ever get a chance to visit blog friends in person ---DO IT. It was wonderful for us today!!
Hugs,
