Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Magic of Nature






Cooler temperatures and lower humidity has graced our area for the last couple of days.  Shouting for joy about the beautiful weather, we can now take our walks through the neighborhood and enjoy it!  As most of us have endured one of the hottest summers on record, it changes my days.  I adore the outdoors, but not the sweltering days we've had.  It's much easier to check on the garden and just relax on the patio when the weather is tolerable.  While relaxing outside we enjoy reading or solving a sudoku or just seeing who will come to the feeder next.




Black-capped Chickadee


The cicadas are really tuning up their song these days.  As I was hanging sheets on the line yesterday it was quite loud.  They are also dropping from the trees as their brief cycle begins.  We were supposed to miss this years Magicicada invasion, but you can't tell it around here.  As creepy as they look and sound, they do not bite or sting.  As I swept off the patio this morning a large dead one came into view.  Here is the sound they make if you are not familiar. HERE

Cicadas have a 17 year life cycle.  The bugs are under the ground for almost all of this time.  When they come up  they find mates and then lay eggs and die.  If you dislike bugs you may not want to look at this photo.



Let's take a look at "cuter" creatures.

The Sphinx Moth (Sphingidae) or Hummingbird Moth is so interesting to watch as he gathers nectar.  He's quite magical.  Some folks think they are watching a hummingbird, but he is a moth.  I find him so fascinating!  I do hope you have witnessed his antics.





The birds are beginning their migrations south, so you may have seen many hummingbirds and other birds fly through your area.

Another magical moment came for us as we were visited by a Monarch Butterfly!  We have many swallowtails, but hardly ever see the Monarch.  If you want to learn more about the king of butterflies go HERE .  Depleting milkweed plants are really affecting the population of this beautiful butterfly.  If you have a wild area on your property, consider letting milkweed grow.




"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."  Nathaniel Hawthorne 


A rather large frog found a cool spot in a pot of begonias.





These are just a few of the magical creatures that may come to your garden.  I hope there is time in your day to look at the wonder of nature.  Have you seen anything interesting in your garden recently?  I'd love to hear about it.



“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ― W.B. Yeats









32 comments:

  1. The Hummingbird Hawkmoth causes quite a stir here when people who don't know what they are looking at think they are seeing a Hummingbird. It makes me smile.
    Lovely photos of all your wildlife, but is that frog a frog, or is it a toad with all those markings on it's back?
    ~~~Deb

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    1. Deb, thank you for telling me about my toad. I admit to not knowing much about toads and frogs as they tend to startle me in my garden. Which is really no reason to not know about him. Looking him up, he surely is a toad. I hope your days are full of magical sightings. xoxo ♥

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  2. Martha Ellen, I had such a hectic morning, and your nature post just made me smile. The hummingbird moth DOES look like a hummingbird, how interesting. What a pretty picture this of him with the purple flowers. How delightful to see the butterfly, the frog, and the squirrel in your garden. I have to go to the park or deep into nature to see these around here, but to see them in your own garden must be magical. I really like that black and white cover on your lounge chair too.

    Thank you, my dear, for showing these wonderful pictures today. Nature brings me peace every time, and when I experience it on your blog as well.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, I'm the same about nature. I'm so lucky to see all of this magic in our backyard. We went down to the river today to have a little picnic and we saw the grandest bird of all---the American Bald Eagle. Of course I didn't have my camera, but it gave us the biggest thrill. I hope your days are full of magical peaceful sights. ♥

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  3. Just as you have mentioned, our temps this summer have not been such to encourage us to spend a lot of time outdoors! We will be happy to have some cooler days. Even the rabbits have been minimal this season, though there has been a family of skunks on the move.

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    1. A family of skunks--oh my, Nellie! We occasionally get that familiar smell of the black and white fellow. Luckily they must move on as well. Sending you cooler thoughts as I don't think summer is finished with us yet! ♥

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  4. It's good that the weather is cooling down a little for you, it just makes life so much more enjoyable.

    You've shared some wonderful photo's, the last one is my favourite

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. Unfortunately the weather is supposed to warm up again tomorrow. Summer will be around here through September. Our squirrels are quite the monkeys around here. We have a love hate relationship with them, but mostly we love them. (I can't believe I just wrote that!) I hope you find magic as you view nature. ♥

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  5. Your photos are gorgeous! You really are a whiz with the camera.

    I am thankful that, for us, it's been a cooler than usual summer. That's not to say it's been cool. But we've had very few (if any) triple digit days, and we've been in the low 80's the last couple days.

    Blessings,
    Patti

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    1. Thank you, Patti. I'm still learning about photography, but I really enjoy it. We are so glad to have had a few days of pleasant weather, but we will be returning to higher temperatures and that dreaded humidity tomorrow! I hope you enjoy the magic of nature that surrounds us. ♥

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  6. Beautiful photos Martha Ellen. I remember my mom having us kids collect 17 cicadas' shells and line them up on a fence and have our picture taken with them! I'm glad you're enjoying cooler weather, We had two moderate days at the beginning of the week. Lovely.

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    1. That is a cool remembrance from your childhood, Dotsie. Now that's really posing with an interesting backdrop! I would never have thought of that one. When we have those glorious moderate days they are certainly noteworthy. Sending you wishes for a comfortable week's end. ♥

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  7. Aren't the cooler temps and lower humidity levels a welcome change? Glad that you have been able to enjoy your walks and your own garden again. That's a wonderful photo of the cute little chickadee.

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    1. Yes, indeed they are welcome, Vee. I hate to complain about the weather as I've heard if that's all one has to talk about, one must be boring. Well I guess that's me as our summer has been a hot one.
      I think of you often and pray for love to surround you, dear Vee. ♥

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  8. Oh, Martha Ellen! You have truly captured the magic of nature in your backyard photos. They are just lovely! A brief respite from the heat and humidity is so energizing. We had three delightful days in a row earlier this week. I took advantage of those days to do lots of digging and transplanting in the garden. Now the gentle rains are watering the perennials in their new homes. The annual cicadas are performing their symphony with gusto each afternoon and evening here, too. They are part of the soundtrack of our late summer days! Sending hugs, dear one! ♡

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    1. Dawn, I love what you said about the "soundtrack of our late summer days." You are so smart to take advantage of these cooler days in the garden. We did a little of that as well. Our two potted tropical hibiscus needed re-potting and now that task is done. They will have time to reestablish themselves before coming inside for winter. I'm so glad you are having rain after all of your work. Next year you will have more beautiful plants in your garden. Enjoy a lovely weekend, dear Dawn. ♥

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  9. I'm glad to hear that you're getting a reprieve from the heat. Thanks for the YouTube cicada chorus. I've only heard them once before, when we visited our son at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA. I thought they were fascinating. And loud! Very nice wildlife photos, Martha Ellen. I think we have a smaller monarch butterfly population than we have had in years past, but we do have milkweed around here and always let it grow for the monarchs. We have a nice little volunteer milkweed stand in our garden. Hope you have a nice evening and weekend.

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    1. Judy, I'm so glad to hear you have milkweed on your property. The poor monarchs need all the help they can get! Our cicadas have been so noisy lately. It is a strange phenomenon that always sounds like summer here in VA. Enjoy your weekend, dear Judy. ♥

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  10. Ahh that was enjoyable. We first came across cicadas in Kentucky on a trip. We had never heard of them before or "heard them" before! There was an outbreak of them the year our son graduated college in Illinois and they were everywhere. The sidewalks were green from people walking on them! I do get to see the hummingbird moths here. I saw some Monarch butterflies a while back but not lately. I hope the message gets out more and more about how important milkweed is for them. The frog and squirrel are cute. I love nature and enjoyed this post- peaceful thoughts.

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    1. Thank you, Liz. It seems cicadas don't do well in very cold climates. I imagine it was a little strange for you to hear them for the first time.
      Gardening surely brings joy in many ways. I think gardening and nature go hand in hand. It's always nice to visit your garden. ♥

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  11. So glad that you have been able to enjoy some days outdoors, Martha Ellen! I know that those kinds of days are nourishing to you. You have seen some lovely sights and have taken wonderful photos! Cicadas are fascinating, aren't they? And I love the shot of the squirrel. I know that some folks consider them pests, but I think they're so cute...and such fun to watch!

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    1. We have a love hate relationship with squirrels. We have one that walks along the edge of our Florida room every morning. He's just checking us out--so cute. But of course, I'm not too happy when they dig in the pots with flowers. Have a great day, Cheryl. ♥

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  12. Lovely photos of the critters. I feel your pain regarding the squirrels. They look cute, but they can do some damage. Gardening is such a joy. I need to climb inside our waterfall down at the pool and cut some invasive vines that are taking over. Happy Friday.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. You will surely stay cool while gardening in your pool. Happy weekend. ♥

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  13. Glad you are enjoying the cooler temps! Happy Friday ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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    1. Today our heat and humidity returned, Summer. It was nice to have a respite, though. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  14. Wonderful photographs, Mary Ellen. I was working in my garden this morning when I disturbed a cicada hiding in the Virginia Creeper. When he let out his "call" I screamed! I'm always on the look-out for snakes in my garden and any sudden movement or sound startles a scream from me. Whenever I find a cicada skeleton, I collect its wings--they look just like faerie wings.

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    1. Cathy, I'm the same about movement in our garden. It's usually a frog and occasionally a snake much to my dismay! I love how you find magic in the cicadas as faerie wings. The coloration is just striking in their wings. Enjoy the magic that surrounds us, Cathy. ♥

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  15. I really enjoyed seeing all these critters...
    it's been so hot here too, but, rainy weather for the last few days and we are LOVIN' it.....

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    1. BJ, I think this is the first year I am really longing for fall. As much as I love it, summer has been a killer this year. Have a great evening. ♥

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  16. Lovely post Martha, as a lover of all creatures great and small. Even the creepy crawlers are fascinating. Recently watched a documentary on cicadas, so interesting. I always imagined them in a sort of underground hibernation for those 17 years, but they are going about their business;shopping, partying, playing cards, building tunnels, etc, etc. But seriously, they come up through the earth, climb a tree,shed the outer shell and become CICADAs, mate and die, quite an eventful life for a bug!

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    1. Jeri, I love the image of the cicadas having a life underground. Our world is so full of magic and wonder. I can see you writing and illustrating an adorable children's book about cicadas. Have a great evening. ♥

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