Hi everyone. Another week is wrapping up, and it's already the middle of August. Holy cow! Thank goodness I don't have to go back to school in another week. It was a great career, but retirement is even better. 😏 Five more work days over the next 2 1/2 weeks at the lake too, and then I'll be fully retired again. 👍
I'm here today to join Nicole at Friday Face Off and also Gillena at her Friday Lunch Break.
Today I'm sharing a few faces and photos I've taken over the past week from my yard and gardens.
There's a whole lot of small leopard frogs all over the place. There's a vernal pool on the edge of the property, and I bet they are from eggs that hatched there.
I've seen a big old toad around in various spots, and I don't know if all the toads I've seen are the same toad or not. This guy was sitting out on the back deck when I went out with the dogs before bedtime the other night. And he wasn't afraid of the dogs at all.
I have a bird bath in my rose garden, but I've never seen a bird near it. 😑 However, my honeybees and a lot of wild bees and hornets seem to love it. I added some stones to the bottom so the bees actually have a place to land and get their drinks.
And boo/hiss, I've managed to keep the Japanese beetles from eating my grapevine leaves, but now I'm finding them in my roses. I can't spray because of the bees, so I'm out picking these off the flowers.
The much needed rain the other evening also made some flowers pretty photogenic.
Speaking of bees, this guy is a permanent resident on my back deck. He was a gift from my daughter a few years back. Glad he doesn't sting. 😏
The milkweed pods are growing too.
However, I have a good crop of milkweed leaf beetles growing too.
Sadly I haven't seen a single monarch butterfly around this year.
These giant phlox are all over the place. They've self-seeded themselves in 2 of my gardens, and they look so pretty right now.
I'll finish with some tomatoes I picked the other day still in my picking bag.
This is what I've been getting most days-just a whole lot of tomatoes. A couple of my plants are a new variety I tried that produces purple tomatoes. Well they are a purple red color, and wow, they are so much sweeter than the old standard red ones.
That's all for me. Have a super Friday and weekend ahead.
20 comments:
How delightful to have little Leopard Frogs hopping around your yard. You have had a good eye as you have walked around and observed the insects, too. I should add a couple of rocks to the bird bath. Wasps seem to favour it more than bees, so perhaps the rocks will encourage them to visit. Our Monarch caterpillars are growing at an amazing pace. Thank goodness we have swamp milkweed in the backyard. All the best - David
...time flies, enjoy today before it's gone and becomes yesterday.
The bee from your. daughter is adorable
Happy Friday Erika
Thanks for linking to AFFF
much♡love
Yes, those beetles drive me crazy! We spray, they come back! But your garden and your bees are very exciting to see! Happy weekend!
Beautiful faces of nature photos ~ right in your own backyard ~ divine ~ hugs ~
an artist reflects (carol mck)
These are magnificent photos. Those frogs are just too cute. We don't have frogs around here. I guess they don't like the sea air. All of the flowers are beautiful. You are really getting some tomatoes. YAY for that. Thank you for sharing with FFO and have a very nice weekend.
You got some great pictures of the frog and the flowers. Have a great weekend!
I love those beautiful macro shots, Erika! Before you knew it, X'mas will be here...
An excellent tomato harvest is a very good thing! I love your flowers with raindrops! Enjoy your weekend as we begin the second half of August.
I would love to have some leopard frogs and toads in my garden, but I guess it's just too dry. I have lots of lizards instead. The birds do use the birdbath, but I should set up a bath for the bees, too. I'll do that this afternoon, I have enough rocks here where they can land on. Have a wonderful weekend, Erika! Hugs - Carola
Gorgeous photos
You've shared some lovely photographs and I do like the bee from your daughter.
Enjoy the coming weekend.
All the best Jan
Hi I loved this post so much, thank you for sharing. It's so amazing that you are able to see so much nature right in your own yard. The photos are just beautiful, and I especially love the one of the phlox after the rain. It looks so fresh and vibrant. The little leopard frogs are so cute, and how funny that the toad wasn't afraid of your dogs at all. That's a brave little toad. It's also so cool that you're growing purple tomatoes, I've never heard of them before but they sound delicious.
Lot of bright colors.
Happy Friday, I loved seeing the frogs, we have little lizards here that are fun to watch-blue ones and regular color ones. Lovely flowers, I put out water like you have and nothing has used them I have not seen hardly any butterflies here either wonder if it is too hot for them-we are back to just under 100 F now plus the high humidity.
I enjoyed all the photos-happy Friday and weekend Hugs Kathy
To retiremane (oh, I can´t wait for that! I have so much to do!).
Hello, King Frog!
Don´t want to make so sad, but kinda... aware. I saw two bees and one wasp so far. Sad.
At least people like you help - have a great... (late again) Saturday, hugs
Lovely photos, the flowers are gorgeous. I've not seen any frogs in my garden this year, probably too dry
I've never seen bees drinking like this before. The watering hole is great!
The frogs and the old toad are great, what a bunch you have. The eating beetles aren't so great. But they look beautiful!
The purple flowers on the bush look pretty. Delicious, such great tomatoes, and a variety too. Enjoy.
Have a nice Sunday on the water! Hugs, Elke
That’s an amazing harvest! Purple tomatoes sound so unique—it’s awesome that they’re even sweeter than the classic red ones. Nothing beats homegrown flavor. Do they taste as good as they look? 🍅💜
Your bee garden tchotchke is adorable! And your veggie harvest looks fab for 2 people. Hope you are making some good salads! We've got your butterflies down here this year. Frogs too but the geckos are outnumbering them. Have not seen that many lizards tho. One hot, one not weather sounds wonderful! xoxo
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