Rainy days and Mondays....

 We certainly got a good soaking yesterday...

(Ajuga)

... with several heavy downpours from afternoon into evening.

(Basil)

Therefore, all of my photos were taken from the deck, under the protection of our canopy.

Here's a little clip of the rain coming down....

Once the rain stopped, I went back out on the deck. While taking another little 'camera video' I captured a male ruby throat zoom right by me, totally ignore the feeder, and go for the hanging plant. In the background, you'll also see Sammy Squirrel coming out to play now that the rains had ceased.

A few minutes later I captured the female ruby throat hovering right in front of me. I didn't even realize she was there until I played back the video.

(Red Nasturtium)

I've yet to see any hummers at the nasturtium that I have planted on the deck, so I moved the pots very close to the feeder. Hopefully they'll visit them now with the change of location.

(Orange Nasturtium)

And they very well may be visiting the nasturtiums on a regular basis, just not when I've been out there. The new location also allows me a better view of the plants from the dining room window.

So far my flowers are holding up pretty good...

I do NOT have a green thumb and by mid July my flowers really showcase that fact.

But they're so beautiful before they start going downhill.

The flowers I always have the best luck with (no need to deadhead or fertilize) are impatiens, and they were hard to come by this year. Many nurseries weren't even selling them, and the ones that were had a 'disclaimer' of sorts up. So far they're all doing great...

After photographing the deck flowers...

... I turned my attention to some of my Sammy Squirrel friends.

This cute guy was watching me from the top of the arbor...

... while this little guy was hanging out on the swingset...

... and this smart Sammy, knowing my peanut basket was right next to me on the deck, decided to come right up and beg for a treat.

Wishing you all a beautiful month of July...

Donna 

By the dawn's early light...

I couldn't get back to sleep after waking up at 5 a.m. so after tossing and turning for what seemed like forever, I decided to get up.

I should get up at this time more often. Dawn and dusk are my favorite times of day (except in the winter, when I'd like dawn to arrive much earlier and dusk to arrive much later).

Actually, these photos were taken a bit later than dawn. It was probably a bit closer to 6:30 when I thought of snapping some photos. As you can see, my poor window box screenfeeder isn't looking as spiffy as it once did. The lavender is now well past its prime.

But that didn't stop Baby and I from enjoying the view.

 I think she's watching for Mr. Hummingbird, who's been spending a lot of time at the feeder lately.

Of course he's never on the feeder when I have my camera handy. Some day I'll be ready when he visits. 

 In  anticipation of the colder weather that will be arriving all too soon, the squirrels are busy building their tree top nests (as evidenced by all the leaves and small branches dropping to the ground on a daily basis).

I hope you all have a beautiful week.

I'm joining Tracie at the beautiful Fishtail Cottage for her Cottage Garden Party this week!

Donna

Summer Porch Party...

Thank you to Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses for organizing this Front Porch Party! Have fun today visiting all the blogs that are posting photos of their porches, dream porches or decks (as in my case!)...

I just got a new 1GB XD picture card for my camera and WOW - it holds so many photos! I'm afraid I got carried away with my picture taking so don't feel like you have to scroll through all of my photos! I usually have to take a few pix, load them onto the computer, delete some from the card, then take more, etc... What a liberating experience a whole GB is!


This is our little deck, right off the family room of our split level 'cottage.'


If the fountain is turned on, you can hear it from inside the family room. There's something so tranquil about the sound of running water. And right next to the fountain is the rusty planter I got last week...


I always hang a fuchsia from both sides of my deck each year as they are a hummingbird favorite!


I bought the planter on the right last week; I've had the one on the left for years. I couldn't believe finding another planter identical to the one I had!


Some cherub heads and potted plants in an old crate.


Another fuchsia for the top tier of this old chippy white planter.


Sweet basil is planted in this cheerful cottage blue pail I picked up at WalMart last week.


A little grouping of impatiens, a garden bunny and a hedgehog at the base of the fountain.

An old chair with a hanging basket set down where the seat used to be.



Another little stone bunny with the teacup impatiens.


A little duck statue under one of the hanging fuchsias.


Many years ago my now-19 year old used to have a box turtle so one year I picked up this garden statue to remind her of "Nike."


The baker's rack is pretty skimpy since the flowers were just planted last week. Patience, Donna...


So after you've visited all the other porches and decks, come on back, pull up a chair, and we'll watch for the hummingbird. I'll have the iced tea waiting...

Donna