~ Summer Smiles ~ In A Vase On Monday ~

Black-eyed Susan, Cone Flower and Hydrangea are the dominant eye-catchers in my garden today.

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Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’, Hydrangea mycrophyla

Today’s arrangement is presented in a ceramic teapot I found second-hand.  

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Summer is hitting us like a sledge hammer this week, so my front yard Hydrangeas will get toasted. Luckily, my home is air-conditioned — whew!

Thanks to Susan at Rambling in the Garden for hosting this weekly challenge!

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~ Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge ~

Anyone for lounging in the blackberry brambles?

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Jello in the boat enjoying shade and shoes!

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The Purple Heart of Queen Ann’s Lace.

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Things are warming up in the Pacific Northwest, USA, with temperatures predicted above 100° f (~38° c) by Wednesday — unusual around these parts!

 ~ Here’s to staying cool with Cee’s Odd Ball challenge ~

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~ Creating A Garden ~ WPC: Satisfaction ~

There is something very gratifying about nurturing plants and having them thrive.  

 

I feel the same pleasure as the birds I encourage to become residents in my landscape bring their fledges to the feeders and continue to keep my gardens bug-free! (https://wordpress.com/post/lindylecoq.wordpress.com/16094)

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~ Fire In The Sky ~ Just Another Sunset ~

Over the past week I have been in a place where connectivity is ruled by nature, not the net, so I have been remiss in posting and responding. Please accept my apology.

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On my last night at Crescent Creek, the sun was setting in a new moon sky. There were no fires on the land about me, but oh — there was fire in the sky!

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~ Fledglings ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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Northern Flicker

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Downy Woodpecker

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Robin

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Black-headed Grosbeak

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Bushtit

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~ Pansy Posy ~ In A Vase On Monday ~

From childhood to this very moment, I’ve loved the bright colors and ‘smiling faces’ of pansy’s (Viola).  Today I feature two (though I don’t know the specific variety of either).  

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This blown-glass vase is a favorite that I found at Orcas Island Pottery years ago.  It is a classic shape and its royal blue provides a lovely contrast to the bright yellow flower.

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For more eye-calming and eye-popping flower arrangements, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden 

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~ NU2U ~ WPC: Collage ~

Collage at it’s finest is a repurposing of elements to create a new design.  In my early years, I loved making paper collages. Later I gravitated toward found-objects (objet trouvé).  This storefront in Long Beach, WA was right up my alley — so to speak!

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Last time I drove by, all the objects had been removed.  Guess it was a little too funky for the middle of a growing tourist town!

 

 

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Collage

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~ Cloudy and Comfortable ~ Skywatch Friday ~

Our weather has been temperate, with sunny days interspersed with cloudy ones. No rain in the forecast, however!

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Vancouver, WA — USA

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~ CEE’s B&W Photo Challenge: Signs ~

Since I’ve already used my ‘Kids For Sale’ sign as an Odd Ball, here’s the lay of the land near where that photo was taken!

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With snow and ice on the roads last winter, this sign took something of a hit.

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Thanks to Cee for providing inspiration for posts!

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Wild Roses ~

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