Bumbling Along

 I love Nyjer flowers and bumblebees.  It's always great when I have both in the backyard.

Icy Straight Point

 Alaska Cruise Trip Day 3 – Icy Straight Point

We docked at Icy Straight Point in Hoonah, AK.  It was drizzling while we were there; the only time it rained on our trip.  We took the Sky Glider gondola to the summit, but since it was so early in the season there wasn't much to do up there.  I read some comments on one site that said the trip to the summit was a 45-minute bus ride before the gondolas were built.  We came back down and took a different gondola into town.  The greenery was amazing due to over 200 inches of precipitation per year.

This Too, Shall Pass

The first bird-planted Nyjer flower has opened!  When nature turns bird poo into beautiful flowers, everyone wins.

Fuzzy

 

Blooming Strawberries

 

Vibrant

 We had the sprinkler watering the flowers today.  I couldn't resist taking a picture.  I love this color of daylilies. 

Mother's Day Pink

For the most part, I've been avoiding the internet today.  Mother's Day is not my favorite day.  In fact, if I'm being honest with myself, I hate Mother's Day.  It holds no joy for me anymore.

Yesterday I was thinking about when I was a kid, there would always be symbolic red and white flowers for mothers and daughters to take home after the church service was over.  I found a good article explaining it for those who've never heard about it.

My mom would always take a white flower.  As a kid, I never realized how hard that must have been for her.  We'd bring our flowers home – hers white and mine red.  These days, mine would be white and I don't have anyone to give a red one to.  Holidays can be cruel when you don't qualify.

Many moons ago, I was going through a dark time in my life.  It was just one bad thing after another.  Practically every day there would be some new dark twist.  I would cry out to God to please "throw me a bone."  Just a little, tiny something to get me through.  Every time, He would.  Sometimes I didn't even get a chance to ask.  He would throw me a bone before I even asked or knew I needed one.

This year, my husband bought me a bonsai tree for Valentine's Day.  It's been a lovely challenge to keep it alive and thriving, as it's not as forgiving as some plants.  I've had to water it every day, even back when it was still winter.  It's a summer blooming plant and I was very excited to see buds appear a week ago or so.  

Today, Mother's Day, the first flower has opened.  Mother's Day, the day I hate, a beautiful pink flower opens.  A pink flower: Red + White = Pink.

Thank you, God, for throwing me a beautiful, pink bone.

Purple Pokey Flower

As seen on a neighborhood walk.

Pink and Pretty

Outside a local grocery store.

Big and Orange

 Another big, beautiful bloom from the neighborhood.

White Lovelies

Took a walkabout around the neighborhood this evening.  Many flowerbeds are looking pretty scraggly and sad due to all of the hot, dry weather lately, but there are still some beautiful blooms out there.

Marigold

More fun with "oil painting."

Painted Beauty

Sometimes, when an image isn't tack-sharp, I feel freer to experiment.  Here's a little "oil painting" to brighten your day.

Dallying with Dahlias

 Another one from my own yard.

Flower on Fire

As seen in the neighborhood.

Petite Pink

 As seen in the neighborhood.

Spiky Pink

 As seen in the neighborhood.

Busy Bee

 

Purple Poofballs

As seen on a neighborhood walk last month.

Painted Petals

 Another lily from the neighborhood.