Today I am linking with-
Skywatch Friday hosted by Sylvia, Yogi, and Sandy
Today's Flowers hosted by Denise
Saturday's Critters hosted by Eileen
In a Vase on Monday hosted by Cathy
Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma and Mystical Magical Teacher
Wildlife Wednesday hosted by Tina of My Garden Says
Of course I have to have a Super Moon shot this week for Skywatch Friday. Last year I got some photos of the beginning half of the October eclipse, but this time I just got a few of the end-
I noticed that the shadow on the moon selectively enhances some of the craters so they seem to look different. While focusing on the moon, a face started appearing there, I'll show you, aha! I was looking back at you and you were looking back at me-
Well back to familiar territory, some plants that are blooming now are two of the heathers on my ramp, which gets little water and is elevated so it drains very fast, Daboecia cantabrica 'Atropurpurea'-
A new plant purchase from Bird's English Garden Nursery, Coreopsis verticillata 'Route 66'-
Like the other plants I bought recently, it was quite root-bound-
So I was able to plant 2, to balance my 2 Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' plants-
I hope they make it to bloom again next year.
I finally drove to the nearby Ridgefield Wildlife Preserve with my husband to see what birds were there. I can tell I rarely do this, I got there and the camera battery was dead. So all I got were some cell phone photos, not very good. No wonderful zoom. I did see a few Sandhill Cranes-
There were also some Egrets, and I even saw a Grebe, so frustrating not to be able to zoom in.
But we were walking along some water and were surprised by an albino Nutria that seemed quite unaware of people, and was actually eating a blackberry vine, I guess I could use a few. They are not a native animal, and are related to Guinea pigs or cavies, and like to swim in water-
And now for In a Vase on Monday, which is a meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden, who challenges us gardeners to find something to plonk in a vase to decorate our houses.
I could not resist using my poor Aster laevis, blooming for the first time, that had the stalk broken off by a deer. I brought the stalk in and put it in water, and the few buds were opening. Here in a glass jar in a shallow bowl-
I picked several houseplant flowers to go with them- Streptocarpus 'Texas Hot Chili', which is blooming up a storm, a peachy geranium that blooms continually on my windowsill, and an African Violet that is blooming heavily at the moment, a plant that was my Swedish Mother-In-Law Martha's. I never succeeded with one before but put it by the sliding glass door and it loves it there. The vase is another of my ceramic creations, made from a poured mold, and decorated with a runny crystal glaze and flowers that were also poured in a mold and afixed to the bulb forcing vase.
Perhaps some of you will be inspired to plonk some flowers in a vase as well. Hannah
Casa de Luna Israeli couple's folk dance, one of my favorites-
©Weeding on the Wild Side, all rights reserved. I enjoy reading your comments, and will visit your blog and leave comments there if possible, but I am not able to do so if google + is the only option.
Well back to familiar territory, some plants that are blooming now are two of the heathers on my ramp, which gets little water and is elevated so it drains very fast, Daboecia cantabrica 'Atropurpurea'-
And a pink Calluna that blooms at the same time-
A new plant purchase from Bird's English Garden Nursery, Coreopsis verticillata 'Route 66'-
Like the other plants I bought recently, it was quite root-bound-
I was feeling like taking a chance so I cut the root ball in half with a serrated knife-
I hope they make it to bloom again next year.
I finally drove to the nearby Ridgefield Wildlife Preserve with my husband to see what birds were there. I can tell I rarely do this, I got there and the camera battery was dead. So all I got were some cell phone photos, not very good. No wonderful zoom. I did see a few Sandhill Cranes-
There were also some Egrets, and I even saw a Grebe, so frustrating not to be able to zoom in.
But we were walking along some water and were surprised by an albino Nutria that seemed quite unaware of people, and was actually eating a blackberry vine, I guess I could use a few. They are not a native animal, and are related to Guinea pigs or cavies, and like to swim in water-
And now for In a Vase on Monday, which is a meme hosted by Cathy of Rambling in the Garden, who challenges us gardeners to find something to plonk in a vase to decorate our houses.
I could not resist using my poor Aster laevis, blooming for the first time, that had the stalk broken off by a deer. I brought the stalk in and put it in water, and the few buds were opening. Here in a glass jar in a shallow bowl-
I picked several houseplant flowers to go with them- Streptocarpus 'Texas Hot Chili', which is blooming up a storm, a peachy geranium that blooms continually on my windowsill, and an African Violet that is blooming heavily at the moment, a plant that was my Swedish Mother-In-Law Martha's. I never succeeded with one before but put it by the sliding glass door and it loves it there. The vase is another of my ceramic creations, made from a poured mold, and decorated with a runny crystal glaze and flowers that were also poured in a mold and afixed to the bulb forcing vase.
Perhaps some of you will be inspired to plonk some flowers in a vase as well. Hannah
Casa de Luna Israeli couple's folk dance, one of my favorites-
©Weeding on the Wild Side, all rights reserved. I enjoy reading your comments, and will visit your blog and leave comments there if possible, but I am not able to do so if google + is the only option.
I had a comment about problems with leaving a comment here. If you are having trouble commenting on my blog, you can send me an email at z8hannah8z@gmail.com to comment and let me know of your difficulties. Thanks! I looked up solutions on Blogger and apparently Wordpress has not updated their Open ID servers, so to comment on Blogspot blogs, you must select OpenID then enter your address, changing it to plain http://address instead of https://address.
Great shots today, Hannah. I've never seen that little white critter before. We have been planting plants, and are working at keeping them watered to get the roots going before cold weather arrives.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen the Nutrias up close before, they are native to South America but were brought up here for the fur trade. They live in Washington, Oregon, and Montana, plus the Gulf coast states and Great Lakes states. They are pretty big, Their head and bodies are 17 to 25 in (43 to 64 cm) long; tail, 10 to 16 in (25 to 41 cm).
DeleteThe Nutria looks like he'd live on the Moon!
ReplyDeleteWhat a chuckle, Sharon, of course, he should live on the moon. While we were watching him someone came by and said they were surprised he was still around.
DeleteHello!:) What an unusual creature. It looks like a large rat.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I used to raise Guinea pigs, so to me it looks like one of them but with a ratty type of tail. In the water they look a lot like a smaller otter.
DeleteOur supermoon experience was totally obscured by clouds, so we got to watch it on video instead. You got some nice pictures of that as well as the blooms and that strange nutria. Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dorothy, we couldn't see the last eclipse for clouds, and can only see part of the sky for the trees. I was happy to get close at least to the funny Nutria.
DeleteThe nutria is so cool, as cool as the super moon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rainfield, it was such a treat when it crawled up out of the bushes and regaled us with its presence, just a few feet away. It stayed while numerous other people came up to watch or passed by.
DeleteNo super moon here -- just clouds. The nutria is "cute". Lovely blooms and always enjoy seeing what's in your vase! Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the clouds. That happened here the last eclipse. Nutria are related to guinea "pigs", perhaps they sound a lot like little Winston. Octobr is turning out to be quite nice in the garden, lots of flowers.
DeleteBeautiful array of pinks, and all the others, a vase full, they remind me of the words " Everything is beautiful, in its own way".
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean, I hadn't thought of using my houseplant blooms before since they are small and delicate, but I wanted something like that for the aster flowers. I'm trying to root the aster stalk, cut in 3 pieces, as well, so I can turn my tragedy into a plus if possible. At least the bottoms of the plants were ok and now under wire so hopefully I will get lots of flowers next year, and I did get to enjoy the flowers a little.
DeleteThat atropurpuria (sp?) is beautiful! And what fun seeing the nutria. Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marie, I think that's my favorite heather since the flowers are so big and I like the balloons, The color is so pretty too. I'm just glad it can live on my inhospitable ramp, and make it look pretty. The Nutria was fun indeed, ann otherwise depressing trip without my camera.
Deletewow! the albino nutria is a real treat to see! i know they're invasive. we've had a couple here that my dogs had to dispatch. still, pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteThat's strange that they would come to your pond, Theresa. It looks a little scruffy but apparently under the top coat of loose hairs there is a denser fur.
DeleteFantastic hosts of the moon. I like the flowers too. I'm visiting from SWF!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Penny, I bought my Canon SX 50 after seeing photos it took of the moon. That's not to say I always like it, it's hard to get it to focus on something a long way off. I didn't use a tripod but held it against the swing set.
ReplyDeleteYou did great! I also appreciate you mentioning the type of camera. I've got a fairly new mirrorless camera and still learning how to use it. I have to try out a borrowed zoom lens to see if I can get better moon shots before I decide to buy one ;-) Have a great weekend.
DeleteFantastic Moon shots and I like the capture of the albino Nutria as well as all the pretty flowers
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret, I'll have to take extra batteries next time I manage to get out to the wild life preserve. You must be good at that with all your travels. At least I had some charged to take photos of the moon.
DeleteHi Hannah
ReplyDeleteGreat post from out of this world shots of the moon, to never before seen animals, he is cute that albino Nutria and double the pleasure on the plants.
Hugs
Wren x
Thanks, Jenny, it was fun getting to see the Nutria up close. So far fall is an improvement over summer, lovely weather to enjoy the flowers. Hugs from the PNW!
DeleteWhat a wonderful post. So much to comment on. Love the critter.
ReplyDeleteI love buying plants, and finding them root-bound, that means they need me!
Thanks, Jennifer, the other plants I bought were very root-bound too and one I divided in 4, most the leaves died but there are a few green ones left so hopefully some will survive. I'm shocked when the plants look so good in the nursery then see the compacted roots when I get them home. They definitely needed me!
DeleteYou captured some great shots of the moon. What a bummer that the deer broke your first aster flower, but you made lemonade with that lemon! I admire all the people who participate in the In a Vase weekly meme. It's more work than I want to do, plus I have no talent for it. I've sliced rootbound plants in half before too, they usually do quite well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alison, I enjoyed your garden make-over. I nearly missed the eclipse but it's hard to take the moon between the trees. At least I didn't have to stay up until 4 am this time. I never used to cut flowers since they don't last long in the vase, but I realized I can actually enjoy them in the photographs and it's been fun digging out all my old vases I haven't been using. I'm afraid my arranging skills are mostly along the plonking line, but that is actually kind of fun. I've been wanting a red Coreopsis but settled for this with the yellow tips, it does seem to bloom a lot.
DeleteThe flowers are lovely and I do hope they bloom again next year. I didn't get to see much of the super moon so I'm glad to see yours. As a kid I was never able to 'see' the 'man in the moon'!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betty, I had some of the dots arranged in a "man" before, but this face was different, but somehow I kept seeing it. Some of my new plants are not looking very good right now but hopefully will make it.
ReplyDeleteMust be wonderful to select ceramic pieces each week that you've made to hold your lovely flowers. The nutria is an unexpected critter. I wouldn't have known what it was.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been much into putting flowers into vases until I learned about IaVoM but I've been having fun with it, so all the vases I made long ago that haven't been used are getting dusted off. I knew that the Nutrias were there, they were brought there and many parts of the country for the fur trade. Under those long outer hairs ia some fine fur.
DeleteI love to see your vases Hannah - you are so creative. The blooms are an interesting mixture - but how good is it to have buds on broken stems opening! Most exciting to see the eclipse - a clear night here, but you couldn't see it from our house
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy, I did a lot of ceramics at one point so it will take a while to use them all. I was so sad about losing all the flowers but it was encouraging that the few remaining buds would open in water, and I also am trying to root them. I'm glad you liked the eclipse photos.
DeleteStill so much going on and blooming there. I love the vase. So unusual. And the moon shots were wonderful. I loved watching the moon. I wonder how a Nutria go there if it is not native?
ReplyDeleteThanks, it was fun making the flowers and putting them on. The Nutrias were brought over to replace minks in the fur trade, but multiply too much and damage the environment, particularly in the gulf coast region. I haven't heard anything about them up here, I would think they could hunt them if they were a problem.
DeleteThat albino Nutria is really an oddity! Beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kenneth, there are lots of fun animals to see at the wildlife preserve, I'm glad we at least saw a few of them.
DeleteI love your addition of the Streptocarpus flowers to your vase! Long before I had a garden, when I used to have to rely on indoor plants to provide the touch of nature I sought, I grew Streptocarpus but I rarely see the plants for sale now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris, Streptocarpus is a favorite houseplant. I haven't seen many plants that could wilt to that extreme and just bounce back, increase into more plants right in the pot, and bloom like crazy. I got Texas Hot Chili from the local Master Gardener's sale, but I ordered one before from Logee's, some other people probably have them too.
DeleteYour moon shots are lovely. I have never heard of a Nutria before, albino or otherwise. He looks very happy to get on with his meal while you photograph!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janice, I liked your eclipse photos of the first half up to the blood moon, which was marvelous. The Nutria was amazingly relaxed.
DeleteThere is so much to take in...I go with your cutting plants into two or more! I find that towards the end of the season most pot plants need to have a new lease of life by being renovated. The wildlife picture of the white Nutria is fascinating, and as for your lovely vase...
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to take in...I go with your cutting plants into two or more! I find that towards the end of the season most pot plants need to have a new lease of life by being renovated. The wildlife picture of the white Nutria is fascinating, and as for your lovely vase...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Noelle, I hope they make it. A challenge is that we are not getting the usual fall rains to water in the plants I've been planting, so I hope they do OK. The vase was a consolation after losing most of the Aster blooms.
DeleteAn albino nutria - how amazing a sighting is that! i hear that they are upsetting the ecosystem, particularly in Louisiana. We humans are always doing that!
ReplyDeleteLove your vases, this one with the little flowers is adorable. Sorry about the deer breaking your aster, but I suppose you made best use of it. :-) I've noticed they like to munch on my tall blue aster in particular. (sigh)
Thanks, Eliza, I guess the other plants in that bed behind a wire fence but with a couple of Rhodies behind were not appealing to the deer, so I didn't know they could get in until the Asters were attacked. At least the plants themselves are OK and perhaps the stalk will root and I will have more plants for next year.
DeleteWonderful flowers! The nutria is very cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gunilla, I liked all your architectural examples and castles, and cute baby birds.
DeleteGreat post Hannah and thank you for linking with Today's Flowers. Lovely blooms! Your Albino nutria fascinated me. I saw something very similar to it while driving along near Jamestown yesterday (not Albino). I thought at first it was a muskrat but then looked at your nutria. Still can't figure out the difference.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise, if you google nutria vs muskrat they compare them and also a beaver and a groundhog, and outline of an otter. Google also shows some white nutrias, so they must be fairly common. Capybaras are another aquatic Guinea Pig relative, or Cavy, that are even larger and with longer legs, people have turned them into pets. Their faces are different from other groups in the rodent family.
ReplyDeleteFab moon photos!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a nutria before. How interesting. You must have been so frustrated by your camera battery issue. I have left a battery recharging at home in the past and taken out a batteryless camera. Doh!
Well, at least hopefully I won't make that same mistake again. I do have extra batteries. I enjoyed your courtyard redo, Sarah.
DeleteIt was a shame that the Aster stem was broken, but an opportunity to see its beauty from a different perspective. Another unique and lovely vase too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann, I was so eagerly anticipating the big flowerheads of buds, it was so heart-breaking to seem them eaten off. I was glad a few little buds were left to bloom and put in a vase. Someday I may run out of my homemade vases, it will take a while. I don't remember why I made so many.
DeleteYour photos are beautiful, love them all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bob, I liked your black-headed duck.
ReplyDelete❀ه° ·.
ReplyDeleteFotos lindas!
As flores são maravilhosas!
Bom fim de semana!
Beijinhos.
❀❀ه° ·.
Thanks, Magia!
ReplyDeleteHello Hannah, the Nutria is a cute critter and I love the the Crane. Your moon photos are gorgeous. Lovely flowers! I am sorry I am commenting so late, I've been away! Thanks so much for linking up! Have a happy day and weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Eileen! It's great you take the time to host.
Delete