Sweet Summer

Our sign says it all. 

So many hundreds of colorful dragonflies this summer... more than ever before. 

I cannot capture on film the masses of dragonflies frolicking through our yard and down our roads. 

You will have to take my word for it.

.

Blue. 

Red. 

Green with a striped black tail. 

My favorite chair for watching them flitter by.

The enormous willow tree at the back of the photo is prettier than ever, and the when the wind blows, she dances a hula. 

This large mama garden spider (at the left of the kayak) built a 15 foot wide web over our pond, from tree limb to tall edge grasses. She caught dragonflies, butterflies, and horseflies, and spun them into tasty bundles covered with silk. She created the zigzag in the center of the web for stability and hung there waiting for prey. When she had had enough of this locale, she ate her web and moved on.  The male spiders don't go to all this trouble, they just visit for meals. 

A new barn hiding in the woods. Husband calls it the "Bat Cave". 

A new vintage farm artifact--a mower. For effect only. 

My perennial flower garden is in almost full bloom, despite some deer and bunny damage. 

My vegetable garden has tomatoes, kale, brussels sprouts, onions, and basil. 

A close-up of my tangled flower party. 

The only roses I could harvest. The deer ate the rest of them. :(

You can fight, but you cannot win. 

Flourishing tomato plant with the most delicious fruit (which I have already picked and eaten.)

A visit from the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man.

A beautiful moody night sky. 

How I love summer.

P.S. Follow this link Barn Wedding to see another wedding at our farm in May 2015.

End of Summer Highlights

Cantaloupe growing up the trellis in the Coke planter.

Rust somehow makes things on the farm look better.

Cantaloupe baby.

Bumper crop of basil.  Pesto all winter long!

Finches swinging in the shade of the porch.

A pale green luna moth with its fragile beauty. It eats, lays eggs, then dies.

Mrs. Cardinal eating a seed.

Mr. Sneaky Squirrel running away from our dog.

A gorgeous neon lit sunset.

From my garden.

Ever blooming strawberries.

One for the birds, one for me...super sweet.

Summer ivy crawling up the porch.

The ones I hadn't picked yet.

A new one, just ready to burst forth.

Pink coneflowers--a summer staple.

Porches are a staple too. Nothing like early evening on a summer porch.

Fall is here now, and the landscape is changing once again. Those pictures will be coming soon.
One season at a time...

Summer at the Farm

Man's best friend braving the 96 degree weather and taking in the view.

The Coke machine is hosting cantaloupes and pumpkins. The Black-eyed Susans are getting tall.

The screen porch is a cool spot for napping. 

The grass is a luscious, splendiferous green.

The pond is calm but teeming with life just under the surface. 

Another favorite summertime shady spot at the back of the barn. 

The cutting garden is full of herbs and flowers.

A beautiful long-stemmed Mr. Lincoln rose.


My one and only Stargazer lily, planted as a bulb two years ago, and all but forgotten till this happened. 

Colorful Blanket flowers that look especially cheery in mixed flower arrangements. 

And chocolate mint...it is delectable. Just crush and drop into ice water for the most refreshing summer drink. 

The fragrance of the Double Delight roses is sweet and heady. 

The basil is falling over from heaviness. Pesto tomorrow. 

And heirloom tomatoes are beginning to develop. 

The strawberries bear sweet fruit every couple of days. 

This is my favorite summer morning sitting spot. I can watch the birds fly from the willow tree to the porch. 

We have hundreds of birds here everyday, and the occasional squirrel who seem to have outsmarted my plastic dome baffles. Squirrels are little geniuses.


This deck is perfect in the evening for dinner and watching sunset. 

In the daytime, this is my shady, comfy spot. Well-used, as you can see. 

And this is the breeziest place on the farm, and good for rocking while discussing politics. 

My climbing roses are making their way up again, as they did last summer. I wonder how high they will climb this year?  In the shady trees beyond, there lives a family of deer with two fawns.

My summer self is a bit like this gal here.