Ragged Robin

Admirable...Toute une poésie ********

Admiré Et apprécié au www.ipernity.com/group/214287
"Fleurs ma passion"

Exquisite capture and PIPs!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance

How lovely and unusual, Ron! And how surprising to find this flower in your own backyard after finding it so far afield...tell me, had you ever seen them at home before? In any event, I've not seen this lovely "antlered" beauty and I adore its center white blossom too! Reminds me a bit of bougainvillea because of that but...let me go peeky at clarkia...hmmm, none of the species around me has that unique shape and internal blossom ( www.ipernity.com/search/photo?w=290645&q=clarkia )

Loved the insets as well...I'm a HUGE fan of blanket flowers but I don't think I got them to grow when I had my garden (ran off to check)...ah yes, I got a picture at the Harry & David garden but bemoaned in my post that the seeds didn't sprout for me. www.ipernity.com/doc/290645/36552962 You did remind me though, and I ran out to go see my long-abandoned garden from 2014. Without care it still puts out a bunch of poppies and I'm delighted to see that the seeds I got from Pam, that turned into False Sunnies, are STILL in action! They're not even ready to bloom yet but are forming heads. What I really wanted to see was whether or not the Mexican Hat Cone Flowers were still going...YES!! Bunches of pretty little flowers and so obviously related to blanket flowers! Would you just LOOK at this flower? Isn't it just sensational? www.ipernity.com/doc/290645/40947246 I just love them so much and it tickles me to no end that they are hardy enough to grow and bloom in a garden that hasn't been watered except by nature, for 5 years!

Oh...wow! Actually, the plants I thought were False Sunflowers are not. They are Maximillian Sunflowers...very obvious when looking at the leaves.

LOL, I am rambling. Heh...but I guess you're used to it :D

I enjoyed the picture you showed of the Prairie Smoke...I had to look up more pictures to see what the flower looks like...ohhhh it's so pretty!!! www.prairiemoon.com/geum-triflorum-prairie-smoke-prairie-moon-nursery.html
I am positive I've seen these before...the crazy "smoke" and colors I think I MUST have photographed at some point but who knows where they might be in my abyss of pictures? :D

Glad you enjoyed my Ferry post and the (more informative than creative) pictures of our trip onto the boat and such. You mentioned the San Juan isles...definitely places we would like to explore. On our trip to Vancouver Island, we took additional ferries to Quadra (twice) and to Newcastle Island as well. Such rewarding experiences! Both of us would very much love to visit more islands in the area. Definitely something in our plans.

You also mentioned whale watching from Anacortes. I'd put that in as an itinerary choice if we wanted to but as it turned out, we had a fantastic time hiking around Deception Pass State Park and merely scratched the surface. Whale watching would have been nice too but it will have to wait. :)

yes, Yes, YES on Skagit valley...we didn't get to explore this area whatsoever but driving through had us both bouncing up and down with desire to spend time there. To be honest, we would like to spend at least a couple of MONTHS AT LEAST in northern Washington because it's just BRIMMING with goodness! Oh, and you know my opinion of tulip fields...*whimper*... perhaps I shall put a bug in Steve's ear so next spring I'll get to cross that sucker off my Bucket List! :D

Hope the meeting went well this morning, and your shopping trip for supplies in the afternoon. You have a very smart plan to insulate. It's necessary for everyone's comfort and hopefully it won't be too miserable a job.

Is the lawn in ship-shape order yet? Nancy is sure to have it looking fabu in no time! :D I'm tempted to ask for pictures but if you asked for pictures of ours, I'd shriek. Dead nothing going on out there. Looks like the moon. 'Nuf said! :D

I truly love that you are so enchanted by my stories about Pumpkin that you pine for one of your own. Yet, your reservations are wise and sensible. Steve and I are YEARNING for a puppy now that our home is bare of dogs but they are such a problem in so many ways, as you mentioned. Who knows...perhaps we'll figure out a way. I don't know...but I'd definitely say that having a bird complicates thing FAR too much. Two words will scare you off: Climate Control. OMG. Ron. We MUST have proper AC/heating so that we can make sure Pumpkin is comfortable. It's a nightmare. We worry about her safety all of the time. This is not something I'd advise for anyone except a person who already has a bird and has no other choice. It's absolutely no fun at all feeling worry about whether or not the AC/heater is on in the trailer. Definitely a great weight to bear, so no...don't even consider the idea until you both aren't planning on adventures. Boarding a bird isn't cheap either so...though I think a Caique would be a wonderful choice for you two--love at first sight--the problems and challenges associated are NOT recommended. I will admit that I dearly wish you could get a Caique...they are such over-the-top, amazing birds. To experience Steve finally getting the relationship with a bird that he'd wanted for so very long...it was the very best. I giggle with joy when I see the two of them loving one another, being so silly and having such fun. What a cool thing. Caiques are little firecrackers, that's for sure. They are aggressive, strong-willed and stubborn. They will test you every day and need their human companions to guide them consistently without allowing them to get away with any of their testing. But they are also as affectionate as a cockatoo, incredibly dear and sensitive, and the silliest birds that I know of...such goofy birdies! And smart. They aren't known for being big talkers but whistle tunes brilliantly--she knows all of the whistles I've taught her! Anyway, I'm not helping with this banter but it's hard to keep my beak shut about Caiques.

Hey, that's cool that you guys have a Family letter that goes around. Steve's aunt used to do that before she passed away. For us, that letter meant nothing to us as we had nothing to do with his side of the family...just weren't in touch. But I wonder if that might make sense for my family. Hmm. I don't know. My oldest brother is this genius mechanic/engineer/musician who always has 10 irons in the fire...like my father, he's a total narcissist but he knows this and tries to tone it down. I wish I could be more open with him but he's so brash and has let me know that he thinks I should have a job because he works so why shouldn't I...yadda yadda....and going on vacations is bad because I should be working. Meh...I can't help it if he's a workaholic. LOL, rambling again! :D

It looks like I've arrived at the end of your post so I'm off...you'll see that I have a new picture and presentation, I hope you enjoy the show! :)

Thanks for the post and for all the information on owning a bird. Much appreciated and much more than I was aware of.

De toute beauté !!

Schöne Aufnahmen Ron!

Stunning series of floral images Ron

Beautiful "design" if I may say so.
The pip's are very delicate too.
Thank you Ron.

Belle série toute en délicatesse et finesse Ron!***

Delicate series....

The petals look like a wonderful bird's paws!!

Amazing!

Thank you very much also for the notes so interesting, Ron!

Thanks, everyone, for the kind comments and faves.

Again, a beautiful set of flower images, Ron.

A great series Ron, beautifully captured :-))

A very beautiful shot Ron.

Very beautiful wildflowers.