The ever-loved, summer favorite, Day Lily was blooming among a garden arrangement in Lincoln Park, Chicago.Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Summer regular…
photograph
July snowballs…
Those that have read my blog for a while know that Snowball flowers are one of my favorite since childhood. In my garden I had a Snowball Shrub (Viburnum plicatum). The Snowballs I observe in abundance now are Snowball Hydrangea (Handrangea arborescens), a shrub with a lower profile and native to the United States of unlike the Viburnum species. Thier intricate, delicate, complicated design is truly the work of higher being.
The delicate color changes with subtle lighting changes. Flowers are a greenish white in the sunlight and a golden off-white in the shade. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Simple design of each flower plus dozens, perhaps hundereds or blooms per cluster equal an established miracle. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Ordinary beauty…
There are many varieties of Allium so I don’t dare guess at the specific Allium shown here. Alliums include onion, garlic and leek varieties; this one was decorative in purpose. The Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae) rests momentarily. It is probably the most readily visible butterfly in the Midwest, so it’s beauty is too often overlooked. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.
A moment of calm…
Hiding amongst the Coneflowers (Echinacea) is the wondrous Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly. Here one rests on the Conflower, but it’s preferred food is grasses while it lays eggs on the Milkweed plant. Monarchs in Chicago (and other northern places) and then travel over 3000 miles to Mexico for the winter. It will be a new generation that travels North next summer. CLICK the image above to track migration via “Journey North”. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Years of butterfly observation have taught me that Monarchs toward the end of their life fly slower and slower making them easy to catch by hand and hold for a short time before setting them free. They are fascinating to observe close up. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Pretty Petunia…
This is a common plant for window boxes and planters at outdoor dining venues in Chicago. Always beloved Petunia; sometimes over-planted but always selected to brighten the scene.
Planted here, contrasting with red Begonias this Petunia’s trumpet shape is captivates many an insect. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The more traditional view of Petunias show their colors that seem to radiate from their inner core.. A common, traditional favorite. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
24 hour beauty…
Equisite Day Lily (Hermocallis) in bloom outside a Chicago condominium. What stopped me in my walk was the proliferation of blooms. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Daylilies come in numerous colors and shades. Years ago I added some prized Daylilies to my garden only to have them devoured by local Deer. They like their taste better than their beauty. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Brilliant in colors and size. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Nature’s bouquet of abundance. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
A weed for my sister…
This is for you, Bee! I know how you (DON’T) love Violets. You know I don’t consider them weeds. We agree to disagree!
Macro image of the hardy Violet. I love them because as a child they were the only flowers in our yard my mother let us freely pick. Most consider it a weed. After all a weed is anything that is growing that one does not want in their garden. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Just ducky…
Out of the water for a bit, this male Mallard tries to hide among the Dandelions. These images were all taken one morning at Lincoln Park’s North Pond. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Grooming is ever a process when out of the water. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.
Male Wood Duck sunning on a warm spring day. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Mallard Duck family enjoying an outing in Lincoln’s Park, North Pond, Chicago. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Mysterious beauty…
Spring blooming flower found on one of our neighborhood walks in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida. I don’t know the name of this beauty. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Closer view of these flowers. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
A sweet element…
While strolling through a garden I was guided by a welcoming sweet aroma to the site of this blooming Gardenia shrub. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Ready to bloom. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg