Monday, July 03, 2017

It's Green... and Summer is Here..... at long last



The land has its' green finery on.  Wow I love this time of year!
 Everything feels fresh and new.  


We took a walk down the road and had a gaze across a section of the Saint John River valley stretching west.


 ...on the way there, we went through this green glade.



I never tire of the floral gifts that nature offers.


Hosta just new for this year from a root from my younger sister.. such a hardy plant.


oh so excited!!!  Lots of new perennials for the new little old house, to be set into the garden ... can't wait to see them become their full selves.


an invitation to have tea under the oak that is hard to resist.


 chives.. they have a medieval charm to me


and the precious old fashioned bleeding hearts and bachelor's buttons.


so pretty... Lupins appearing anywhere they want


I don't know this flower that was growing by the roadside




wild grapes above and fragrant yellow lilies below


Giant Ichneumon Wasp, he's a good guy.. sat on this leaf for several hours resting


check that tail piece out! part of it's reproduction apparatus.


Yellow Spotted Salamander, he's a good guy too. He can live to be 20-30 years old can you believe it!

 he was about 4-5" long.. so gentle and quiet.. hardly moved at all....
 found him in the garden and took him back to be my garden helper.. he likes slugs..
 that is a good friend to have!!


 ...kind of has a little seal face, don't you think?


Now take a deep breath and make a wish... have a fabulous summer.. 
Time for me to plant flowers and make more jewelry . 
cheerio!!

15 comments:

^.^ said...

Summer here too, friend Gwen ... Summertime when the living is easy ... Glad you can enjoy some of this glorious season as well ... smiles ... for a while at least ... My garden was doing well until mama deer and babies and mama moose and babies decided to check it out ... but I still have my potatoes ... Speaking of potatoes ... I saw a similar lizard in my root cellar ... but he was all grey and had no eyes ... about 10cm long and just sitting there ... pretty scary actually ... Anyway ... happy summer, eh ? Love, cat.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Cat, so you have found little creatures hiding in dark places too. I believe they are doing their jobs. things we would not even think about. baby moose are so awkward they're cute! I have been having 4 legged visitors in my garden too. doing things I wish they would not. I planted a few potatoes in 2 different places.. One spot is not showing much hope of survival.. but the other may grow. Growing things is an exercise in Hope. Glad to potatos are doing well, one of my favourite veggies!! Cheerio!!

Guillaume said...

Gorgeous pictures as usual. Love the salamander. Here summer is in full swing.

Cro Magnon said...

Our Salamanders, here in France, are much the same, but with bigger yellow spots.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Guillaume, love when the world is fully awake. Bet your little son is loving summer!!

Cro Magnon very interesting, love these little creatures! Some folks say they have found dark coloured salamanders with bright blue spots but the yellow spotted fellows are the only ones I've come across.

A Heron's View said...

Your scenery in the photos looks to wonderfully green and lush and what a lucky find that salamander was for you.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Mel, The season this year has created the feeling of a rain forest.. tho no trees that large but wonderful growing weather for all things wild.. I felt sincerely lucky to come across the little creature!

WILDSIDE said...

Gwen, it's absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

I know you will be waving your magic wand (that one with lots of elbow grease & artistic flair) and it shall become all the ever more so!

Gwen Buchanan said...

LOVE your encouragement Wildside. Thank you. Feels so good when plants and nature are in full swing

^.^ said...

Thing is, friend Gwen, though I love carbohydrate foods, like bread, pasta and potatoes ... I can not have them ... as have been living ketogenic for a while now ... Anyway, friend mine ... Happy summer, k? ... Love, cat.

WILDSIDE said...

Seasonal update? I keep checking back!
Thanks, and hope all goes well, Gwen.

(BTW, your salamander friend looks like ones I have found here... Usually buried beneath a leaf pile.)

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Wildside... it's been on my mind to update this soon... Things are going wonderfully!! so I should have lots to post about.. just have to pull it all together. been such a great summer!! cheers

WILDSIDE said...

I'm so happy to hear things are good for you there!

rachel said...

Love that salamander! I've never seen one, and probably a good thing, given my cats' love of bringing their unusual finds (like slow worms) indoors for me.....

Gwen Buchanan said...

Rachel, those little guys hide away most all the year. I am always so happy to come across one when diggging around in the old rock piles. Cats do love to share their captures, don't they.