LOOK WHAT I FOUND

Several years ago I posted this very special cacti the first time it sent up a bloom.

Well this is what I found today.

Not only has the cacti doubled in size but it sent up four flowers at one time.

Amazing!

PLANT A GARDEN AND THEY WILL COME

Just had to show off this usual variety of Plumeira in all it's glory.

This is the one I posted a couple of weeks ago when the flowers just started to open.

It stops me every time I enter the house.

And another friendly butterfly following me as I watered at the cabin.

This one let me get even closer so I was able to touch it.

It's the little things in life that make me giddy.

SUMMER BEAUTIES

I get so jazzed every summer when these gorgeous looking and smelling lilies open up.

And they just keep multiplying every year which is another added bonus!

This year they drew the most ginormous butterfly

who flew into each flower.  

She wasn't afraid of me and I was able to get really close for the shot below.

Then she traveled with me as I made my watering rounds at the cabin

(taking me 3 hours to water the entire place this summer).

This will sound crazy I know,

but I'm pretty sure it was my dear Aunt Elena dropping by for a visit.

Every Easter she would bring me a pot of lilies.

So many wonderful memories come back to me as I post. 

 And below are a special variety of Plumeria that I got about 3 years ago with my son

at an extrodinary nursery by his home in Canoga Park called the Green Thumb.

I had never seen this lovely apricot color before while in Hawaii,

only the white/yellow and the pink/yellow.

It was just a baby stick when I bought it

and after 3 years it's the first time it's bloomed.

I thought I'd lost it earlier in the year when all the leaves fell off.

But it's come back strong this summer with more flowers to open soon.

Makes my heart so happy!

EARLY SUMMER ON THE MOUNTRAIN

Ahhh,

the colors of nature grab me everytime.