Peaches

All the sun we've had this summer has produced excellent fruit.  The peaches, in particular, have been just wonderful. Often at the end of the season, the peaches start to get mealy, but this year they are still sweet and firm.  I've been eating peaches daily for several weeks now and still enjoying every one. The cherries have also been great quality, and the everbearing strawberries are juicy and sweet.  In fact, there is so much yummy fruit that it's hard not to overbuy and have some go to waste.

I heard that the farmers out West are going to try to send some hay east.  The weather was good on the Prairies this summer and the yields will be perhaps a bumper crop.  Remember when we sent hay out West several years ago when we had good weather and they had a drought?  I like the way farmers organize and get things done without need of government programs.

Last long weekend of the summer and it's shaping up to be another super weekend.  Three of our kids will touch base here before embarking on their fall schedules - well, our son who drives truck will still spend his off days here.  I feel sufficiently full of sun and warmth that I'm actually looking forward to the fall and winter.  Time to bake some apple pies, and get out the knitting needles.

Norah Leigh Phlox

 I added this pretty Norah Leigh phlox to the garden this spring. A new phlox and a new variegated leaf plant - double delight.

A few leaves have fallen and the nights are getting downright chilly -tonight 10C.  Judging by the colour of these leaves, we should have an abundance of colourful trees this fall.  I've heard that a sunny summer allows the leaves to store more sugar which shows up as more intense reds and oranges in the fall.

Late Summer Flowers

 With the dry summer we've had, a lot of the flowers are looking sad but the globe amaranth (Gomphrena) enjoys the sun and is still perky and bright.  I like to grow it because it makes a good dried flower.

 Some of the nasturtiums are still blooming - the ones I watered a little more.

 This is a tall weed that blooms in late summer. I don't know what it's called, but I let it mix in with the garden plants and shrubs.

The hostas are blooming.  I like the faint purple stripes on these ones.

Automeris Io Caterpillar

 This bright green caterpillar, that showed up on our driveway, is the automeris Io caterpillar.
 It was about 3" long, and the tufts are poisonous to the touch.

On the side are a darker green , a maroon and a white stripe.  The feet are brownish in colour.
The male adult moth is a buttery yellow  and the female is a rusty red, and they both have dark "eyes" on their hind wings.  The moths are about 2" across.  I have seen the adult moths other years but I haven't seen any this year.

Silhouettes

 Solo grass

 Black lace

X marks the spot

Shining Through

 At this time of year, the air is dry, and the distinction between sunlight and shadow is stronger than in July.

 I like seeing sunspots in the forest as I look through a screen of trees.

 The light was so strong that it bleached out the highlighted parts of the scene.

 Another illuminated forest spot.

Sunlight glinting off a metal fence.

Tree Stumps

 I just liked the different textures, lines and colours in the stumps

Painted Lady Butterfly

There were lots and lots of painted lady butterflies flying around when I went for a walk yesterday.  Perhaps the rain hatched them out.  I didn't have my camera with me, but later at home I saw one on the phlox.  It also enjoyed sipping from a hydrangea.

Our daughter, her husband and their two little boys are coming  to stay for a few days, so I'll be busy until the dust settles.

White Admiral

 I'm still seeing quite a few butterflies around this summer.  The White Admirals are common and hard to miss with the distinct white band.

I think this is a folded-up Painted Lady butterfly.