Wild sunflowers

Oh, dear... another photo-heavy post. But hey, that's what this blog is about, right? "A Photo's Worth a thousand words"! So I'll let the photos do most of the talking today. 

I actually took these three weeks ago, and every time I've thought about posting them, I didn't know how to narrow them down, because I love how they turned out, and I couldn't decide which ones to eliminate! The subject is all the same... wild sunflowers, of which we had a lot alongside our driveway, and the evening sun was just right for photographing. So here ya go... ENJOY!

Oh, yes... I have a lot more. :) But ya get the idea.....

What is this flower?

Can anybody tell me what this is? It's been in my wildflower bed for several years. I was thinking it was called godetia, but a recent Google search makes me think it's not. I tried a Google image search using the photo, but that just showed me lots of pink flowers, none of which looked like this.

Here's what the plants look like:

I took a photo of an opening bud a couple days later. The bud was blurry, but that tiny little bug sure is clear! I wonder what it is!

Here's a better bud photo:

And a shot of the inside:

This is the inside after it's fully open, and with a little mist on the petal edges:

Any identifying help would be appreciated!! (Annie Dee, I'm counting on you! ;) )

Just pretty

I'll give you a break from kittens/cats today. :)

These are my plains coreopsis flowers from my wildflower bed (which is kind of a mess this year, but these are blooming profusely). I know, you've seen them before, but not photos taken with this camera, which I think makes them look even better. :) Anyway, I think they're just lovely for photographing. Enjoy!

Just pretty

I took these photos about three weeks ago on a walk to the mailbox with Courtney, but I never got around to showing them to you. So here you are:

Wild Sunflowers

Purple Loosestrife

Rose Hips

I really should take the camera along again and get some current pics for comparison. I noticed yesterday that the rose hips are a very bright red now... so pretty!

Update:  I did go take more pics of the pretty rose hips! Note the color change. So pretty!

Last but not least... what mom or grandma doesn't love an offering like this? :)

NOT standing alone

The plains coreopsis in my wildflower bed has gotten a little out of hand this year, to say the least!

This is what happens when I don't get them thinned.

They're pretty, but they totally overwhelm the other flowers.

I like the "mutant" ones that do kinda stand alone amongst all the yellow:

And some have even managed to stand 'alone' alone.

Or amongst the coneflowers.....

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

.... which, interestingly, didn't have the yellow edges last year. Can flowers actually cross species like that? A botanist I am not.

What are they?

Anybody know what these pink flowers are called? They just appeared in with my wildflowers this year. I've never seen them before, and I didn't plant any new seeds this year... or last year, either, if I remember right.

(Click to enlarge.)

Are they weeds? Maybe I need to hurry up and get 'em out of there before they go to seed?

Let's pretend, Part 4

(Click any photo for the full effect!)

That's the end of our frosty tour. I hope it helped you enjoy a little more of the beauty of nature 'after the fact'.

Currently blooming

In the wildflower bed.

And my moss roses.

Morning glory

When I went out to check the garden yesterday morning, I just couldn't resist going back to the house for the camera. The wildflower bed is full of these plains coreopsis.

And look at the buds below. Potential for tons more!

So pretty!

There are still plenty of bachelor buttons, too.

And just a few coneflowers that appeared mysteriously last summer.

Kind of an odd-looking flower, aren't they?

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

I tossed out some new seeds in a couple of bare spots this spring, but despite plenty of rain, they only produced a couple of zinnias and marigolds. And they're not blooming yet.