Market Colors

I had a chance to run some solo errands yesterday so swung through the Farmers' Market. I think I go just for the infusion of color--I love the flower stalls, especially now that dahlia season is here (and my garden is so pathetic and rabbit-eaten this year). But,who can pass up sunflowers?

Then there are the veggies and fruit--color everywhere you turn!!

Avian O'Hare

A couple of days ago our backyard looked like O'Hare--we had a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a flock of Evening Grosbeaks zooming back and forth, vying for the berries in the trees and taking turns in the pond. I had to content myself trying to get photos through the windows; the minute I went out on the deck, even to sit still and let them adjust--they vanished.

A Cedar Waxwing, adult plumage. I love how they look like bandits!
One of our little Rufous hummers

Some of the Evening Grosbeaks in the pond--the males have the broad white markings on their wings, while the females are more subdued. The male toward the back was caught in mid-shake...

A goldfinch clinging to a plant stake, with a female Evening Grosbeak in the background

And a juvenile robin, post-bath. Talk about a bad feather day!!!!!

A Little More rain

A little more rain, and the few dahlias I have are rejoicing. I potted up a couple and put them on the deck, and they have escaped the depredations of the rabbit hordes, and since they have been on the deck and watered assiduously, have done quite well. Not only that, they were planted in (commercial note!) Miracle Grow Potting Soil and it's true! They are twice the size of the ones in the garden--they grew noticeably faster, stronger and lusher, even before the rabbits and lack of rain hit.

You can see the deck railing in the waterdrops below.

Look at this poor pathetic waterlogged bee. He was trying so hard to find a place to stay dry! Click on him and you'll be able to see the waterdrops on him, poor thing.

Raindrops!

Finally! Some real rain! We've gone several weeks without significant rain (which is usual for us in the summer), but since our summer "drought" started earlier than usual, the garden has been struggling. Sprinklers are nice, but sprinkler drops are NOT the same as rain drops. I don't know why, but they just don't adhere or hang the same way as a raindrop. So, after our rain yesterday, I ran out and caught a few shots. It's raining again today. I love the way it smells. I love the way it sounds. I need to remind myself of that this fall and winter, when it's been raining for 4 or 5 months straight....

To Market, Again

My favorites...I just want to dive face first onto the table. The color, the scents, the taste...HEAVEN!
I love Farmers' Markets. They are a visual delight of colors and textures.

Whoever knew that carrots came in so many colors and shapes? I mean--YELLOW carrots? ROUND carrots??

WHITE carrots?? PURPLE carrots??? Can you imagine trying to get your kids to eat purple carrots????

Look at all the cool colors and textures in these ordinary onions. Farmers' Markets are wonderful!

Farmer's Market

I love it when I get a chance to browse the Farmer's Market down in Issy. The colors, the variety, the flowers...it is all such eye candy!

These heirloom tomatoes are just too interesting to pass by. Who could be satisfied with plain old boring red tomatoes after seeing these?
Mmmmmm...fresh, plump sugar snap peas...

I've seen orange carrots, but never the dark reddish orange variety before.

And let's not forget the flowers!

Daylily doldrums

My poor garden... Some years are great gardening years, and some years are less than stellar. This year is one of the latter. Between not having a lot of time to devote to the garden, a LOT less rain than usual this spring, and an excessive overabundance of rabbits and too many deer, my garden has really taken a hit. My daylilies, which are usually glorious, bloomed as fast as they could, as if they just wanted to get the whole thing over with. Managed to get a few shots, but I could feel where they were coming from. But, there is always next year!! Hope springs eternal in the gardener's breast.