Summer in full bloom

It is comforting to know that some things don’t change. The Allen tree still stands. How different it looks, fully in leaf and offset by fields of tall corn.

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We heard a cry and in the distance two Red-tailed hawks perched in a dead tree.

A hawk we’d never seen before came to visit the other day, setting all other birds to flight. We waited for the hawk to expose itself in order to identify it, but we only ever got a quick look at its head. We decided it might be a Sharp-shinned hawk.

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Some “invasives” are attractive. Wild carrot is everywhere, waving in the wind and thistle flowers are turning into seed-carrying fluff which is quite pretty.

Sometimes, I get a little perplexed with my driver…

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Often when I see an interesting subject, the man says it’s impossible to stop.

He’s no doubt right, – on blind rises and corners, it’s probably not advisable.

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But this day, we stopped to admire pink water lilies and just as I was lining up a nice composition, my friend decided we had to go. Grrr. I think the property owner had come into view and Grant never wants to be seen taking an interest, even if it’s only in their flowers.

These days, I suppose he’s right about that too.

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Perhaps to make up for my missed opportunity, he took me to our neighbour’s garden again, where the hydrangeas are in bloom.

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Although I never would have called hydrangeas a favourite flower, I have become a great fan.

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Perhaps it was that I only ever saw them in pots before.

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Or maybe I never had time to look at them closely.

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The climate here seems to suit them well.

Maybe it being just that bit cooler up here makes a difference?

Or perhaps it’s the soil, or a combination of the two.

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Nowhere have I seen them grow as profusely. No doubt you can tell, I’ve become quite keen.

The good thing about hydrangeas is that the flowers still look good when they go over...

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…unlike most flowers that look sad once they are done.

Lilies are past their prime now, but I still found a few to capture:

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Quite a few, in fact. And yes, there were still more!

These past few days, my camera has been busy. I’ll share more images tomorrow.

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