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REQUIEM

Below are the two final essays to be posted on Allegiance and Duty Betrayed. The first one is written by a friend -- screen name 'Euro-American Scum' -- who, over the past four years, has been the most faithful essayist here. He has written about everything from his pilgrimage to Normandy in 2004 to take part in the 60th–year commemoration of the invasion, to his memories of his tour in Vietnam. His dedication to America’s founding principles ... and those who have sacrificed to preserve them over the past 200+ years ... is unequaled. Thank you, E-A-S. It has been a privilege to include your writing here, and it is a privilege to call you my friend.

The second essay is my own farewell. And with it I thank all of the many regular visitors, and those who may have only dropped in occasionally, for coming here. I hope you learned something. I hope a seed or two was planted. But, even if not, I thank you for stopping by ... 25 March, 2010

8/20/2007

The Last Blooms of Summer

Another non-political diversion for all the faithful readers and contributors here: A few pics of the last blooms of summer from Rick's and Joanie’s flower gardens. Best wishes for an enjoyable remainder of the summer to you all.

It’ll soon be time to 'think winter'!

FlowerBeds3.jpg
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FlowerBeds2.jpg
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FlowerBeds1.jpg

~joanie

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

A political guru with a green thumb. {G}

Anonymous said...

What is that first flower - the yellow one? It's stunning! Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos.

joanie said...

Thanks, Dave and 3timesalady.

3timesalady, the yellow flower is "Nettle Leaved Mullen" (nickname: "Sixteen Candles").

The photo just shows a portion of one stalk (when taking the photos I wanted detail, not size :). The entire plant has about a half dozen such stalks, with each one consisting of maybe sixteen blooms (thus the nickname). It blooms from summer to early fall, grows to about 40" tall and needs full sun.

I ordered this one online (don't remember where, but a Google search will give you some options if a nursery in your area doesn't carry them).

P.S. They're easy to grow. :)

Anonymous said...

Joanie, I have a few questions too. What are the names of them all, and on the last flower are all of those green things on the stalks buds that still haven't bloomed (in mid-August?)?

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful Joanie. One or both of you must have a green thumb!

Anonymous said...

What a pick me up on a rainy, gloomy day. ;)

joanie said...

Lori,

I am terrible at remembering the names of most flowers. I know the specifics of how to care for each one, but don't remember the names of probably half of them. :)

The first pic, as I said, is a Nettle-Leaved Mullein (also known as 'Sixteen Candles'). It's a perennial.

The second are cosmos. They are tall (probably 4') and wispy. Although they are classified as annuals, they drop their seeds and re-seed themselves every year.

The third is a delphinium (also a perennial). Pictured is only one bloom on a stalk that will contain perhaps a dozen.

The fourth is a black-eyed Susan plant (also perennial, and spreading).

Don't recall the name of the fifth and sixth, but they, too, are perennials.

Yes, the small green knobs above the blooms are blooms-to-be. :) The plant blooms from the bottom up.

Honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love the cosmos and the last flower.

We have a hummingbird feeder out in the front yard which is busy during the spring (we have three hummingbirds -- a light brown one, an olive green one, and a brown one with a spot of red on its throat). Once the cosmos and the bottom pictured flower bloom, the feeder remains pretty much dormant, because the hummingbirds appear to prefer the natural nectar from the flower blossoms.

(They are very bold, by the way. They will flit right up in front of us when we are sitting on the front porch, and hover just a couple of feet in front of our faces, staring right at us. It's amazing. :)

Anonymous said...

Very pretty. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Your "diversion" posts are almost as interesting as the political ones. Keep 'em coming!

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Nice.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Joanie. Very interesting!

I don't think I've ever even seen a hummingbird. I don't think they like city life. :)