Storms Vivid Colors, Insects

It's been nearly 8 years since our area has had substantial rains, enough to nourish the ground and revive life in our forests and fields. Well, storms and over 7 inches of rain, we finally have had, and how the surroundings are showing appreciation.

It's amazing how vivid the colors become before, during and after a summer storm. My deck flowers are beautiful and lush with color, like these southwest planters beam with white allysum, blue lobelia, and corsican mint.
When the sky looks green and yellow, it usually indicates a strong storm is about to pass through. This one missed us by a few miles to the north, but left plenty of rain throughout the past week.
The storm sure left behind a brilliant rose colored double impatienc.
These vines are sneaky, showing up during my storm. As kids, we used to call this the Lipstick Vine. They are from the Amaranth family, but wild. We would sit and paint our fingernails with the bright red blooms that melted onto our nails like real polish. These are growing out of the old elm stump at Mom's, or the Farm, as we all call it, home, the place where we grew to love nature.

The orange Gerbera Daisy is brilliant this year. Even the spent blooms are showing off, dripping with raindrops.This little fella has no life left in him. The storm tangled his wings in the deer fencing, but he still is welcome to rest on the Boxwood Basil. I had to show you his iridescent wings. Click to enlarge and you will be able to appreciate the veins within his fragile but strong wings. God sure does some miraculous work.
Check out this spider, of whom I have not identified yet. He is a master of disguise, and yes, he Did catch that fly for his lunch.
Speaking of spiders, this was my weekend surprise. I had completely forgotten that I had planted these just this spring, so looking out my living room window this morning, I see these pure white Spider Lilies with green throats. On closer inspection, a Squash Bug was enjoying the fragrant petals, as much as I was. I know most bugs are beneficial, but this one, however, was eliminated. He is the cause of damage to my Buttercup squash blossoms. Last year I had very little squash because of his cousins, so, squish, no more problem from this fella.
Mom's Missouri Primrose are brilliant this year. This one just happened to have a tiny, personable Eastern Meadow Fritillary drinking it's nectar. When they open their friendly wings, they are orange with black spots and no more than an inch and a half in size.
Enjoy the tour. Don't let the insects frighten you, and have a very adventurous week. Pick some flowers, jump rope, glide through the air on a swing, or just take a walk around your yard or neighborhood. Enjoy you surroundings. You may be surprised what you discover. Just use your God-given senses and laugh. Don't forget to look everywhere, up, down, under the leaves and in the water. Laugh.

BlessYourHearts