Love, Joy and Peas: June 2014

Friday, June 27, 2014

Dahlias, Day Lilies, Daisies and More Flowers From My Maryland Garden

Happy floral Friday! The day lilies are the star of the show this week in my Maryland Garden and the El Dorado is my favorite. The yellow is even brighter appearing in person.

I grew all of our French marigolds from seed so they make me extra happy whenever I see them. I love all of my flowers but there's something special about the ones grown from seed. One seed packet led to almost two flats of seedlings, most of which were bicolor, but with a variety of patterns of red, orange, yellow and gold in the flowers.

This yellow and white dahlia isn't really dinner plate sized (as stated on the tuber's package) but it is a good 4-5" wide and I'm enjoying the sunny blooms.

For some odd reason I couldn't put regular text between the two photos above. The top one is an African Daisy. We have a bunch of these in different colors and I love them but, unfortunately, so do the rabbits. Several of the plants have already been eaten down to the ground (along with my bachelor buttons, some bee balm and other plants).

The rabbits don't seem to care about the day lilies though and the double bloom orange and red ones are starting to spread nicely. Day lilies seem to be the easiest flower to grow here in Maryland. They don't mind our heavy clay soil, drought or downpours.

I hope you enjoyed this week's mini photo tour of my Maryland garden. May the God who created all these beautiful flowers bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Flowers and raindrops: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/raindrop-drenched-rose-cosmos.html
Bees and flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/little-bees-and-big-flowers-this-week.html
Rainy day flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/rainy-day-flowers-this-week-in-my.html
Dahlia show: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/10/philadelpha-dahlia-society-flower-show.html
Raindrops on roses: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/raindrops-on-roses-azalea-camellia.html

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Six Cute Little Lion Cubs Romp and Rest

Happy wild Wednesday! I took these photos on the Saturday before Father's day when the four smaller lions made their public debut at the National Zoo and joined their two slightly older cousins in the yard. They had a great time playing and running around together and were a delight to watch.

You may have noticed that the first photo had only five cubs but rest assured that all six were out and having a great time. Sometimes one would rest with mom but a few minutes later would resume romping again.

They especially seemed to enjoy jumping on each other, on this set of stairs and on rock piles.

The cubs' adorable smallness was even more obvious when they were near their mom.

I love how fuzzy the baby lions are and notice how this little cub still has its spots. Cuteness!

I almost left out this shot (I usually try to keep posts to five photos or less) but the log gnawing combined with standing on two still-spotted legs was too cute to resist.

I hope you enjoyed sharing this special experience with me via photographs. May God bless these lion families, their keepers and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
Little lion cubs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/little-lion-cubs-for-wild-wednesday.html
Cute cats (baby lions): http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/cute-little-lion-cub-photos.html
Cheetah cubs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/cute-cheetah-cubs-and-wild-wednesdays.html
Tiger cubs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/cute-baby-tiger-videos-haiku-poem.html

Sunday, June 22, 2014

"With God's Help I Shall Succeed"

Image source: Focus on the Family's Facebook page

I love the Lord, sunflowers and great art so Focus on the Family's sunflower photo with the quote by Vincent Van Gogh (above) caught my attention. With God's help we can all succeed! Of course, God's definition of success is quite different from most people's. But I do believe we're happiest when living in line with His will for our lives.

For anyone who can't read the quote in the photo above, it is "I am still far from being what I want to be but with God's help I shall succeed." May our all-powerful God bless, keep and prosper you!

Related posts:
2014 blessings: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-blessings-butterflies.html
Veteran's blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/veterans-day-blessing.html
Seasonal blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/happy-autumn-blessing.html
Holiday blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-blessings.html

Friday, June 20, 2014

Zinnia, Vinca, Coreopsis, Geranium and Lantana for Floral Friday

Happy floral Friday! This week in my Maryland garden we've had both dry spells and heavy rain. I took these photos after a heavy rain so some of the flowers have raindrops (the rest are just drenched). This little zinnia's petals are still opening.

The edges of this white vinca's petals are so wet they're nearly transparent.

Although this bright red and yellow coreopsis flower is quite welcome, it was a bit of a surprise to see it blooming one one of the stems of a dark red coreopsis plant.

I overwintered my geraniums and they're quite leggy but since they're still blooming I'm hesitant to cut them back.

Bees and butterflies love lantana and it's the only thing I can get to grow in the corner between the driveway and sidewalk. The soil there dries out faster than anywhere else in our garden. Lantana truly is drought resistant once established and the butterflies and bees love it.

Thank you for joining me on this week's mini photo tour of my Maryland garden! May the God who created all the beautiful flowers bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Drought tolerant flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/heat-beating-flower-photos-this-week-in.html
Rainy day flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/rainy-day-flowers-this-week-in-my.html
Multicolored blooms: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/multicolored-blooms-seedlings-garden.html
Frosty foliage: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/frosty-foliage-photos.html

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Otter Cuteness for Wild Wednesday

Happy Wild Wednesday! These cute otters were playing and hunting for food in their habitat at the National Zoo. They're part of a family of river otters who love each other and sleep in a giant pile together. I love watching them.

Take an already cute otter and catch its tongue sticking out and the cuteness is multiplied. This shot makes me smile.

The otters ran from their pond to a little stream once they realized there was food buried in nooks around the stream.

This otter found a stash of hidden food.

And promptly gobbled it up. I hope you enjoyed these adorable otters. May the God who created them and us bless you beyond your wildest dreams!

Related posts:
Otters in winter: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/01/cute-and-squeaky-river-otter-family.html
Sea lion feeding: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/09/sea-lion-feeding-photos-wild-wednesday.html
Fishing cat kittens: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/09/fishing-cat-kitten-photos.html

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Flowers from Missy's Gardens

On Thursday I shared some overview photos of my friend Missy's marvelous gardens. Today I want to share some close up photos of her beautiful flowers. My bee balm isn't even blooming yet but hers is full of beautiful pink flowers.

Missy had at least five different kinds of phlox but this pink and white phlox was my favorite.

I also loved her flowering strawberry plants. The bees did too (if you look closely in the flower above there's a bee in the center of the most prominent flower).

Neither one of us knew what this foliage plant was called but it sure is pretty.

Missy's purple widow's tears flowers had bright chartreuse foliage and provided nice contrast to the darker green foliage surrounding it.

Thank you so much for sharing your garden, dear Missy! May God bless Missy and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
Missy's fall flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/chrysanthemum-rose-and-butterfly-plant.html
Missy's garden photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/missys-marvelous-gardens.html
Flower macro photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/dahlias-ranunculus-azaleas-lilacs-and.html
Close up flower photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/zinnias-roses-joe-pye-weed-day-lilies.html
Rainy day flower photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/rainy-day-flowers-this-week-in-my.html

Friday, June 13, 2014

Little Bees and Big Flowers: This Week in My Maryland Garden

Happy floral Friday! This week in my Maryland garden features six flower photos and three have little bees in them. The big echinacea above is the same one featured last week, but with its petals wide open. What a difference a week makes!

This is my very first yellow primrose bloom, courtesy of my friend Mary (thank you, Mary!). Can you see the little bee on it's petal?

I love raindrops on roses. The glistening petals seem to beg for a photograph.

My red coreopsis started blooming this week and the bees have already found it.

The bees also love our pink spirea, which also started blooming this week.

And our Shasta daisies also started blooming this week. It's definitely a great week for first blooms of 2014. Thank you for this mini tour of my Maryland garden! May the God who created all the beautiful flowers bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Last week in my garden: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/day-lily-primrose-echinacea-petunia-and.html
Bees, butterflies, birds and flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/09/flowers-bees-butterflies-and-birds.html
Bees and sunflowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/bees-fighting-over-sunflower-photo.html
Bees and bright flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-butterfly-bee-and-bunch-of-beautiful.html
Mary's garden: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/marys-amazing-garden-retreat.html

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Missy's Marvelous Gardens

My dear friend Missy graciously opened her home and garden to me (and my camera) yesterday. We had a great visit and I enjoyed touring her marvelous gardens. Above is one of her front yard garden beds, a delightful mix of flowers, herbs and foliage plants.

Here's a close up of her patriotic porch display with beautifully flowering strawberry plants in wooden boxes. Missy's clever ideas make her garden a beautiful, fun and unique place to visit!

She has some of the best window boxes I've ever seen lining her deck.

Her chervil must be eight feet tall! She had to bend a branch to get it into the photo. You can see a bit of her back yard behind her.

Here's a landscape view of her back yard. I like how she made the bed curve and lined it with large stones.

Hearty thanks to Missy for sharing her beautiful gardens and modeling for my blog! Come back Saturday for another blog post featuring some of Missy's prettiest flowers up close (tomorrow, as usual, I'll be posting flowers from my own garden). May God bless Missy and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
Missy's fall flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/chrysanthemum-rose-and-butterfly-plant.html
Egan's back yard retreat: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/egans-backyard-retreat.html
Mary's amazing garden: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/marys-amazing-garden-retreat.html

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Cute Little Lion Cub Photos

Happy wild Wednesday! The lion cubs were frisky and fun to watch this week at the National Zoo. As adorable as these two baby lions are, I'm thinking that when joined by their four slightly younger cousins (predicted for this coming Father's Day weekend) the cuteness will be even greater. The adorable baby lion above is about to pounce on his sister.

Here you see the brother and sister lion cubs followed by their mom. They make a cute lion train.

I thought it was really strange when my feral born cat chewed on some mulch but apparently cats like to chew on wood, given that this lion cub was gnawing on this branch.

Sometimes the cubs' mom let them jump on and off walls but other times she stopped them. If they didn't listen to her warning growls they received a physical reprimand.

And that reprimand didn't look like much fun but it was only seconds later until the cub was off running around so it must have appeared worse than it felt. The lion cubs are adorable and, according to regular viewers, usually out starting around 11:00 am.

I hope you enjoyed these cute little lion photos! May the God who created the lions, our earth and everything in it bless and keep you!

Related posts:
These lion cubs in May: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/little-lion-cubs-for-wild-wednesday.html
Tiger cub video: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/cute-baby-tiger-videos-haiku-poem.html
Tiger cub sneak attack: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/tiger-cub-launches-sneak-attack.html
Cheetah cubs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/cute-cheetah-cubs-and-wild-wednesdays.html
Cute bear cubs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/andean-bear-cubs-playing-and-eating.html

Friday, June 6, 2014

Day Lily, Primrose, Echinacea, Petunia and Cosmos Photos

Happy floral Friday! This week in my Maryland garden the first of my day lilies, the Stella D'Oro golden yellow re-blooming variety, has started blooming and the one in the photo above is my first day lily bloom of the year.

I'm not sure if this is a wild or evening primrose but I like it and it spreads quickly.

Our very first echinacea (purple coneflower) of the year started blooming this week. The petals haven't completely opened yet but it's nice to see even in the beginning stages.

This white cosmos looks a lot sturdier than the one in last week's picture but it's from the same plant. It just had time to dry out between rainstorms before I took the photo.

I love this variegated petunia's colors. It's an exciting time to be out in the garden with new things blooming each week. Which was your favorite photo this week?

May the God who created every beautiful thing bless you beyond your wildest dreams!

Related posts:
Raindrops on roses: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/raindrops-on-roses-azalea-camellia.html
Dahlias, ranunculus and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/dahlias-ranunculus-azaleas-lilacs-and.html
Mandevilla, roses, petunias and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/mandevilla-roses-dianthus-and-petunias.html
Azalea walk photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/azalea-walk-landscape-photos.html

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Dancing Andean Bear Cubs

Happy wild Wednesday! Andean bear cubs Nicole and Curt (brother and sister) seemed to dance (they were probably play fighting) in their habitat on our last visit to the National Zoo. Andean bears are also called spectacled bears because of their unique facial markings.

On most visits they seem to be sleeping so it was nice to see them active.

These are two miracle bears. They are rumored to have been conceived after their father died. You can read more about them here.

If you live close enough to visit, you might want to visit soon because they may soon "go to another Zoo." Their mom already has a new mate, although the adult bears haven't been introduced yet.

May God bless and keep you, dear friends!

What is your favorite kind of bear?

Related posts:
Andean near cubs' birthday bash: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/01/andean-bear-cubs-birthday-bash.html
Little bear cubs playing and eating: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/andean-bear-cubs-playing-and-eating.html
Bear claw cleaning: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/02/bear-claw-cleaning.html
Lion and bear tongues: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/02/lion-and-bear-tongues.html