Tag: zinnia

Perspective and Prayer – Three Things

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, Prayer4 Comments

This morning, I felt burdened by my blogging, and pretty much life in general.  When I blog about daily activities, such as my garden, it almost feels frivolous amid massive world upheaval. On the other hand, I’m a firm believer in living my life. If we let the terror overtake and paralyze us, we allow those perpetrating the evil to win. 

Several things made an impression on me within an hour or two of rising. Number one: I felt led during my devotional time to search out an MMPwQ WordPress post of quotes from Oswald Chambers about prayer and publish them again. You can find these posts at the top and end of the page.  

Number two: I put on a necklace of my Mom’s that I enjoy wearing because it’s lovely and it reminds me of her. Out of the blue, the string broke and the beads flew everywhere, they embedded themselves into the shaggy weave of a rug, and scattered into crevasses and nooks where they were difficult to pick back up. Pick them back up I did though, because I won’t let something precious be lost to me if I can save it. I gathered up as many of the beads as I could find. I won’t throw them away, instead I will restring them, and when I begin, I might add a few little glittery pieces to remind me that Mom is up there in the stars with God now. I imagine the necklace will be better than before. 

It reminds me a bit of what happens in the world where evil uprisings are concerned. You move through life, and people who are my age will remember the phrase ‘Everything’s hunky-dory,’ and then, excuse the ugly word, ‘All hell will suddenly break loose,’ as has happened in Israel, and for the innocent people caught in the midst of the war in the Gaza strip. I don’t have a solution other than to once again, point to the quotes by Oswald Chambers I’ve included at the bottom and top of this post.

The red zinnia photographed in morning light is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Number three: After I took a walk this morning I went into my backyard to see how my plants had fared during the very cold night. So far, they are still fine. The red zinnias were glorious in the early sunlight. I had my phone so I snapped a photo. Now, I use photo filters once in a while; I think they’re great, but this picture is unfiltered, well let me amend that, it was filtered by God. And I get a little choked up just saying that because amid all this turmoil in the world, I don’t want to forget that he is good, that he loves us, and that he will be with us in every moment of our lives. I am so glad the light was a reminder that he is, and was, and always will be in control.

 I hope to pray today off and on all through my waking hours. He is there any moment I need to connect to him. I will be praying for Israel, my family, my country, and my home, and I will be praying for those in power in the world to have wisdom. I will be praying for those innocents in harm’s way who are suffering because those with evil ideologies must have their way. God bless us all. 

Link to full post of Prayer is the Greater Work.

Planting – A Natural Support

On By TimelessladyIn Planting4 Comments

The tip might be a little late for this year’s gardens, but keep it in mind for Spring planting. The red zinnia below is my photo for Cee’s Flower of the Day.

It’s always fun to traipse around the garden beds eye-level to the zinnias. Their height presents a problem though; how to support them? If you’ve ever grown these beauties, the taller varieties, you most likely know a heavy rainstorm will drive them to the ground if they are not staked. This year, quite by accident, I grew a natural staking plant nearby.

In the patio garden I planted zinnias, the State Fair variety that grows near four feet tall for me. Beside it I planted blue salvia since both flowers are hummingbird favorites. As the zinnias grew tall, and the salvia spread out in width, the zinnia grew up between the branches of the salvia and rested upon the natural support. No staking required. The plants look lovely growing together. Their roots have plenty of room. I can’t extol this combination enough; the hummingbirds are happy and so am I.

The growing season is almost over. We have had heavy rain along the Atlantic coast for days. The zinnias are now as tall as I am, and still, despite the downpours they are held aloft by the salvia plants. What a beautiful combination.

Phriday Pheathers – Ransacked Zinnias

On By TimelessladyIn Phriday Pheathers6 Comments

Adorable August Bandits have been ransacking my zinnias. Do I care…only a little, and why is that? Even without every petal the nectar-producing disk florets are alive and will be visited by hummingbirds and butterflies.

Goldfinches are the bandits. The male is bold and brash, watching me carefully, but staying in plain sight.

The female likes to forage amid the cover of the zinnia leaves.

They aren’t the only ransackers in the garden. I’m a guilty party too, stripping off petals to press between the pages of a book. They will retain their bright colors and be useful in crafts later in the year.

Each petal has a seed attached. I break these away before pressing. Aha! I’ve had a great idea.

I gather the seeds and take them to the garden. The ring of florets on the zinnia makes a perfect miniature bird feeder for the goldfinches. This post is part of August Photo A Day Challenge/Start With A – August 3rd.

Photograph – The Bone Yard

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress, photograph2 Comments

LILY SEEDPOD
LILY SEEDPOD

Autumn has brought out the beauty in the “Bone Yard” of my garden as my blossoms turn into seeds.

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Change.”“This week, show us a change in progress. This can be done in one or multiple photos — we’ll let you decide!”

ZINNIA SEEDPOD
ZINNIA SEED HEAD

MOONFLOWER SEEDPOD
MOONFLOWER SEEDPOD

ECHINACEA SEED HEAD
ECHINACEA SEED HEAD

VITEX/CHASTE-BERRY SEEDS
VITEX/CHASTE-BERRY SEEDS

ACORNS - WASHED BY RAIN FROM THE ROOF
ACORNS – WASHED BY RAIN FROM THE ROOF

Pic-Monkey is a terrific site for adding special effects to photographs.

Photo Challenge – Swallowtails, Zinnias and Bumblebees, Oh My!

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress18 Comments

“Away with the colors of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Show us what “Yellow ” means to you.” Photo Challenge at WordPress – December 19th

swallowtail on zinnia

My first thought for this challenge was to choose a photograph of yellow flowers. I have dozens, hundreds, maybe thousands of flowers on disc. Many of the photos have been taken in my own gardens, others at local public gardens in the area I live.

I decided instead to combine a favorite flower, zinnias, with a yellow swallowtail butterfly. Perfect. I love swallowtails. Lately, the weather and environmental issues have diminished their ranks, but hopefully their numbers will rebound in our area soon.

I love zinnias, and especially am entranced by the yellow ring of flowers surrounding their center. I always give this ring of small flowers, technically called “disc flowers” my own whimsical name of fairy ring flowers. This is where the butterflies find the nectar that they drink.

Zinnias have “Heads composed of both disc and ray flowers, with disc flowers tightly packed together in the head’s “eye,” while enlarged ray flowers function as petals radiating outward from the eye.” Composite Flowers – Backyard Nature

Here’s a closer look at the yellow “fairy ring” of zinnia disc flowers, this time hosting a Skipper butterfly.

skipper on butterfly

I loved this photograph so much I used it as a reference for a 5 x 7 watercolor, and posted the finished results on this blog: Skipper on a Zinnia

bee

Another visitor to the zinnias is a bumblebee in a fuzzy yellow jacket. Gorgeous insects all!

This post is definitely a tad out of season, but perhaps you are like me, and at the threshold of winter enjoy being reminded that Spring is only three months away.

Painting – Faux Botanical/Zinnia

On By TimelessladyIn Painting2 Comments

IMG_3376

I love botanical watercolors, but I don’t have enough minutes in the day to attempt painting one. If truth be told, even if I had the time, I’m not sure I would have the inclination; botanical watercolors are painstaking and precise. I like having a bit more freedom and fun when I paint. Instead of following the traditional route I paint “faux” botanicals, or maybe a better term would be a floral portrait. At first glance my watercolors appear to be botanicals, but on closer inspection a professional would see there are many flower details left out.

Step by Step Slideshow

IMG_3377

Watercolor Tip – To remove a finished painting from a watercolor block, use a piece of an old credit card and slide between sheets. Gently work the card around until the paper completely lifts away from the block.

Thanks for looking! 😀

Of course, I had to include the inchworm.

IMG_3379

I’m pleased with the new addition to my “faux” botanicals in the hallway.

IMG_3381

Planting – Front Garden Color Combo

On By TimelessladyIn PlantingLeave a comment

buggy 004

I love this combination of wave petunias, angelonia, heliotrope, coleus and low-growing pink zinnias. I crowd my plants a bit in the front garden, but I am rarely disappointed by stunted plants, they all seem to thrive in their close quarters. Perhaps the tight lacing of foliage prevents quick dehydration of the ground below them.

buggy 042

buggy 044