We got almost four inches of rain this week, a blessing beyond measure. Our drought still exists, those water tables are still at historic lows, but we are grateful. The plants and animals are delighted. Suddenly, from the previously crispy-fried dead grass, new grass has shot forth, wildflowers have erupted from nowhere, and the feast of life is served!
The first flowers to spring up are the lovely gayfeathers. What a name! Makes me want to pick one, and wear it in the logan green hat of my Maid Marion costume! The photo below is how they look alongside the road near my house. (To see any of these photos at full size, just click on them!)
If you get right up on the gayfeathers, you will see that their petals are delicate fronds. This one is being cleaned of any excess pollen by a busy bee.
Nearby are tall stands of Maximillian Sunflowers. I like the way the stalks are crowded like highrise buildings. These are two days old.
I couldn't quit with just one photograph, so here is another. These happy flowers waited for four months without rain, for more than 70 days of temperatures over 100 degrees, and then sprang up with hope and promise.
Not far from the tall yellow sunflowers were these blue wildflowers. I like them, even if I don't know their name yet. [blue sage, a.k.a. Salvia Azurea, according to nanatehay thanks!]
Look closely at the white petals below and see the visiting spider there. I had no idea until I saw the enlarged image on my screen! [our resident OS expert, nanatahey, says the flower is Snow-on-the-mountain, Euphorbia Marginata. Thanks, again!]
The black wasps on the goldenrod were so busy with their heads down in the pollen, I could get right up to them. They remind me of the black skirted ladies tending the alter vestments in the churches down in old Mexico.
Finally, Texas is having the kind of beautiful weather that invites us outside to enjoy. Thanks for coming along with me today to share in the rain's bounty.
click on images to enlarge
images © diana ani stokely 2011
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
nilesite
M. C. S.
Deborah Méndez Wilson
MedianPerspective
Joslyn Hamilton
Maureen Andrade
Salon.com
Comments
Not just the flowers, but the people are behaving like this. What welcome rain! Your photos are lovely.
Hey Joan, that is a sneaky spider hoping for a light lunch from a visiting insect, eh?
Thanks, nanatehay! Yeah, I thought so too, our flora coincide some. I appreciate your help with the blue sage. Would you know the name of that crazy white rose thing? (spider)
Mime, you can teach with three words. Thanks.
HUGGGGGGGG- beautiful blog
I need to buy myself a decent camera but somehow I suspect that's not all I need .... photography lessons might help!!!
Lovely post, dianani.
Beautifully done, friend. xo
(I love it when Julie comments too.)
Thanks Cranky, we could use a lot more rain to fill our tanks and creeks and water tables. Four inches was about the best gift this year. I appreciate your coming by, and will take any rain donations you can spare.
Ha, Linda! Don't you know it! I love your freaky clown baloon maker photo a whole lot! Thanks, sweetheart.
greenheron, wouldn't it be nice to just hang out in a damp flower petal on a perfect day, waiting for your lunch to just drop in?
nanatehay, YOU DA MAN! I agree the latin naming opportunities are bleak, but want to pick your brain about this flower I cannot identify. I haven't posted it here, I will "friend" you and show it to you later. THANKS, MAN!
I always enjoy your eyes on my photos, Little Kate! My son gave me my little camera about 3 or 4 years ago, and I carry it around with me everywhere. I stopped my car on that road this afternoon, and took pictures of everything I could find. Nice that I live way out in the boonies!
Hi Scarlett! Thanks for your presence. I am not so poetic today, but offer you the opportunity?
Hey Barry, I know that slightly envious feeling of seeing someone else's photo, and wishing I'd been there with some fine equipment and had taken it. But mostly, I just enjoy and learn, and you are surely a mentor to me. How about that Julie jumping to comment on my post! whoooooooop!
Kim, our autumn looks like our spring too! We've been so parched, that the poor flowers take any chance they can get to come up. We will get fall changes in another month probably.
thanks, keri h, glad you came by!
I'm glad we got some rain too! Thanks for coming over to see and comment, M.C.Sears.
token, old pal, long time. you are good to me.
Thanks, zanelle, it was like the table had been laid for all, wasn't it? I liked your pretty photos of batik today. We are so fine! :o)
And I love it when Julie comments three. :)
Thanks for these!
Love it all; your pictures make me want to clap. And you've got to post a picture of yourself in your Maid Marion costume now that you've let on you have one.
Hey Candace, too bad you don't have gay feathers, it is such a fun name to say. Last couple of days, i drive the roads calling to them.
Just Thinking and Bernadine, yes finally we got rain! Lord knows we need it. Everybody and everything is in a good mood suddenly.
Margaret, hmmm, I am always BEHIND the camera. I might find my hat though. Thanks!
Tink, good for you! Rain is just about the nicest thing to happen here in a long time. I hope you have a gentle soaker and don't get mud on your ... uh ... paws!
Interrobang, gracias! Que linda es la lluvia
Rated for beauty.
Desert Rat, hey man, did you get any photos of those rainy days? I just love the wet air!
Beth, thank you, I think you must love bees just because they move so fast. I had never seen a black and silver bee before, had you?
Linnnn, yep, just waiting their cue! I am so glad they got ttheir chance.
Lammchops, thank you! I like your words "like the resiliency of a small child" to describe this happy moment.
and gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous flowers! we don't have those here
thank you for sharing them
r