Photo-a-Week Week 20

Welcome back to week 20! There are interesting photos for this week; I hope you enjoy them all.

Day 132-

At a loss for what to photograph, I looked down at my laptop and zoomed in. Boy, is it dirty!!! I cleaned it right after getting a closeup.

Ew, Dirty Keyboard

Day 133-

We got a lot of rain last week, all that water flowed downstream from upstream, into the lake. The lake level rose and the color of the lake was like café au lait. Some call the brown water stained. Our lake is a man-made lake with a dam at the end. The dam has turbines to produce hydroelectric power. When the lake level is high the gates are wide open. After a few days the level of the lake was back down to its normal levels for this time of year. 

Aftermath of the Rain

Day 134- 

We had too many clouds and rain to capture a picture of the full moon. This photo is from the next night, still quite bright and appearing full. The clouds helped create an eerie sky.

Moon and Clouds

Day 135-

Our Magnolia grandiflora blooms in May, most years I have blooms on Mother's Day. This year, there was one bloom open on Mother's Day but it was high up in the tree and difficult to photograph. When these glorious blooms open the air is filled with a lemony fragrance that reminds me of Lemon Pledge. 

Lemon Pledge Scent

Day 136- 

At night, when we drive home, it is quite dark and lonely on the road. This is one of the rural roads to get to our house. 

The Way Home

Day 137- 

Every year, I tell myself I will cut the spent blooms on my Calla lilies, Zantedeschia albomaculata, so they don't reseed everywhere. I really need to follow through this year, as Calla lilies are popping up in a lot of places. 

Volunteer 

Day 138- 

Who doesn't like to blow bubbles with kids on a sunny day? It is always fun! The bigger the bubble, the better! 

Bubble

Come back again next week for more of my photo a day pictures. 

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.

The Aftermath, The Good, and a Little Cuckoo

This past Monday (two days ago) we had a lot of rain in a very short period of time.  It was 2 1/2 inches in about 45 minutes.  Since it was late in the evening we had to wait until the next morning to see what this gully-washer did.  For those who are new to the blog, I live on a sloped lot.    The top of the street the elevation is 480 feet above sea level, the house is about 465 ft. and the lake is at 440 ft.  Downhill all the way to the lake.   The picture below shows a lot of the washout.  Lost a lot of the leaf litter and a lot of the top layer of soil.   The pathway lost a lot of mulch too.  

 There are a lot of tunnels throughout the hillside.  Who makes them?  Moles? Snakes? Chipmunks? Lizards? Who knows.  I have lost a few Echinacea but not much else, so not 100% sure it is Moles & their little friends the Voles.

This is a Canna  Calla (oops) Lily that is just about to bloom....see all the roots exposed?  There were a lot of roots exposed all through the garden.

 Poor little borage had all its soil washed away, all that was left was the potting mix and the plant laying on top of the soil.   I replanted it quickly.  Crossing my fingers on it.

 The other little babies that got carried away by the rushing water were some small Blackberry Lilies, Belamcanda chinensis.  These little guys got replanted tonight.   I shoveled some washed out soil over the exposed roots as well.  Once I get back from Asheville I will figure out what else I need to do.

As for the Gardenia bush that fell over....I dug it up and replanted it.  There was no root damage.  It was just top heavy.  I pruned it back a good bit and anchored it with a couple heavy rocks from the driveway.  Will have to keep it pruned lower until the root system is larger and stronger.

Now for the good....a quick overview of the goodies in the garden.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Coppertina'

Astilbe 

Callirhoe involucrata Winecups

Knockout Rose

 The red roses are blooming and really pretty...but I have to show you, it is a small shrub.   At this point I am just glad the deer haven't eaten it!

 Catmint, Nepeta racemosa Walker's Low is truly a pollinator magnet.  The activity was amazing!  

Lots of bumblebees, nary a honey bee. 

Lucky for me, the Yorktown Onion didn't get washed away, it was right next to the water's pathway.  

The Edgeworthia chrysantha are super happy.  Love their large leaves.  

And finally, a little Cuckoo...made an ID on a bird that we have heard in the trees, and finally today, I SAW IT!!  To top it off...I got a picture too.  This is a Yellow Billed Cuckoo.  Here is the sound he makes.

Tomorrow I leave for Asheville for the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling.  Stay tuned for updates!!


©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.