Showing posts with label tea olive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tea olive. Show all posts

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Photo-a-Day Week 36

How is it Sunday already? The days just zoom by so quickly! I hope everyone had a good week last week. Let's talk about the photos from this past week.

Day 244-
For those who were on the Memphis Fling, you might remember a planter that had a kaleidoscope focused on the blooms in the planter. I remembered that I had a small kaleidoscope in the drawer of our hutch. After a few trial shots of other items, I settled on using this one of  Lantana camara 'Miss Huff', in full bloom. 

Lantana Kaleidoscope

Here are a few other photos using the kaleidoscope. The first, taken in the house of an item on the hutch.


Once outside, I took a photo of the rose bush by the front door. It was fun to use the kaleidoscope to capture some photos. I might bring it out again during Christmas season. 



Day 245-

We rotate hosting bridge, and this past week it was close enough to walk. The setting sun created long shadows as I walked east towards the gathering bridge game. Walking home in the pitch black night is always interesting. I was good until close to my house when I heard a sound, perhaps a fox, call out in the darkness. I turned on my cell flashlight to finish the walk to my house. 


Walking to bridge

Day 246-
Resurrection Lily, Spider Lily, or Hurricane Lily, this fall-blooming bulb is always a treat to see. The botanical name is Lycoris radiata. I  have them planted around the yard/garden but so far, these are the only ones blooming. I also have a Lycoris aurea, a yellow bloom. At one time I also used to have the pink variety, Lycoris squamigera, often called Naked Ladies. All the Lycoris bloom after the foliage fades.

Resurrection Lily


Day 247-

Fall is also the time when the Tea Olive blooms. Its fragrance is distinct. I have heard some say it smells like Fruit Loops to them. Osmanthus fragrans is an evergreen shrub that can be trimmed into a multiple-stemmed tree. I leave mine in its full form. Amazingly, this tiny bloom can have such a large fragrance, it perfumes the entire yard.


Fragrance Abounds

Day 248-

In the same drawer as the kaleidoscope, I found my birth announcement and a photo of newborn me! Stay tuned, there may be more archived items showcased. 

Things You Find in a Drawer

Day 249-

Saturday was an SEC (Southeastern Conference) football game. For Mizzou fans, the game was against Kansas. Long-time rivals. (or arch enemies, depending on with whom you are talking)  This is the Mizzou tiger logo, in a prominent position in the living room.


MIZ-

Day 250-

Today's gem is my dad's metal truck, Buddy-L. Not sure when my dad got this toy, but I remember riding it in my grandmother's backyard as a little one. I inherited this and it has spot on the shelf in the living room. My grandkids rode it around the living room this past Christmas, four generations of love. 

Buddy-L

I tried a different view for the photo, but I liked the full side view better. The one below just wasn't a very good photo. It happens. 




Another week's photos shared and explained. Hope you enjoyed it. See you next week.

 





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

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Observations at the End of the Year

The weather has been so unusual for much of the country, ours being warmer and drier than the norms. I record and report the rainfall to CoCoRaHS, a citizen community, reporting of precipitation across the country and Canada. If you are interested is participating, please go to cocorahs.org for all the info. Since I have been recording the rainfall for a number of years, I can gather that data and chart it. You know, if you have had rain for a week you might think it has been a wet fall (or spring or winter or summer) but if you record those rainfall amounts over time you will see highs and lows. Below is my chart for the years 2016- 2021



Our November was especially dry, so when the December rains came, some of my winter blooming plants perked up. 
Join me as I walked through my yard on December 31, 2021. It was a warm afternoon and a joy to be outside. The following plants are in the front yard- 

Unknown beautiful Camellia

Prunus mume 'Hokkai bungo' 

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Perhaps Zinnia seedlings- awakened early 

Salvia elegans- Pineapple sage, still blooming!

Earliest blooming daffodil in my garden
Narcissus 'Grand Soleil d'Or'

I walked up to the street to my wildflower garden, many of the Gaillardia are in various stages of bloom to seedhead.
Gaillardia sp. bud and seedhead

Encore Azalea 'Autumn Twist' still putting out a few blooms

Back to the front yard- my largest Tea Olive, seen below next to the shed.

Osmanthus fragrans

close up of the tiny blooms that are quite fragrant

In the backyard there are more blooms to behold

Camellia sasanqua 'Ashley Eden'

Not quite in flower yet, but so close
Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Pink Frost'

Edgeworthia chrysantha has started to open

Venturing into the woods in the backyard brings planned and unplanned bits of beauty.

Lichen on wood along the dry creek bed

More fungi growth on logs that line the path

Cyclamen hederifolium

Thanks for joining me on a quick walk around the yard. Besides seeing the beautiful blooms, the fragrances of three of these plants are filling the air with their delightful aromas. 1. Prunus mume 'Hokkai bungo' 2. Osmanthus fragrans 3. Edgeworthia chrysantha
Truly an enjoyment for many of the senses. 
Happy New Year, one and all!




©Copyright 2022
  Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.