Great Find, Hubsy!!

...while patrolling his vegetable garden this morning, Hubs' was able to get several spectacular shots of this Spicebush Swallowtail, basking among the foliage. Lovely butterfly, isn't it?

Such a Strange Summer...

... I just happened by chance to catch this lavender sunset a few days ago. Lately, it's been hot and dry. But suddenly, we had a dramatic sunset and some rain....prairie summers.

Unexpected Combination...

....you already know, I am the lucky recipient of extra plants from the Big Garden Next Door; for years, at "plant dividing time", I stand around looking pathetic and lovely extra plants come to live in my yard. Every gardener needs to find homes for their extras, as well. The Banana plant was such an addition; I got the bee balm myself (and it has spread all over the yard). But I like this photo: the South Pacific meets the American mid-west.

More of the Flooded Creek Bed....

...after last Friday night's 5-inch deluge.

After at least 5 inches of rain overnight...

....last Friday, construction equipment was flooded with water along a little stream near the Kohl's store where I shopped. According to Tom Skilling, our local weatherman, we had the wettest July on record and the 7th hottest. Most of the month it was a bit dry--right up until it rained that night.

Other People's Business Again....

Last January, I noticed this bright blue ranch-style house on a drab cold wintry morning; it's amazing the transformation from the same vantage point with the change of the season. I did not realize the house and the sky are nearly the same color in the top picture: it looks like a 1950's real estate advertising fantasy. (The home-owners always keep the place looking colorful and seasonal.)

Grand Island, NE sunset....

...we found a pretty great place to pitch the tent for a night while travelling through Nebraska.
Grand Island has a little county park which was once a festival place for the German settlers back in the day; we have camped there several times, especially since non-electric sites were very reasonable. The park borders the town's "settler's" museum area, which is large; it contains old cabins, homes, a church and old fashioned stores and barns. We've never had time to go to the museum, but did capture this subset one lovely evening before turning in to our tent.