Flower for the Day Spotted Ladysthumb 10-30-19

For several weeks now I have noticed this pink-red flowery weed growing in the grass. It is Polygonum persicaria and is an annual in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). Its common names include spotted ladysthumb, Jesusplant  and redshank.

          

In North America it is an introduced and invasive non native plant that spans the continent. Who knew?

Don's Blog A Surprise in the Artists Studio 10-29-19

Jan found this beauty in some of her finished work in the back basement. Luckily it was dead but it certainly was a surprise.

           

          Can anyone identify it?

            
           

And how did it get there?

Flower for the Day: Butterfly Named 10-26-19

The butterfly from yesterday was identified as a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui - Linneus 1758). As

The upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases. The forewing has a black apex patch and white bar on leading edge. The hindwing with a submarginal row of 5 small black spots sometimes has blue scales. 

          

The underside has a black, brown, and gray pattern with 4 small submarginal eyespots.

As you can see they love the nectar from asters.

Flower for the Day Field Aster 10-25-19

I have three different kinds of aster. In the front yard I have ones  with vivid purple flowers.

                       

In the wildflower garden the asters were much taller  and slightly more pale.

In a field circle the asters are medium in height and even paler.

 

                    

The butterflies flock to the field circle asters that are out in the open. There are still many small

yellow, white, and orange butterflies darting around even in late October.

Can you name this butterfly (above and below)? I think they are the same one.

Flower for the Day Hydrangea 10-24-19

We are well into Fall and flowers are still blooming as we await the first freeze. The most mysterious bloom is in the "Green Garden". This healthy hydrangea did not put 

out any blooms this year - until this week when one appeared. Any thoughts on this?

        

It is a beautiful blue and pink and is the only one.

Flower for the Day Stiff Goldenrod 10-8-19

With the asters in full bloom it is also the time of goldenrod (Solidago rigida). Interestingly stiff 

goldenrod is also in the aster family. 

                     Goldenrod

By Ian Parks

If I don't say it

someone will: the wind

blows through the goldenrod

like death flows through a crowd.

I watch it from a distance

as the whole field lifts and stirs.

Close up, it holds the promise

of a less than perfect world.

I knew the thing

before I knew its name.

Now all I know

is what the name infers:

a life of pure sensation

or the rod some angel brings—

announcing a momentous

death or birth, each face

expectant, brightly-lit.

I say the name and what it means

until the meaning blurs.

The wind blows through the goldenrod

like death flows through a crowd.

Nothing is accomplished

and the world is changed by it.

Flower for the Day Dahlia 10-4-19

This is the time for the dahlias to shine. All but the purple dahlias are in their second year. The others aged out. In this space that seems to be happening.

         
 
          

         

          

       
          
         

           NIGHT LIGHT

 That cameo was my secret grief.   

 He will make you sing,the hooded moon.    

 Not a sacred thing   

 Kissing the toes of a traveler for fecundity.  

         
        In doorway it was between us and them
        for bargaining for Dahlias. 

        Lips unkissed will call for honey from bees.
        Eyes will search for a candle. 

        In alien land of flames and tumultuous desires, 
        the golden breasts will take revenge. 

             
        Satish Verma

Flower for the Day Sedum 10-1-19

My small stand of sedum or stonecrop has been here for over 20 years.It is a succulentand the deer usually eat the leaves.

         

It has star shaped flowers that are striking but you have to get down to them to see how exquisite they are.