Sunday stroll - I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille

Zinnia

Oh lookie, I have a new camera and I have been practicing my close up maneuvers.

Sunflower

KiKi helping me hold down my reading chair
while I study my camera.



KiKi heading under the Lantana.

The Vinca being all she can be.

The lesson for me is being true to your nature and be

the very best yourself you know how to be.

With the heat index over 100' my walking is taken in

quick steps outside and equally quick right back inside.

Ice tea is the drink of the day.

BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER BY

This video features the Black Swallowtail with guest appearances from the ever popular group known locally as the Skippers.

Here the star is the irrepressible Tiger Swallowtail with the usual suspects.

You may be able to click and enlarge the videos, then again when I tried it was beginning to pixelate.

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

We love our fried green tomatoes and so we are always eager to have our first tomato harvest of the summer when some green fruits are a nice size for slicing and frying. My appetite is peaking as I begin the simple process.
Slices are dredged in cornmeal and a little flour with seasonings of salt, fresh ground pepper and today I added some sage. My heritage impels me to use white cornmeal, the preferred meal of southerners.

After sitting aside the slices to rest and absorb the coating I like to fry the tomatoes in a mix of butter and olive oil over a low flame till browned with a crisp coating and turned to do the same for the other side. The meat of the tomato will be cooked and just luscious.

Before I could take the picture DH have served himself tomato slices, pork slices and a bit of salad. Fried Green Tomatoes are a favorite of his and the first of the season were not to be denied one second longer.

THE SHOW GOES ON AND ON

I kept my father's work shoes that had spent many hours in gardens over the years and so even though I know nature will work her will on them, I've kept them in the yard at the foot of the steps. There were two of course, but Ruby the Great Dane carried one away never to be seen again.

DH planted a small row of cotton and I think the leaves are just delightful. I'm looking forward to watching the bolls form and then carefully picking a little cotton in memory of his family history in the cotton fields of Alabama.

The wild Blueberries are almost gone, but the tame bushes are giving us larger and somewhat sweeter berries now.

The best thing about gardens are all the visitors who come to visit and share the bounty that we don't happen to use. The Butterfly Bush is hosting a variety of insects, the flashiest being the butterflies. Here the Black Swallowtail is sharing the goodies with --

these cute little Skippers who have arrived with about six other family members to spread around the bush and enjoy their harvest.

Close by was this lovely Tiger Swallowtail. Don't you agree with the author when he observed...


"Butterflies are self propelled flowers"

R.H.Heinlein

FREEDOM'S FLAG

(If Betsy Ross had been a quilter.)

Happy 4th of July!