SkyWatch Friday: Candle Lanterns

This young family was lighting and letting sail several billowy candle lantern balloons over Pewaukee Lake this evening.  So pretty against the deep blue of the sunset. (Sorry for the grainy photo - this was taken with  my shaky cell-phone!) See more "SkyWatch Friday" feature photos here.

Begonia

I received this pretty coral pink begonia a few years ago from my mother-in-law. It spends summers on our patio and in "over-winters" in our chilly dining room during the winter.  This year, it took almost all summer to finally re-bloom and now it is quite spectacular!   (Thanks, Dolly!)

Sphinx Moth

After talking to a few people, it's apparently been an especially prolific year for the Sphinx Moth. They're also known as the Hummingbird Moth because of their similar size and mannerisms, and usually come out at dusk and feed on the bright flowers around our patio. This one was flitting around the flowers beds at work right outside my window!

SkyWatch: Aqua Storm Reflection

The pond behind our local Costco reflects the sun obscured by dark clouds as a late summer storm blows through. 

See all SkyWatch Friday entries here.

SkyWatch Friday: Sundown at Simmons Woods

Simmons Woods sunset with a silhouette of the old "look-out" tree.  Has a spooky, Halloween feel, doesn't it?

See all SkyWatch Friday entries here.

The Eensy-Weensy Spider

This image shows the underside of an Orb Weaver Spider (that happens to be missing a back leg) - and while not so eensy-weensy - it's actually considered a "good" spider as it traps and eats garden pests such as flies, beetles, and mosquitos. Found this one setting up shop on our honeysuckle vine.

On Tap

A very interesting, albeit a bit frightening, "draft" handle at Palmer's Steakhouse in Hartland, Wisconsin. It's after Labor Day and so almost time to close up the "Nude Beach!"

Theme Day - Winter Crisp Apples

It has been a great season for our apple trees this year. We have two trees: a 'Golden Delicious' and a 'Honeycrisp' - a hybrid which yields these pretty, pink-blushed tart & juicy apples; great for eating and cooking.

I'm a day late with this entry, but you can see more "pink-themed" posts for September at City Daily Photo.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Happy 'sunnies' for a Sunday. Each year I grow a row of dwarf and hybrid sunflowers in the back of our veggie garden to use for bouquets throughout the summer.  Most of the plants reach anywhere from 4 to 6 feet tall.  However, this giant sunflower stalk was a "volunteer" in the middle of the garden this year and topped out at over 12 feet!  It looks somewhat shorter here because the multiple sunflower blooms were weighing it down a bit. The Goldfinches are in heaven!