Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take time to smell the flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire their beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 206. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
The Yucca gloriosa species is known by the common names moundlily yucca and soft-tipped yucca. The Yucca gloriosa is also known as Roman candle, candle yucca, palm lily, and Spanish needle.
Close-up of the Yucca Flowers
Yucca gloriosa is caulescent, usually with several stems arising from the base, the base thickening in adult specimens. The leaves are long narrow, straight and very stiff. [The tips of the leaves are extremely sharp to the touch.]
Yucca gloriosa with Raindrops
The inflorescence is a panicle up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long, of bell-shaped white flowers, sometimes tinged purple or red. The fruit is a leathery, elongate berry up to 8 cm (3 in) long. [We have not seen or noticed the berries on the Yucca plant as of yet.]
Moundlily Yucca and Soft-tipped Yucca
The habitat for Yucca gloriosa is normally on exposed sand dunes along the coast and barrier islands of the lower East Coast of the United States. [There are two (2) of the Yucca gloriosa grown as ornament plants on our front lawn.]
Yucca gloriosa has been known to cause skin irritation and even allergic reactions upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.
The Lagerstroemia Indica “Whit II” is noted for its true red blossoms. It is a splendid, upright, deciduous tree with a profusion of large clusters, packed with crinkly , cherry red flowers at its branch tips.
The Dynamite Crape Myrtle is a long blooming summer flowering tree. [The one pictured here began blooming near the end of July across the street from us.] It will bloom through early autumn.
Google AI version
The Lagerstroemia Indica “Whit II” – Dynamite Crape Myrtle is an attractive ornamental shrub or small tree with smooth, peeling bark. The fiery red summer flowers with gradually change to vibrant orange-red fall foliage. Even after the leaves drop, the display is not over. Smooth but mottled bark showcases an attractive range of tan, gray, and brown which covers the trunk and branches of the Dynamite Crape Myrtle.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Have a rest under a shade tree. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Throughout the month of July we have seen many Red Squares to pique our interests and delight us uplifting our spirits. Keep Calm you still have a few hours yet to join in and share your Red Squares.
Keep Calm Sign at Señor Frog’s in Cozumel, Mexico
I know myself and others have shared Red flowers in honor and in memory of Cee Neuner. What a beautiful way it has been to remember Cee in Becky’s #SimplyRedchallenge.
Call a friend and have some fun. Squaring may be almost over for now, but alas Becky will host another Square Challenge again before you know it. The time will pass quickly, however you can still join in on this one for a few hours more.
Pay Phone in Stone Mountain State Park Roaring Gap, North Carolina
Stop and enjoy a beautiful Red Sunrise …
Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina
Red Sunrise
And Raise your flags proudly over the land …
United States of America Flag, North Carolina Flag & Gastonia Flag Warlick Family YMCA Gastonia, NC
Thank you Becky for hosting the Squares Challenge and challenging us with this month’s #SimplyRedtheme.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: Centennial Center; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take time to admire the Flowers. Remembering Cee’s love for Flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: The Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Missing Cee. Stop and admire the Flowers. Capture their Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Centennial Center; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a marvelous weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Crape Myrtle’s were introduced into the United States in the early 19th century. It gained popularity in the southern United States due to their ability to thrive in our warm climate.
Lagerstroemia indica
Crape Myrtle’s are referred to as the Flower of the South. It typically blooms from July to September when other types of plants are ceasing to bloom.
Aka Common Crape Myrtle Crape Flower, Crepe Myrtle, Indian Crape Myrtle, & Lilac of the South
The species epithet references its native origin in India. The common name is derived from the crepe paper-like petals and the bark and foliage features that are similar to the myrtle plant.
The Caladium bicolor(AkaHeart of Jesus) is typically grown as a houseplant for its large, heart or lance-shaped leaves with striking green, white, pink, and red blotching. [These Plants were planted in large landscape planters in and around Centennial Center in Downtown Cramerton.] It is alright to plant it outside in USDAHardiness Zone 10 as an ornamental.
The Caladium bicolor, called the Heart of Jesus, is named such as a nod to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a symbol of divine love in Christian tradition. The plant’s heart-shaped leaves echo the symbol of the Sacred Heart, making it a living embodiment of this spiritual icon.
Caladium x hortulanum (fancy-leaved caladium)
Caution: Caladium bicolor contains calcium oxalate crystals, making all parts of the plant poisonous to humans, livestock, and pets. If its sap comes in contact with the skin it may cause skin irritation. Ingestion of this plant may cause burning and swelling of the lips, mouth, and tongue, as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Be aware that if your pet consumes caladium your pet may exhibit vomiting. Other symptoms a pet may exhibit are drooling, pawing at mouth or face, and decreased appetite.
Caladium bicolor (Heart of Jesus) is pretty to look at, but it is extremely toxic if chewed or swallowed.
Location: Greenway Farm and Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to my saga of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating. This week we are continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat. Coleman’s choices this week are located at The Farmhouse Garden Center on the grounds of The Village at Stowe.
#SimplyRED! Coleman’s Bench Pull Up a Seat Choices within the Gazebo
Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a marvelous weekend. Take time to admire the flowers wherever you may wander. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Farmhouse Garden Center is located at The Village at Stowe, a part of the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. It is more than just a Garden shop, it is a delightfully warm and inviting destination for those who love and admire plants and flowers regardless of you are a home gardener or not. The flowers are beautiful and displays are enticing.
The Farmhouse Garden Daniel Stowe Conservancy Belmont, North Carolina
The Farmhouse offers educational opportunities such as workshops on wreath-making, floral arranging, gardening, and any and all other aspect related to plant care.
For more information about Thursday Trios check out Mama Cormier’s page by clicking here.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a marvelous weekend. Take time to admire the flowers wherever you may wander. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We didn’t do anything different on the 20th than we would normally do on any other day. Coleman and I enjoy being outdoors and wander through the woods whenever we possibly can. Right now in our area the weather is in the mid to high 90’s, much too hot to be out in the sun for any length of time.
With the heat advisory regarding the extreme heat temperatures, we only go out for short periods at a time. In those short periods Coleman likes to check to see what new blossoms have started blooming. These are some of what we have seen within the past week till now.
Location:The Center; Town of Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Take time to admire the beautiful flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Walking along the Pathway parallel to the Big Pond we spotted the BlackberryFlowers. Coleman notices them quicker than I do, he really likes it if they have ripe blackberries on the vines.
Aka European Blackberry
Getting a closer look we noticed the bee foraging the nectar from the flowers.
Aka Himalayan Blackberry
A little further down the pathway Coleman noticed some box-like structures through the grassy opening. As curious as he is he naturally wandered into the grassy opening to investigate the structures. After closer examination he informed me that they were Beehives.
Coleman walking towards the Bee Hives
Aka Common Eastern Bumblebee +Blackberry Flowers
After checking out the Beehives from a safe distance, we walked back towards The Trailhead Store hiking past the Himalayan Blackberry Flowers. Noticing more than just the flowers, I zoomed in to examine what was feasting on its nectar. Then I noticed not only the Common Eastern Bumblebee, but also the Cetonia aurata, which is called the rose chafer or the green rose chafer.
Aka Common Eastern Bumblebee +Himalayan Blackberry Flowers
Two for one foraging on the European Blackberry flowers. Think it’s nice that different species can share their delicacies.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Trailhead Store Pathway; The Village at Stowe; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Admire its beauty and intricacies. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Visit a Garden. Admire Nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and admire the Flowers. Enjoy Nature’s Beautiful Creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
To play along, go to your photos file folder and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title. This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below.
Here are my contributions to the Numbers Game Challenge … Click on photos for enlarged and enhanced viewing.
I’m a few days behind, but it’s still Springtime. While Coleman and I were on our long (just shy of 5 miles) hike on Saturday we noticed a few sections of the trail lined with beautiful Wildflowers.
Here are my Wildflower contributions …
Wildflowers on our Hike for National Trail Day June 07, 2025
Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given the challenge of showing #Pink in the Outdoors for this week’s Monthly Color Challenge.
Here are my entries for the Monthly Color Challenge. They are mostly outdoor #Pinks, I did include a few indoor #Pinks though.
Pink in the SkyPink Rose Flamingos Greenville Zoo Greenville, SCBabyLand General Hospital Aurora BorealisAphelandra sinclairiana, Aka Coral Aphelandra, Panama QueenGreenville Zoo Greenville, SCBabyLand General Hospital Cleveland , Georgia Aurora BorealisEchinacea purpureaGreenville Zoo Greenville, SCBabyLand General Hospital Cleveland , GeorgiaBeautiful Pink SkyPlumeria rubraAlona 2013No One Should Fight Alone Breast Cancer Awareness
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 