Napoleon House

While in New Orleans we stopped for refreshment at Napoleon house.

It was built  to shelter Napoleon when he fled his imprisonment, but, of course, was never used.

A sharp contrast to most places in the Quarter---it is peaceful and filled with the sound of classical music. I drank a Pimm's Cup, munched bruschetta, and remembered all the visits with friends through the years.

a few sunrises

Early morning is the best time for walking in the Louisiana heat and humidity. But it's  hard to make progress when the rising sun keeps sending these glorious scenes to stop me in my tracks!

I fill my phone with photos each seemingly better than the last. 

But then sunsets always wow me too.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

I recently had the opportunity to take my granddaughter to the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. It had been years since my last visit, and I had forgotten how magical the place can be.

Perched on the shoulder  of the Mississippi River and less than 100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, it's a perfect location to showcase the diversity of life in our great bodies of water.

It is world class and a wonderful gem for New Orleans.

above it all

So you ask why is this crazy lady posting photos of dots in a black space.

Because that white smear is the space station with 6 humans gazing down at us!!

I've re subscribed to the notifications of its passage over our region and rush out to greet it as it goes over. Last evening was perfect--a little cooler with just a few clouds. Screech owls called from from the woods and only a few unknowns nibbled at my shins.

I follow on Facebook those astronauts that are currently on board and they post amazing pictures of our planet.

It's one place where humans from many nations come together in goodwill and science  giving me hope that it can be done.

along came a spider

Strung between the shrubs and trees each morning in the fall are massive spider webs. 

I need to look up frequently to duck them all.

Wikipedia:

The golden silk orb-weavers (Nephila) are a genus of araneomorph spiders noted for the impressive webs they weave. Nephila consists of numerous species found in warmer regions around the world. They are also commonly called golden orb-weavers, giant wood spiders, or banana spiders.

One morning recently I walked into one and wore the web around my head like a cap. Only a shower and shampoo would remove the clingy sticky substance from my hair,

Usually I just try to avoid them or encourage them move higher since they are harmless to humans.

However, most visitors find them quite intimidating.

lobelia cardinalis

From year to year one can never know what a plant will do. Some have been in the garden for decades and perform differently each year. This year the cardinal flower went over the moon.

These are self sown seeds or "volunteers".

Wherever they emerge I let them grow, weeding them a little and giving support when necessary.

They are big favorites with sulphur butterflies, hummingbirds......and me.

surprise lilies

These are the bulbs that lay dormant all summer-- no leaves or evidence that they're going to burst into bloom at the right time. 

Often they are forgotten, mowed over, hacked down, accidentally planted over. After a bit of fall rain they appear overnight and have me running to check out that burst of color that erupted like a mushroom!

I am always happy to make their acquaintance again and rush to get a photo or two before they melt back into invisibility. They will produce some green strappy leaves that blend into the grass, and then out of mind till next fall.

making hay

After a long hot summer, the neighbor has finally begun to cut hay. Usually he cuts hay at least twice in summer, but this year let it grow as high as an elephant. Hiking through that kind of growth makes me feel like I need a machete. Because I am allergic to chiggers, which are small insects that burrow into the skin and form blisters that itch madly, I have to wear heavy clothing when I go walking in this thick grass. It's miserable in the hot humid days we've had recently.

So I was overjoyed to find the grass being mowed for hay as I approached the top of the hill this morning. Two flocks of ducks flew over--I couldn't identify them. Pine warblers and white eyed vireos sang from the fence row.

September

orchid madness

It's hard to pass these beauties up when the price is so cheap.

just a hint

A small cool front was pulled in by the great hurricane to the east of Texas hill country.

The early morning light reveals a promise of fall color.

migration begins

The hordes of hummingbirds start the great trek south. 

a lot to see

Sometimes there's a lot to see in a single flower..

the great American eclipse

So anticipated, didn't disappoint.

The day was clear and warm, so I set up my telescope that I've had since a teenager. However, it's always difficult to focus at the sun through high powered lens without burning out the retina. At this age, my retinas aren't in great shape anyway.

I did use the sun filter though to take a few photos through the cell phone camera, and I was pleased with them.

Crescent shadows were everywhere as the leaves acted like pin hole cameras and painted them across everything-- a beautiful effect.

The postal service issued stunning 

 sheets of stamps that change when exposed to heat. 

Venus and the crescent moon

Up early to see if I could capture this stunning duo in the eastern sky--so pleased that my iPhone got it!

it's a jungle out there

When I awaken each morning and walk to the window to assess the day I am greeted by these crying windows. The condensation runs down in rivulets and green algae is beginning to grow on the corners. It does no good to wipe and clean them for it will be soaked again tomorrow. It's been a long,   hot, wet summer. The weeds and vegetation are out of control, and it's been a daunting task to keep up with it all. It feels like a jungle "out there".

butterflies love zinnias

Zinnias are always a favorite of mine. I love their
less formal growth and range of colors. When summers are hot and dry, they are champions, but this has been a wet, humid summer. The zinnias have struggled and succumbed to molds and fungus. I do have a few surviving and have been rewarded with swallowtail butterflies.

fire in the sky

After a dreary, rainy day the sky exploded in colors.  Almost like an aurora the clouds and light danced and changed from moment to moment, and it was hard to pick just a few photos for the blog.

chasing the magnificent frigate bird

A few weeks ago tropical storm Cindy meandered her way to the Louisiana shores bringing winds, rain, high tides, flooding.......and many, many magnificent frigate birds.

When reports of a 1000 frigate birds flying up the Mississippi River made it to bird bulletins I could stand it no more, I had to see some for myself. Lake Pontchartain is about an hour from my house so I figured some had to be there ---and they were!

I have no photos to show, but the silhouettes of those birds against the stormy skies were thrill enough for me.

It was difficult to reach many places because the lake was overflowing and pushing water over all the approaches to the lake, but the birds cooperated and made some flights over land near the lake.


One of the neat videos that a birder managed to get:


https://youtu.be/3k33K0qiA4E