Sunday, June 21, 2009

Summer Solstice



The wheel of the year turns again. (This morning's sunrise was hidden in fog and cloud so last year's solstice sunrise will have to do.)

The wildflowers of summer time adorn the fields -- Queen Anne's Lace . . .



. . . the tiny two-petaled Day Flower -- the blue of a summer sky . . . and many-flowered mullein. The Brits grow a tame version called Verbascum but we are fortunate to have these stately (almost six foot) volunteers popping up everywhere.

Onward into summer -- which looks to be a hot one.

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7 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

Love the mullein pic Vicki!
It's already 79 degrees at 7:37!!
I've cut the 1st mess of Okra and hung out a load of clothes and now
I'm ready to stay in the AC! HA!
I don't recall it ever being this hot and dry here in June in the six years I've been moved back!
I think you are right! A hot one for sure!!

Stella Jones said...

Hello Vicki, Yes, we have a delicate, though prolific verbascum, which comes in many different colours. Your Queen Anne's lace is called Gypsy Lace in England. I don't think we have the two petalled flower you show. Lovely pictures of your flowers and gorgeous sunrise too, even if it is last year's. We awoke to a thunderstorm here in Knoxville. Perhaps you are experiencing that one now?
Blessings, Star

Vicki Lane said...

Carol -- Hot here but mercifully wet! Big, big rain last night and more this am.

We haven't had a thunderstorm this morning, Star, but the way that the dogs are clustering around tell me that there's one in the vicinity!

Pat in east TN said...

Lovely flower pictures, and clear skies with pinkish/orange clouds for us this morning. It's like August in June here with much rain, although not like you're getting over there.

Vicki Lane said...

Hey, Pat, We've had several more rains this afternoon. John showed me on the radar how they are proceeding in a narrowish straight line from Knoxville to Madison County and on.

Tammy said...

My Dad mows around and babies any mullein plants on his place, so we have an abundance around the acreages. I find myself always leaving a few too, when I mow the pastures, as they are so stately looking. Hot here too, with 84 degrees and 79 percent humidity at almost 10:00 p.m. This is the first year I can remember firing up the old A/C this early, but I'm mighty glad to have it.
Tammy

Vicki Lane said...

"Architectural" is what I think a garden designer would call mullein plants. And like your dad, I have almost always left them to their own devices.

I think that the flowers used to be harvested and used medicinally -- maybe I'll do a post on that later.

Oh dear -- I'm glad you have the A/C.We don't -- but it does cool down at night.