The beautiful Zinnias in my backyard garden have really taken a hit this summer. From slugs to insects I have sprinkled and sprayed, hoping for a nice bouquet in my kitchen before summer’s end.
And then a couple of weeks ago I noticed that the flowers themselves, not the leaves, were getting destroyed. What would do that? I guessed it was a rabbit or deer so I put some smelly pellets out to deter them. But he flowers still kept getting eaten… petal by petal.
And then I looked out the window and saw these two little American Goldfinches flitting from Zinnia to Zinnia enjoying each and every petal. Caught!
So now I cut the flowers and bring them inside just as they bloom and the little Goldfinches can have the others to feast on.
Look at those two smiling at me in the first photograph! Ha!
This is one of my favorite places to sit and relax and enjoy the spectacular views of Nauset Marsh and out onto the ocean. There is always so much to see and hear as it is ever-changing.
Have you ever sat on this bench? It doesn’t get much better! I loved the evening sun on the high grass… so pretty!
The purple Climbing Nightshade wildflowers are blooming along the trails at Fort Hill. They are such a pretty wildflower with purple shooting star shaped flowers with 5 violet curved petals swept back from a central yellow “beak.” They grow in round clusters at the end of a long stem. The flowers are tiny, only about 1/2” while the vine climbs to 4 feet.
The berries, which you can see in the photograph are egg-shaped, shiny green and ripen to bright red. Beware: the berries are extremely poisonous. “The unripened berries of this plant have a toxin that can cause death when eaten.”
Enjoy these beautiful, delicate wildflowers from a distance!
The views over Nauset Marsh to Nauset Spit, where Nauset Beach is separated from Coast Guard Beach by a breach, is spectacular… any time of the day, any time of the year.
I really liked this photograph looking through the trees out onto Nauset Marsh from the carving stone at Fort Hill. It was evening but there were still plenty of boats out enjoying the gorgeous summer weather.
We were enjoying a guitar player and a violinist, who were quite good, at Orleans Live last week when we saw this parakeet on a man’s shoulder. It was so cute. And then, as you read the logo on the shirt, it all makes sense.
Cute, don’t you think?
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
