I can’t believe it’s August already! Where did the summer go? I have been busy with cookouts, parties, birthdays and such. Being so active has made days fly by quicker. I need to slow it all down.
How about you? Do you feel like summer is going too quickly? Do you feel that you need to soak up all the warmth of the sun, songs of birds, and sounds of dragonflies’ wings before they are all gone?
I wanted to share with you the beauty of all the flowers and a little visitor that I had recently.
Check out my marigolds, red roses, rose of Sharon bushes, hydrangeas, geraniums and petunias.
Long line of rose of Sharon bushes that are gorgeous when in full bloom with colors 
Look at all the seedlings sprouting out on our gorgeous ash tree which grew from a twig ten years ago.
Here is a photo of a welcome little visitor on our back deck. I put out my hand and he came right to me. He stayed as I spoke to him softly telling him/her how beautiful he/she was. LOL!
And another one who came to visit today. 
I have seen more dragonflies this summer than ever before. Have you noticed more dragonflies around too? They are handy little guys to have around since they eat other insects up to 15% of their body weight in prey each day. They also are capable of inflicting painful bites to human fingers. Ouch! I didn’t know that when it settled on my fingers!
We also had an unwanted critter in our house. We woke up one day to find our Chistmas catctus was dug up by something. Dirt was all over the floor and inside the plant was a hole. John repotted the plant with new soil finding nothing inside. Again the next morning the plant was dug up with a hole burrowed inside and dirt on the floor. We decided to leave the plant outside. Now I was worried that whatever it is could now be in the house somewhere! The plant is still outside but we have added mouse deterrents (mint tea bags) inside the plant and traps around the area where the plant previous was. I love my lovely plant but can’t bring it indoors for fear of the critter coming back. Sigh!
Tea bag inside to deter critter
Hole inside plant
Isn’t it gorgeous?
Mousetraps on the floor near where the plant was on a wine stand – in case it is a mouse?
Has anyone else had this problem? Love to hear what you did to get rid of it, and what was it? A mouse?
Thanks for stopping by! Please come back again. Love to hear your comments.
Happy summer and remember -Reading Gives You Wings to Fly! Soar with Jemsbooks.com!
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Blessings & hugs!
Janice
Addendum: We caught a mouse in a trap. Hopefully this is what was digging in our plant. We may bring the plant back in and hopefully there will be no more problems! I’ll let you know.
Here are some new flowers that just sprouted up.
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Lovely post – and yes, I agree, I don’t know where summer has gone. I don’t know where this year has gone! Hope you find whatever was digging up your Christmas cactus.
Thanks, Mary,! Me too! 😀
I prefer the cooler weather, personally. Although, I do agree this year is slipping by much too quickly…
The flowers in your garden are GORGEOUS! I love dragonflies… they look otherworldly, don’t they? They have a kind of alien beauty. We don’t see many of them around here, but the ones I did see were electric blue. I was feeling quite envious about you having one land on your hand until you said it bit You! Let us know if you ever find out what was digging in your plant pot… could it be a cat?
It didn’t bite me luckily but they are known to bite. I didn’t know that at the time though. I have seen blue ones and red ones too. They are older than dinosaurs, having been around before them. They were much bigger then too. They eat 15% of their weight daily and will eat other dragonflies, all kinds of insects and even small fish! They are amazing creatures! Are able to fly forwards, backwards, like helicopters and eat as they fly. Thanks for stopping by! 😘
I love your flowers.I have a special fondness for marigolds. Not only are they bright and colorful, but hardy too.
I never thought of extending my hand to a dragonfly. I just remarked to my husband the other day how plentiful they are the this year. I love seeing them. We have a pool and they’re constantly skimming over the surface when we’re swimming. After reading your post, I’m going to have to try to get one to land on my hand. 🙂
Be careful they are known to give a nasty bite. I read about that after I did it. Thanks for stopping by, Mae! 🤗
Thanks for that warning. Maybe they are best admired from the distance!
Right! I guess I was likely it didn’t bite me. They bite if they
feel threatened. 😧
Your flowers are lovely! I’ve never had your problem in the house, but the squirrels have done some damage to my potted plants outside from time-to-time. My potted flowers have either drowned from too much rain or withered in the heat despite my attempts to keep them moist. It has been a challenge for sure. I didn’t know that dragon flies would bite. We’ve had quite a few this year, as well. I have enjoyed summer but I love the change of seasons so I will be content to have summer move on and fall to grace our world with gorgeous color. I know many consider after Labor Day to be fall, but it doesn’t officially arrive until September 22, so we still have many lazy days of summer left.
Thank you, Michelle! I agree about the change in seasons. I, too, love the fall and all the glorious colors. Maybe one day we can get together in the fall. Hugs & love xx
Hugs and love right back to you, dear friend.
Beautiful flowers! Like you, I want summer to stay and stay.
😃👍
Gorgeous photos, but as I am from the southern hemisphere, I say roll on winter and make way for spring and summer!! ;D
😆
You have a lovely garden Janice I love all the flowers 🌺
Thank you, Charlotte! 💐😘
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