Mexican Sunflower – Wandering Dawgs

Sunday Stills – The Impossible Brightness

November 23, 2025Posted in Nature, Photography, SunsetTagged Brightness, Cellpic Sunday, Mexican Sunflower, Photo Challenge, Sunday Stills, sunset25 Comments

For Terri’s latest Sunday Stills challenge she is asking us to show “All things bright and beautiful” during this autumn season of bright colors.

Where I live in coastal Georgia we don’t get the bright orange, red and yellow leaves on our trees. Instead, our sunrises and sunsets paint our sky a brilliant orange. The featured image was taken a few days ago when the sky was so glorious at sunset I had to stop and get out of my car to take a few photos.

I still have a few Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia) left in the garden. They are about the only bright orange color I get in the fall. The bloom in the next image appeared to glow as the sunlight hit it this afternoon.

Many thanks to Terri for her Sunday Stills challenge The Impossible Brightness

Also shared with John’s Cellpic Sunday

Every Day is a Gift

The Flower Hour – Butterflies on Mexican Sunflower

October 16, 2025Posted in Butterflies, Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged Gulf Fritillary, Mexican Sunflower, Photo Challenge, The Flower Hour22 Comments

Many thanks to Terri for this week’s Flower Hour challenge The Flower Hour: Maple Leaves

Watch for a new Flower Hour Weekly challenge from Terri of Second Wind Leisure Perspectives every Tuesday. If you would like to participate you can find out more about this challenge here.

Every Day is a Gift

Sunday Stills: Peach and Orange

September 15, 2024Posted in Butterflies, Flowers, Nature, WildlifeTagged autumn, Color, Color Challenge, Georgia Peach, Gulf Fritillary, Mexican Sunflower, Orange Blooms, Peach and Orange, Sunday Stills26 Comments

Terri’s latest color challenge is peach and orange. When I think of these colors I think of autumn leaves and pumpkin patches. Here in coastal Georgia our leaves don’t change colors and I don’t see many pumpkin patches.

My home state of Georgia is known as the Peach State so my first two images feature delicious Georgia peaches. Their season is short and is over for this year. I really wish I had some fresh Georgia peaches to enjoy right now.

I don’t have any images of orange leaves or pumpkins but I found these orange flowers and butterflies in my garden this month.

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Shared with Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge Peach and Orange

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #169 – The Ordinary

October 16, 2021Posted in Butterflies, PhotographyTagged autumn, Blood or burnt orange, Lens-Artists, Mexican Sunflower, Photo Challenge, Sunday Stills, The Ordinary24 Comments

Our challenge from guest host I.J. Khanewala of Don’t Hold your Breath is to show ordinary objects. I chose a few images from my back yard that show ordinary sights around my October garden.

In the image above, the pink plumes of the Muhly Grass is an ordinary sign of fall where I live.

Every October, when most of the flowers in my butterfly garden are gone, the bright orange Mexican Sunflowers are still attracting butterflies. Gulf Fritillaries, Skippers, and Monarch butterflies are ordinary visitors feasting on the last of the nectar.

Many thanks to our guest host I.J. Khanewala for challenging us with Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #169: The Ordinary

Thanks also to Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: Burnt or Blood Orange

Lens-Artists #113: Labor of Love

September 10, 2020Posted in Butterflies, Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged Butterfly Garden, Gulf Fritillary, Labor of Love, Lens-Artists, Mexican Sunflower, Monarch Butterfly, Photo Challenge, Skipper Butterfly, weekly smile, zinnias17 Comments

This week’s photo challenge comes from guest host Rusha Sams of Oh, The Places we See… We are asked to show images that represent a Labor of Love.

Planting my butterfly garden and maintaining it is a labor of love for me. By planting seeds and plants that attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees I am providing a place for them to feast on the nectar. At the same time I have a space in my backyard to relax and enjoy nature.

Here’s a few of the late summer critters that visited the garden recently. You can click on a picture to enlarge it.

Monarchs, Gulf Fritillaries, and Skipper butterflies have been all over the zinnias and Mexican Sunflower drinking up the nectar. Wasps, bees, and even a tiny grasshopper enjoyed the flowers, too.

It’s been a long, hot, dry summer and hopefully the flowers will continue to attract the butterflies and other critters for a little while longer.

I smile whenever I see these beautiful visitors to the garden. What made you smile this week?

Thanks to guest host Rusha Sams for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #113 – A Labor of Love.

Also shared with Trent’s Weekly Smile.