This was our yesterday morning - doing our best to beat the rain!
Isn't it amazing how you can walk the same road, time and time again - and yet every time you go there is something new to see?
And of course - seeing it through the eyes of those who are experiencing it for the first time always fills my heart!
The bee balm is blooming!
Tall and brilliantly burgundy -
Up at the top of the bank - this is the roof of the "round house."
Oh, this COLOR! Isn't it just beautiful?
This is the spot -
The spot where the mouth of Wilson Creek enters the New River. The spot that gave Mouth of Wilson, Virginia its very strange name. Does it make sense now?
Daylilies blooming by the little waterfall section of this brook.
We were enchanted by the little blooms everywhere -
No one tells the flowers how to do it - they just do it. They just bloom, wherever they find themselves planted.
These sweet babies - never too much yellow!
Yellow with Periwinkle?? Yes please!
This color - magnificent!
How about we throw in some brilliant orange for contrast?
Gorgeous!
And you can't ever go wrong with some summer Queen Anne's Lace in lacy white!
A variety of pinks against that verdant green of summer -
I think this is why I like green so much -
I'm happiest when my world is green - with pops of color!
As close as I could get - it was across a ditch -
But the scent of pink wild roses blooming - heavenly!
More pink -
Isn't this an interesting one?
There were so many shapes and textures - some low to the ground, some standing tall.
And the thought that teased through my mind was "Weeds are just wildflowers - misunderstood!"
Straddling the state line!
One foot in VA and the other in NC!
And what is this I see?
Tree leaves turning already? But it's not quite mid-July!
Topiary sign needs a haircut! LOL!
I like to think that if everything stopped - the world would still bloom with beauty. All of this would take over everything we've done to this planet - The flowers would still find a way to bloom.
It was a busy day for the quilters - at least half the group headed out to Wytheville for some quilt shop wandering and lunch out. I love it when they take the time to explore this area after coming so far to get here.
The other half stayed and sewed and had a great time.
As for me - I was next door working on the upcoming things from behind-the-scenes.
And I've found a new program perfect to sew along with -
The Duchess of Duke Street!
"The Duchess of Duke Street is a BBC television drama series set in London between 1900 and 1925. It was created by John Hawkesworth, previously the producer of the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It starred Gemma Jones as Louisa Leyton Trotter, the eponymous "Duchess" who works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietrix of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St. James's, in London.
The story is loosely based on the real-life career of Rosa Lewis (née Ovenden), the "Duchess of Jermyn Street", who ran the Cavendish Hotel in London, which still stands, at the corner of Duke St, St. James’s'. When the show first aired, there were many people who still remembered her, as she lived until 1952. According to census returns, she was born in Leyton, Essex, to a watchmaker. In the series, Louisa's family name is Leyton, and her father is a clockmaker.
The programme lasted for two series totalling 31 episodes, shown in 1976 and 1977. Shown later on PBS in the United States, it was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series in 1980." [source]
I am up for anything "Downton-esque" and it is so fun to see Gemma Jones in this early role. BTW - I was only 14 when this series started in 1976. It's no wonder that I missed it!
Lola, rolling her eyes!
Today we are hiking up to see the ponies along the Appalachian Trail at Grayson Highlands. While intermittently rainy, it really has been comfortable temperature-wise, and when the rain falls, there is always quilting!
What do you have instore for your weekend ahead?
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Vintage orphan block quilt found in North Carolina.
Don't be afraid to start!
It's okay to start small.
It's okay to move slowly.
Just begin!
37 comments:
I believe the last "weed" you pictured is milkweed. Be on the lookout for Monarch butterflies soon as they are the required host for the caterpillars.
"Begin the way you intend to go." Or something like, is a line from that show that has stayed with me all these years. Enjoy
Jan. 1976 I was a first time mother :0) Lovely pictures of your countryside, I can almost smell the fresh air and flowers. Happy Sewing!
The flowers in one walk… just beautiful!! And I think we need a quote “Find a way to bloom” or “Just keep blooming” or something to that effect… You said it already… Find a way to Bloom!! I think I’ll put it on a board!
And I LOVE the street sign with its growing top knot! I hope it stays that way!! Lol!
I am retreating with my two besties for the first time in two years! 2 out of 3 are sewing with our Featherweights!! It’s wonderful to be together!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Blessings… Marci H
Taking a deep breath before jumping into the Straits of McKinac. Just finished Blue Skies top.....you rock, Bonnie Hunter! Marilyn Marks
I love see your beautiful pictures. I'm trying to beat the CA heat wave by staying in and fmq a labyrinth quilt for my daughter in law's father who just got out of the hospital.
Thanks for the gorgeous flower photos!
The wildflowers remind me of a beautiful quilt
I remember watching The Duchess of Duke Street, every time I see Gemma Jones I'm transported back to Edwardian England. The beautiful weeds in my meadow are blooming too; butterflies, hummingbirds, & bees are making the rounds.
I’m in Fancy Gap this weekend. So close to you, yet so far. Will be in Galax shortly for a run to Lowe’s.
I love the patch of milkweed (last flower photo) - I let one grow by my front door this year. Swarmed with bees & finally one day a Monarch butterfly! I've read about collecting the "silk" when they go to seed & using it for quilt batting. Maybe a mini?
I'm back to working on the Box Kite quilt I started in October 2018 when you did a class in Omaha, Nebraska! For a variety of reasons, it got set aside, and I've finished two other quilts since then, and it's time to get this one to the finish line. So, I'm thinking of you a lot, Bonnie, as I sew! :-)
I love all the different flowers. I'll have to see if I can find the name of the orange one.
Loved the colors of the flowers! Thanks for sharing!
Your comment about green with the little pops of color has inspired an idea for a new quilt! Green is my favorite! I’m marking this post for future color reference. I will add in some Texas wildflower colors to it. I’m getting so excited! Thank you for posting your daily happenings with all of us!
I love green for the same reason! And that 'interesting' plant shown last is a variety of milkweed, much loved by butterflies.
that is a good series....watched it about 10 years ago....
It looks so lovely and green and.... COOL!!! We are baking here in the So. Cal. high desert! So happy for you that the Inn is full every week!
Hi Bonnie,
Love, love, love your blog.
I believe your unidentified wildflower is a milkweed plant - delicious food for butterflies!!!
I can see a mystery quilt coming with all those beautiful wild flowers! Have a wonderful weekend Bonnie.
I watched all of the Duchess of Duke Street while sewing —and then started it over again. Such interesting characters!
Hi Bonnie:
Oh such pretty summer flowers! I see a quilt coming here!
I canned apricots yesterday, tended to the greenhouse. It is raining here, too, so can't garden outside, but can hand pollinate in the greenhouse.
Today I will put up nectarines, freezing and dehydrating. I look at fabrics every day, even if I can't play with them!
Enjoy your weekend!
Donna
Kasilof, AK
Where it is rainy and 50 degrees.
Yes, it's common milkweed that smells so fragrant!
"Bloom where you are planted"
Your blog posts always are fun to read and I learn so much - and maybe today, I can help you! We have the same orange plant in our front yard in s.w. Ontario - it's apparently Texas milkweed!
Is there. Going to be a blue, yellow and green quilt in your near future. I saw those beauties and a quilt pattern popped into my head. I'm not a Pattern maker but oh there's a quilt asking to be made. Ti me wild flowers are the best. Growing wherever there's tablespoon of dirt. Enjoy your pictures so much
Yes nature will heal itself when left all alone. I didn’t recognize the orange flowers, anyone have a name? Looking back, many of my quilts have flowers featured in them! Thank you Bonnie for the pictures you share.
I was just going to say that! And the orange 'weed' is Asclepsia I believe and could be feeding Monarchs as well! Great virtual walk as always!
The orange flower is called butterfly weed. The last one, the milkweed has a wonderful fragrance.
me too. ;)
Loved your blog today with the quilting ladies and wildflowers! Bee balm in Tx. is more of a lavender. Love its fragrance!
Bonnie, that tallish, pink blooming plant is Milk Weed. If you can get up close to it, take a whiff of the blossoms. They smell phenomenal. You will love them.
The bright orange flowers are called "Butterfly Weed" I had them in my small garden and I love them all, and so do the butterflys especially the Monarch Butterflys.
The orange flower looks like butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa); it is in the milkweed family and pollinators including monarch butterflies love it.
The flowers are beautiful. I hope to plant some native milkweed next season. By the way, I am missing photos of Ivy and Zoey. Are they still friends?
The orange plant is Butterfly Weed. It is in the Milkweed Family. Nancy in Illinois
What you called Periwinkle I know as Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus). It’s one of my favorites. It grows along the road in the roughest, coarsest, rocky soil. A survivor.
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