a walk on the wild side

hey everyone! things tend to become a bit "wild" for me this time of the year with shady hollow & my cottage in full swing! it is a good problem, indeed, to be so busy! but it also makes my posts fewer & far between these days! just know that i am always thinking of you all! 

as i pondered what to ramble on about today...it came to me! so please join me for a showy walk on the "wild" side won't you?

with love from minnesota...the lady slipper (mn's state flower) is a rare sighting to be had. but you wouldn't have known it, when along a very busy state highway, i spotted hundreds of clusters of them reaching for miles! i was tickled that i actually had a camera in tow! so i pulled to the shoulder and waded thru the very swampy ditch to get this picture {below}.

 

now many of you know we live in the country. infact, i built our house off blueprints of a vintage farmhouse...here is a shot of our home {below}.

there are many wild things within a short walk of the porch. many of which are wildflowers. the first i happened on was this lavender lovely {below}. it's kinda hard to see, but at the bottom of the pic you'll see some ground "foliage". upon which i remembered a saying...something about "leaves of three". hm-mm...can't put my finger on it but i am sure i will be "itching" to tell you soon!

 

bug be gone! i think that's exactly what the little fella was thinking about me as i disturbed his rest on the black eyed susan {below} in our field. do you see him?

 

you won't spot 'em {below} but i discovered that unkept rock walls not only harbor interesting wildflowers but some hopping mad red ants. me of course wearing my flip flops. you get the picture....

sometimes we are given a "gift" from mother nature. all i did was prop a grouping of old iron gates against our house a few years back. today you'll see that they AND the entire side of our home has been overtaking by creeping vines {below}. i love them...but if it was up to my hubby...they'd be history. something about "bad for the siding". they are still there...for now. 

 

there are many four legged wild things around our place too. everyday my flower gardens are circled by the "land sharks" as i like to call the deer. they are absolutely fearless {see below}. and quite fond of my hostas. somedays i'd like to take aim with something other than the camera! but we built in their domain. so for now we agree to disagree. 

 

now there was another sighting of a rare breed of spotted critter. i was lucky enough to snap a picture before it overtook me {below}.

 

phew! that was a close one! actually that's my louie girl! our faithful hound. she was on the prowl for her own wild things today. she's a big fan of delicious blades of grass. and the occasional wasp. she still hasn't learned to leave them alone!

when i told my significant other about today's post - he mentioned to show the wild raspberries. WHAT?! raspberries sitting right under my nose?? well say no more mr. bill. here they are {below}. and there they go. there isn't one left. 

now you know that i will brave the mucky terrain, bugs, poison ivy & wild beings + i am sporting a full belly just for you all! not to make you feel guilty or anything! i hope you have enjoyed this walk on the wild side. now please excuse me while i search the bathroom for some cortaid!

happy day!

Comments

[Lori Kees]

Wow, beautiful home. And I have never seen your state flower before. Amazing.

[Cassie]

Wild raspberries?! You lucky girl! Your Louie is beautiful...as are your yard...and your home. You are a girl after my own heart....I too love to snap pics of my flowers & foliage, but I DO try to stay away from the poisonous stuff!

[Lorrie]

Love all the "wildness" - especially the raspberries. I'm sure they are worth all the itching and scratching.

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

Oooh so many of my favorite things, we used to have a dalmation when I was a kid, the best dog we ever had.

Those raspberries look delicious.

Love how you call deers 'land sharks' we have so many of them round our place too.

[Robin Thomas]

So beautiful. Of course...

[Kathy]

Your dog is the cutest thing....I could just feel his pounce. {and your agony with the red ants...been there...felt that...good luck}

[Karen]

I just recently discovered wild raspberries growing along a fence on our farm-YUM!- with a little cream on top-even better.

[Ardee]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures.....I really enjoy them! I live in the country too and can identify with your land shark problem!