land of wonders ~ august 2026

August came and went. It always feels like a long busy month and not because it has more numbered days. Summer closing is the height of garden harvesting and hay season. We try enjoying outdoor life during what is also typically the height of bugs, heat and humidity. A lot of sweat soaked clothes and cooling off breaks happened. Along with these:

I noticed a bright orange thingee peaking out under a plant, right by our front door. It looked like sorta like a tropical snake. I tapped it and accidentally snapped it. Whoopsie.

Google ID: Stinkhorn
(photo is not upside down)
8/2/26

Pretty Brown Winged Wonder

Google ID: Common Sootywing butterfly

What is there not to love about surprise self-seeded plants?! No proper gardens here. Self seeded Marigolds put the purchased ones to shame. They formed what looks like one larger plant and ended up covering a mound with long lasting colorful blooms! I have noticed self-seeders are hardier and flourish on their own.

8.6.26

Beautiful hot pink Snapdragons came back for a second year, in the same spot. I guess that classifies them as returning vs self-seeded. However, they originally planted themselves. 

 orange sunset colors joined the group this year

I also have a separate pink snap plant that decided to grow underneath deck stairs. What an odd spot!

Monarch enjoying long blooming Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed
8.10.26

Overwintered Dahlia tubers have grown huge this year, and so have the blooms! They are extra showy this year.

pls ignore the pvc pipe

Wild blooms also catch my eye. For many, their time to shine seems brief. Over the years, I have noticed the more unique wild flowers spotted on this land sadly do not re-appear. The common hardier ones continue to pop up in different locations. Always a guessing game.

Primrose
8.12.26

Surprise Lilies literally surprise me when they pop up in my garden bed. I was happy to see the few extras that I naturalized also returned. Just for the record, most of our property is left wild. The field strip across from our house is an exception. I plant my extra divided plants/bulbs willy-nilly and hope for the best. Most do not make it a second year in our crappy soil, but some do! I have visions of meandering along that path surrounded by familiar self-care blooms. Hey, a girls gotta dream!!

On our way back from the area I dubbed "Where the Wild Things Live" we spotted a large mushroom growing waaay up high in a tree. We put it in reverse to take a longer look-n-snap.

8.15.26

There were not as many colorful skies this month, or maybe I just didn't take the time to notice them. Some skies just make you stop what you are doing to go outside for the beautiful fleeting changeorama. Sky watching always fills me full of awe and wonder.

8.19.26

crescent moon over our barn

Our window frogs are back! They make us smile.
8.22.26

my heart starts to feel (re) bruised towards the end of August

Towards the end of the month our barn gets stocked with grass hay. Brad had ours tested. Small bales are 17.5 % protein and large square bales are 16.6 %. It is not easy to grow quality hay in sandy loam soil. Especially with the different challenges Mother Nature offers each season. Brad works hard maintaining our fields and harvesting them. He should be proud of the results. Lucky horses!

second crop was late, but plentiful
8.24.26

The last building (above) of the original homestead plan is almost done. Waiting for electrical. It is Brad's new Shod (Shop/Shed). Yes, I made the name up. It will store hay, shavings, farm equipment and give him a shop area to work on equipment and his many projects. Brad installed new fencing around the shod to expanded the third pasture. 

Pearl Crescent Butterflies are very small with pretty markings 
8.30.26

Closing this post with, bring on Fall!! I am so ready to change seasons.