Another beautiful day with the Fall colors just starting to pop out. A little too early for the “full Fall” color show… but still beautiful. So I decided to take the day to “play hooky” and hike around Rock Cut State Park in Rockford, Illinois. We used to camp here a lot when we were kids, so there were quite a few childhood flashbacks along the way! A great day to kick-back, relax and hike around the lake… THREE TIMES!!!

Another beautiful day to get out

Summer may be drawing to an end all too quickly, but there are still plenty of flowers to bring indoors to make it last just a bit longer. A few simple stems in an ikebana vase can make a dramatic splash on your table! And celebrating TEXTURE TUESDAY with these stamped & soda-fired textures!

This morning after the overnight rain, I was greeted by this beautiful plumeria that has started to bloom just down the street. It smells incredible!!!… and it belongs to the same house that had the amazing collection of lilies this summer too! Some neighbor sure has a green thumb!!!

One of my favorite flowers at the end of Summer… this purple clematis is climbing up the fence in my back courtyard. Striking color & distinctive shapes… and that center stamen & stigma is incredible!!! Hoping that we have a lot more blossoms to come… if we can ever get the sun to shine again after three days of rain & gray!!!

For those of who following the progress of the purple hyacinth bean vines growing on my back porch… well, they’re kinda taking over!!! They’ve filled in quite nicely practically covering my “curtain” of rusty gears. The flowers are popping out here & there mostly on the outside… as the gears are showing more on the porch side. The purple bean pods are starting to show up as well… promising a good harvest of seeds to grow again next year!

Life in the City… and somehow Nature perseveres! Normally just an iron gate to my back courtyard… now with a little “volunteer” petunia nestled in the corner. Struggling to survive… yet flourishing & making me smile every time I see it!

Morning sun on the wildflowers… with a bit of wildlife hanging out!

Pretty pastels with intricate details. One of my neighbors planted this new hydrangea bush in front of their condo… and I’m totally intrigued!

When the big storm came though a couple days ago, apparently is broke off a bunch of Rosene’s coleus plants. Not to be beaten down, she gathered them up and made a cute little centerpiece for herself! Helps when you have a nice little stamped & soda-fired vase to put them in!!!

Such a beautiful color to start your day!!! That purple is practically GLOWING from the center out… morning “glory” indeed!!!