Morning happiness

It has been a while since I last blogged.  Between a busy work schedule and the oppressive summer heat, I haven't felt like blogging much.  Not many photos and my time outside has mainly been keeping up with yard work.

But this morning I woke up to find that the hibiscus plant in my whiskey barrel pond had bloomed.  I saw the bud over the weekend tempting me with its promise of beauty.  The humidity was reasonable this morning and with the gorgeous bloom calling out I ventured forth with my camera.  The sky was overcast giving me good light to work with. I even had a bee stop by for a visit.

I've had the pond for several years. It is a half of an old whiskey barrel (and no, I did not drink the WHOLE thing myself). It sits on the corner of the deck and grows a few things.  It has been a few years since I replaced anything so it has so sort of curvy, stiff grass and the hibiscus.  For several years it had this wonderful floating plant called snowflakes or floating hearts (Nymphoides sp.).  But it eventually died out and I haven't replaced it.  I also tried some type of elephant ears but it didn't last a winter in the pond.

So now the pond mainly provides some green texture, a drinking spot for birds and raccoons and the occasional glorious bloom.

Check out the other photographs at Macro Monday.