Watercolors, Wildflowers and Wildlife

Hello!  How is your week going?  We're doing well here in our little corner of the world.  My blog friend Janine from Crafty Tokyo Mama blog suggested I transform the Goldfinch photo that my DIL Kristi took into a watercolor using the app "Waterlogue".  So, I did and also used it on a few other photos - I thought you might enjoy seeing them.  I am constantly amazed at what this app does to a photo!  As a watercolorist I can see how authentically it makes it look like a hand made watercolor painting!  This one is my new Dahlia.

And here is the Goldfinch image - isn't it neat?

You can download that app on your iPhone or iPad and then open it, you then open to your photo file and you can transform your favorite photos into a watercolor - there is a heart icon that you click to save the image, and you can also post on Facebook, Instagram, email or text it, etc.  This is another Goldfinch image.

I think my Japanese Iris came out lovely, also.

I mentioned to Kristi that I would like to trim some of the dead fern fronds off our Sword ferns in the yard - next thing I know she is out there trimming them for me!  How nice!  This is the "after" photo.  They look so much better now!

This Rhododendron is now blooming.  We have one more to go.  It's a pretty one, but it's just budding.  The Rhodies are funny how they take turns blooming.

I had a meeting to attend at Multnomah Falls Lodge yesterday and on the way I spotted some Indian Paintbrush in bloom.. so driving home I pulled over and walked down the Historic Columbia River Highway to snap some photos of this pretty orange/red wildflower.

Do you have this wildflower near you?  Have you heard of them?

I also spotted some wild Columbine in bloom.. screech.. pull over.. walking down the side of the road.. snap snap...

I tried to snap an image of the bottom without holding it in my hand, but this came out the best.. isn't the underside of this flower amazing?

Although I would have liked an unsullied image, I also like how you can see the filaments of the Cottonwood tree "cotton" that blows around in the gorge on the flower.

Home again, I spy from the kitchen garden window the orange Honeysuckle vine I planted under the window is doing just what I'd hoped.. blooming outside the window.  Oh pretty.  My African Violet continues to bloom beautifully, it loves that spot.  And my Orchid is also amazing to me that it re-bloomed.  And the little Jade plant is growing.. my little survivor.  

Pretty Honeysuckle.

Last evening Kristi exclaimed from the dining room.. "THERE'S A COYOTE UP ON THE HILL!"  So, I grabbed my camera and went to look.. it's a fuzzy photo but look at that critter!  Now do you see why we have to have our chickens protected inside an enclosure like Fort Knox?  No free roaming hens for us.  Or we wouldn't have any left.  He's up there looking for mice after Dayle mowed the field.

What wildlife do you have visit your back yard?  :-)  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)