January 13, 2011

How About a Little Happy?

How much gray, cold, dreary weather can a girl take?  Ok, how much gray, cold, dreary weather can a Texas girl take?  Not much!  So how about a little happy to brighten this winter day? 




 
These photos were taken last week before the really cold air moved in.  This pineapple sage has attracted butterflies and hummingbirds all winter long.  Unfortunately, I never had the camera handy when the hummingbird was feeding but oh how it made my heart joyful to see it in the dead of winter!  I hope it has a cozy, warm nest.

There, now don't you feel better?  We just needed a little happy. 

How are you staying happy during these winter days?

22 comments:

  1. By looking at your butterfly pictures in the dead of winter on a cold dreary day. The only good thing about this weather is that it is forcing me to stay inside and work on a little bit of organizing. Ugh! How cool that you still have hummingbirds hangin' out at your place. That would make me happy too :-)

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  2. What beautiful colors and joy those butterflies must have brought to the garden. I have the same problem with hummingbirds. I have not gotten any good capture yet.

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  3. The first butterfly is so pretty. Do you know what kind it is? It sure has happy colors. It would be wonderful to have hummingbirds now.

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  4. Ah - thank you! It was very cold here in NY today and I needed a little warmth. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Thank you, I needed that! Outside all is damp and grey...

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  6. Lovely photos. I found your blog via Blotanical and am glad I did.
    Here in Paris it is mild and wet, and there is nothing in flower, so I am taking comfort in enjoying the quiet charms of winter...

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  7. Your butterflies brightened my day here in this truly cold and often dreary PA winter! We have to change our focus at this time of year and find beauty in subtler hues.

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  8. Toni, I've been organizing too - my office is almost put back together! Now I'm inspired to spruce up the beds outside my office...they need some attention and maybe a bird feeder!

    Those hummingbirds are just so fast and a bit skittish aren't they One?

    Glad to be of some warmth Plantaliscious!

    Welcome landscapelover! Blotanical is such a great way to meet people - I look forward to stopping by your blog soon.

    Yes, absolutely Garden Sense. There is a lot of beauty in the simplicity of winter...I just prefer the simplicity of winter to be a bit sunnier ;)

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  9. Hi Donna, Sorry but I don't know what type of butterfly it is...just looked online and didn't see it right off. I'll try to do a little more research...it is the same butterfly in each picture just different angles. The wings in the second picture show that it's been through some rough times...winter probably isn't the easiest life for a butterfly.

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  10. Thanks Kate - glad to spread a little warmth and cheer!

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  11. So beautiful colors. Wish my garden will get some visits. They never seem to reach this far, maybe next spring

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  12. The butterflies surely brightened my day! But I don't mind a bit of cold, dreary weather during the winter. It seems to make me go inside my head and heart a little more and become a bit more reflective and introspective. I've been doing a lot of that lately. But your photos brought a smile to my face with thoughts of warmer, sunnier days to come. Thanks, Cat :)

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  13. Hey Cat,
    as I wrote before I love butterflies. And those are beautiful. I can only dream of butterflies in the winter. We only have ladybugs that survive in our appartments but seeing them makes me happy. They look so funny cause they love to line up on some stripe in the wallpaper or on the edge of the wall. I did some research and that's what I found: Agraulis vanillae incarnata (Riley, 1926) - Western Gulf Fritillary.
    Take care, Sandra

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  14. By dreaming about gardens and staying in touch with wonderful garden bloggers! I really need to utilize my winter days to plan my next garden season.

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  15. What dashingly handsome butterflies. I especially like the dark orange one. A hummingbird's delicate wings would be frozen in seconds in my snow covered garden. You are so lucky to have such pretty visitors in winter. Enjoy your weekend. Jennifer

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  16. Yes, I do feel better! Thanks!! I saw three fat bluebirds at my heated bird bath the other day. They were so cute - like ladies at a spa.

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  17. Hi,

    Lovely photos, oh how I would love to see some Butterflies fluttering around the garden right now!

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  18. Now that's a LOT of welcome happy ! Especially for all those people in the grip of winter, which from my experience, has come quite a ways south this year.

    Beautiful shots !

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  19. I enjoyed your photos. How cool to have butterflies this time of year!

    I've been cleaning out my "woman's space". It's been stressful at times, but I'm also feeling good about some progress and enjoying the memories things are bringing to me.

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  20. I have mixed feelings about winter. On one hand, the snow capped landscape is beautiful but the bitter cold gets me down. Your butterflies perks up the day though.

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  21. Yay! Now I'm happy :)
    How glorious it will be to see the butterflies again!
    But meanwhile your bright and beautiful photos will suffice. Thank you!
    I love A.A. Milne :) Reminds me of reading his poems to my kids when they were little. We all loved them.

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  22. Your post makes me more than a little happy Cat. The light and colors and of course butterfly is so uplifting! Gee, So you have hummers overwintering there?? Lucky you!

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