Butterfly Pavilion Nine Years Later

My youngest is starting high school this fall, can you believe it? Life can feel so surreal sometimes. It isn’t just the passing of time but the way people change, the way the world has changed, and the way the world is changing. We think we know it all, but at the end of the day, we really don’t know very much. After raising my oldest, who is five years older than my youngest, you’d think I’d have a handle on parenting a teenager, but I feel like I’m back at square one. The complexities of being a teenager is way beyond any science or studies out there. It’s a storm that, as a parent, I have no idea of the outcome. We can only parent the way we know, and most of the time it’s from our own understanding of our own childhood and how we saw our parents. We either want to parent just like them or completely opposite of them, but either way, sometimes, it feels like someone else holds the rein to our children’s destiny.

As a “graduation” from 8th grade gift, my youngest wanted to go to the Butterfly Pavilion. She loves nature and butterflies and remembered her first time going there when she turned five and wanted to go there again. So, we took her. She enjoyed it a lot more than when she was five.

Photos from the Butterfly Pavilion:

Outdoor Plants and Flowers

Took the Olympus to the front yard. The setting was on Shutter Priority Mode. Minor editing were done in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Columbine.

Pine cone from the giant pine tree in the yard. The tree is starting to brown at the top. I hope it’s not a sign that it’s dying.

This is a ground covering flower called a Vinca. They grow so fast and wildly. I want to get rid of them completely but husband wants to keep them.

Aspen.

The peony is stuck inside the branches of a huge bush. When we first landscaped the yard, the bush was tiny so I thought I could fit a peony plant there. Ten years later and there’s no room for it to grow. I’m planning to take it out and plant it in an open area. It used to bloom so beautifully.

Maple.

The giant bush. Its leaves are tiny now but come summer and fall and this thing becomes a beast. I happen to really like this bush. Just wish the peony wasn’t stuck inside it.

I believe these are morning glories. Not sure what the little periwinkle colored flowers are called but they are so pretty.

And last, a lavender my sister gave me for Mother’s Day. It’s inside the house now but I might transfer it outside. Can you see the spider web between the two flowers? We just had a spider egg sac open in the backyard and watched the babies fly off (like in Charlotte’s Web). Some sneaked inside the house and made the plants their home. I think they’re safe so I’m not worried. You’d think I’d be more scared of spiders since I was bitten pretty badly by a Brown Recluse years ago. There are other bugs I’m more scared off, but we won’t go there.

MB Orchids and My Blog

If you’ve been following me, you’ll notice that I’ve changed my blog name from motherof2andnomore to prettypeonydesigns.  Those who were not following my blog may not have access to my blog anymore.  I didn’t do a redirect and motherof2 no longer can be searched.

Moving on.  It’s been a long time (or feels like it) since I’ve posted any updates on my orchids.  I’m very happy to say that the MB (master bath) white orchid blooms are still going strong.  I also have a new orchid in the master bath.  Husband bought it for me last Mother’s Day.  It hasn’t bloomed again since last year so I’m really excited to see what they’ll look like soon!

ORCHID20140025_800 ORCHID20140024_600PINKORCHID20140028_800PINKORCHID20140018_600

Planted Flowers

FYPLANTS0010_600Husband planted flowers on the side of the driveway.  I love how bright and pretty these flowers make our home feel.

LAVENDER0015_600The flowers below were planted a couple of years ago.  They are the first pinks to show up and are always an exciting sight to see.

COLUMBINE0020_640THRIFTS0025_640

BRANCH0029_640It’s Spring but I am not feeling the happiness that I normally do around this time.  Health issues in the family have over shadowed the beauty and excitement of rebirth this season.

TULIP0026_640{Tulip}

DAFF0025_640{Daffodil}