photo prompts – This Jolly Beggar

Wooden Visitors

For Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge this week, it’s “Anything Made of Wood,” to which I’ve added a slight tweak: Visitors on Wood! How else can I show off this motley crew?

Won’t you step into my parlor . . .

There’s nothing as inviting as sun-warmed wood. Just ask Mr. Toad . . .

There’s Ms. Beetle who’s just come for tea and conversation as long as no busy birds are around.

And Professor Squirrel who, needless to say, having had his fill of nuts and crumpets, relaxes on the porch rail listening to the pleasant strains of his hostess’s voice through the parlor window.

And then the oddest visitors of all arrive! But no matter. There’s room for everyone on sun-warmed wood.

Cool as a Hibiscus

For Cee’s FOTD Challenge, a hibiscus bloom keeps the heat at bay.

The Dark Jinn of Moloch

Nekneeraj’s Photo Challenge #327; Photo by Paul Theodor Oja on Pexels.com

He set himself free, the dark jinn of Moloch.

The year was 2020. The mood was erratic.

They blamed it on the Orange Can, and then a lab’s contagion.

The daily murder of the unborn remained unheeded.

No one saw his face. No one knew his name.

The dark jinn was loose, but he was no man.

He had come to stay. It would be written as his day.

To watch the world burn came the jinn of Moloch.

Butterfly in Gingko Green

Screen Shot 2020-07-30 at 9.54.36 PM

For Cee’s FOTD Challenge, a gingko sapling dreams green butterflies and whispers the secrets of paradise: peace, contentment, joy, while basking in God’s love.

“Dragon” In Orchid

For Cee’s FOTD Photo Challenge, an orchid finds its inner dragon.

Pigeon Talk

O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly
To seal love’s bonds new-made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!

–Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Screen Shot 2020-08-02 at 1.42.39 PM — He’s either curious or chiding. Either way, we’re interacting animatedly.

Joseph’s 2020 Home Photo Challenge

Tuneful Blossoms

pinks and greens

For Cee’s FOTD Challenge, a crepe myrtle attuned to the sun’s warmth: pink blooms balance on gladdening green to sing of summers gone, now here again.

Honey Bee Magnet

For Cee’s FOTD challenge, a perfect buzz of relish in a white crepe myrtle with mustard gold highlights that fool the unwary into mistaking a hive of activity for merely eye-catching blooms. Can you spot the busy bee?

Disco Bell Pink

For Joseph’s 2020 Home Photo Challenge, on our walk the other day we passed these hibiscus twins in “disco bell pink,” obviously loving the head-turning attention they receive. Shameless beauties!

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Disco Bell Pink’

Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities in the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Blooming Where It’s Planted

For Cee’s FOTD challenge today, tucked away in a hidden corner of the garden as if forgotten, a profusion of sunlit orange, blooming where it’s been planted, a salutary blessing for the eye that sees.

orange-blooms-2