naplesgardener, Glad you liked what I did....As for the posts, I used the kind you pour in the hole and add water, called Quickrete here....I propped up the posts by nailing a 2x4 about 8 ft long to the top edge of the post, just enough to catch it, then nailed the bottom of the 2x4 to a wooden stake I hammered in the ground just enough to be stable.....with quickrete you can get your posts pretty level and straight cause its got gravel in it to kinda hold it while you're getting it right.....next day you just hammer away the 2x4s and whah-lah you got yourself a post in the ground straight as an arrow....well straight enough anyways.....:) That's the first and only posts I've ever set in my life and I learned what its all about: 1 part finesse, 1 part manipulation and 1 part getting a buddy over that's done it before and makes sure you don't embarrass yourself before your wife sees it......:) Paul from Alabama

I think these pictures are more appealing also. (I can feel the softness of the petals) I notice it's a Canon SX50 HS and if I recall your old one was Canon SX100 IS ?? Are they part of the same series? I am unhappy with the image stabilization Sony pocket one I have. It seems the photos have no "heart". Which I do see in your photos above. I wonder (with mine) if the image stabilization is to blame for a less than appealing image. Wish my old Olympus hadn't died :-(

Gorgeous photos, and DB and I loved the slideshow..such adorable, clear photos. We always marvel at the high quality photos you squeeze out of your modest equipment! The second photo is a juvenile Eastern Wood Peewee, so you were right!

One of the weedy, probably annual knotweed species, certain ones of these are common in disturbed soils.