My lavender is in full bloom with lots of pollinators. This bumblebee and skipper are super cute 🙂
in seeking sweetness
you find each little blossom
lavender lovers
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Bright Bee and Butterfly blessings, Namu Amida Butsu, Namaste
~ Raven
It has been a super windy day and I’m excited to report my first sighting of my beloved red milkweed beetle. I’ve been eagerly awaiting my friends.
This bright damselfly made an appearance, too.
pretty dragonfly
holding on to lavender
you ride the breezes
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
it’s early summer
one of my favorite beetles
makes an appearance
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu, Bright Blessings,
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
~ Raven
I am enjoying a full moon. Earlier I visited damselfly, ladybug and wasp, all considered “beneficial insects”.
wasp and ladybug
great hunters in the garden
seeking their dinner
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
awesome damselfly
you are settled and resting
then you’ll be hunting
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
breaking through the clouds
the light of the moon shines bright
illuminating
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Bright Blessings, Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
~ Raven
Little grasshoppers of different sizes hopped away when I tried to take their portraits.They seemed grateful that I didn’t pursue them. It was early in the morning and the light was dim. I felt grateful to get a couple of photos that weren’t blurred.
sitting on lemon
balm and mint you flee swiftly
grateful grasshopper
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Bright Blessings, Namu Amida Butsu, Namaste
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
~ Raven
I heard a neat interview today about beetles found in the La Brea tar-pits that still survive today called La Brea Beetles Revisited. Check it out here. Our friends today are the cool customer I used to call a teddy bear fly that I found out is a type of bee fly, the bishop’s weed blossom that it was hanging out in, and a white clover blossom that turned out to be a wowza portrait. Enjoy 🙂
sit snowy blossoms
while I land upon your leaves
I am a bee fly
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
insects sip from me
I help to fix the soil
I am a clover
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Bright Bee Fly Blessings, Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
~ Raven
A hot and windy day so far with ladybugs making new ladybugs 😉 Also aphids in the first photo and another lone ladybug cruising along.
we are so grateful
for ladybugs and others
who help us garden
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Lovely Ladybug Blessings, Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
~ Raven
The sunny day allowed me to get this big crane fly and a cute native bee. I often see this type of bee on milkweed.
sitting in the sun
a crane fly and native bee
in the sweet clover
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Bright Bee Blessings, Namu Amida Butsu, Namaste
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
~ Raven
Today it was quite chilly with brief periods of sun. The sunlight allowed me to take today’s photos. I have found that entire white iris are challenging for me to photograph, so I was pleased and grateful to capture portraits of these beauties before they are done for the season. They live in my neighbor’s yard.
cool sunshine glitters
bouncing off iris petals
sparkling enjoyment
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
late afternoon light
allows a glimpse within
soft inner iris
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
I love this little fly that look like he/she is looking out over a vast expanse.
This hover fly says “hi” from a neighbor’s flower and looks nice with the iris photos. Amazing that these insects were out in the cold!
wee friends in the cold
pollinating champions
both are little flies
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Bright Blessings, Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
“Although my eyes, blinded by passions, do not see the brilliant light which embraces me,
the Great Compassion never tires, always casting its light upon me.”
~ Shinran Shonin
Our old cat Velvet on 3/13/14 (she crossed the Rainbow Bridge that autumn of 2014). RIP Dear One!
Click here for the post of photos from March 13, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.
Friday, March 13, 2015 – Today is golden with sunlight and the forsythia in full bloom.
“That Buddha, in the causal stage, made the universal Vow:
When beings hear my Name and think on me, I will come to welcome each of them,
Not discriminating at all between the poor and the rich and wellborn,
Not discriminating between the inferior and the highly gifted,
Not choosing the learned and those upholding pure precepts,
Nor rejecting those who break precepts and whose evil karma is profound.
Solely making beings turn about and abundantly say the Nien-Fo,
I can make bits of rubble change into gold.”
~ Hymn by Tz’u-min, cited by Fa-chao in the Wu-hui fa-shih tsan (Shorter Pure Land Liturgy of Nien-Fo Chant in Five Stages)
“each blossom is filled
pollen, nectar, and longing
to bee completed”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Honeybee gathering blue pollen from Siberian squill on 3/14/15.
Click here for the post of photos from March 14, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.
Saturday March 14, 2015 – Today I saw a tiny beetle that looked like a miniature lady bug with black and red spots. I haven’t looked this one up to see if it is actually some type of ladybug. My Oregon grape is coming into bloom and the mason bees (osmia) are out and about. My neighbors’ violets smelled heavenly.
“True entrusting means that you’re able to truly relate to another being. Not only human beings but with plants and animals. Even those things that cannot speak, you’re able to hear their feelings. Namu-amida-butsu.”
~ Ichitaro
“buds swell to bursting
sweet smells and nectar laden
beckon insect friends”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Christmas cactus re-blooming on 3/15/14.
Click here for the post of photos from March 15, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.
Sunday, March 15, 2015 – Today was exceptionally warm and we actually had a record high of 73 degrees F. at 3:00 P.M. MDT. This is a quote from a local newspaper, “The warm temperatures are nearly 20 degrees warmer than normal temperatures for mid-March.” This made it a lovely day for sangha in the park and listening to and sharing wise words about our mindfulness practice and compassion. We also learned about and practiced walking meditation. I want to express heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful Practice Leader, Mr. Christopher “Myoshin” Ross-Leibow, and his lovely wife, Linnea, for their work service and also to the rest of the members of the Sangha. where we are truly welcome to “come as we are”.
“Among all living things
mountains and rivers,
grasses and trees,
even the sounds of blowing winds
and rising waves –
there is nothing
that is not the nembutsu”
~ Ippen
“we walk heal to toe
massaging sweet mother earth
with our mindful feet”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace of the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings, Namaste, and Namu Amida Butsu ~ Raven
“Now when the primrose makes a splendid show,
And lilies face the March-winds in full blow,
And humbler growths as moved with one desire
Put on, to welcome spring, their best attire…”
~ William Wordsworth
Cedar waxwing on 3/7/14.
Click here for post with photos from March 7, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.
Saturday, March 7, 2015 – Today was a day full of birds staking out territory and I even saw a tussle between a couple of male starlings, though I was only able to get the “sing off” before they went after each other. I also have a cute blue jay who seemed to look on in an incredulous way.
“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ”
~ Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
“as the jay looks on
male starlings fall from the tree
engaged in battle”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Crocus on 3/8/14.
Click here for post with photos from March 8, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.
Sunday, March 8, 2015 – I saw my first flower flies (hoverflies) today and the first mason bee (osmia) and a cute little honeybee gathering pollen.
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
“a fine sunny day
as pollinators emerge
from their winter’s sleep”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Seagulls on March 9, 2014.
Click here for post with photos from March 9, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.
Monday, March 9, 2015 – The crocus are still in bloom, the aspen catkin buds lengthen, and the Oregon grape is also coming into bloom. We also had a lovely sunset which is stars at the beginning of this post.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
~ Rachel Carson
“cheerful spring flowers
food for the insect people
brings hope to my heart”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven
Grace and Mystery 