Cypress trees at the olive mill

for Six Word Saturday and Squares: trees

In lieu of a beanstalk and peeking at blue

I think if I were Jack, I’d prefer climbing this sturdy tree rather than a flimsy beanstalk. Just saying.

I remember nothing about this photo, although I see it’s sidewalk sale time, but there’s some blue which is what’s needed. 🙂

Tree canopy and close-up blue

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come. ~Lois Lowry

A certain blue enters your soul. ~Henri Matisse

for Squares: trees and Life in Colour: blue

Tree dipped in blue

But where does the tree end and the water begin?

And in related water news, we’ve actually had much-needed and appreciated rain in the last week or so. When you only get 9″ per year, every little bit help but this has been real, stick-around-for-a bit rain. Unfortunately, it caused flash floods in some places but the water-starved Southwest is very thankful for the rain.

I see from comments that I must also add that this water isn’t from our recent rains. It’s in one of the lakes at the Preserve that uses reclaimed water to make our lives and those of birds and animals much better. 🙂

for Squares: trees and Life in Colour: blue

Autumn tree with car and flower with butterfly

As odd as most people think it is, I miss winter or cool air, so one Saturday we drove down to Tucson and then up The Catalina Highway or Sky Island Scenic Byway, rising almost 9,100′ and through six types of vegetation. At the top, it felt alpine and we spotted bright yellow and red leaves and aspen trees as well. In addition to the leaf colors, the parking area was temporary home to this colorful beauty. The scenery on the one paved road up and back is spectacular!

For “blue”, let’s hope from the mountains of Arizona to Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains. From what I’ve read online, I believe this is a butterfly rather than a moth but either way, its color sets off the blue of the flowers.

“Blue thou art, intensely blue; Flower, whence came thy dazzling hue?” – James Montgomery

Useful trees with a cheeky marmot

for Six Word Saturday and Squares: trees

Ethereal trees and corporeal children

All that needs to be said: trees and blue. 🙂

Tree with a blue view

Won’t be long now until we’re in these mountains and I won’t feel at all blue. However, these blues I can love.

“Let the blue of the sky and ocean take your blue away when you feel blue”
― Munia Khan

for Squares: trees and Life in Colour: blue

Lemon tree very pretty and reflecting a bit

Who else remembers the Peter, Paul, and Mary song “Lemon Tree?” As with all their songs, the melody was lovey, although I had to disagree with the last line of the chorus:

Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat

Okay, perhaps you don’t actually eat a lemon on its own, but the fruit is pretty darn good! I start most mornings with a glass of warm water and the juice of half a lemon. I also sometimes make a ginger-lemon drink that’s very good and good for me. This lemon tree is at Queen Creek Olive Mill. They grow quite a bit of what they use/sell at the mill store.

And for “blue” this week, let’s venture to a completely different sort of surroundings, to downtown Chicago once again where there are plenty blues for today.

Tree as prop and flowering blue

This tree provided contrast to a large group of flowers found along the back paths at McDowell Forest Preserve while I was back in Illinois a few months ago.

Jude, this blue‘s for you and Cee, here’s my FOTD (flower of the day.)

“I need the shade of blue that rips your heart out. You don’t see that type of blue around here.”
― Cath Crowley, Graffiti Moon