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Grevillea superb.
It is easy to see how this exotic flower came by its common name.
I saw this specimen in the Australian section at Kew Gardens,England . I was immediately transfixed by its curious beauty. It is a compact evergreen shrub, a hybrid with long lasting flower clusters.
Click on image to enlarge.
Jasper: What are you doing back there, Dad?
Todd: Trying to take your portrait.
Jasper: Seriously Dad! Put down the camera and let's play frisbee.
Orders received. Will comply.
This gorgeous dress from Mirage.NA is available at this months round of Shiny Shabby!
Dress: Mirage.NA @Shiny Shabby (Jan. 20)
Hair: Doux
Pose/Hat: IDK
Location: Aussie Shores
We're still in Wisconsin visiting family, so a photo from a while back of Jasper enjoying the neighborhood early morning sun..
Jasper keeps a keen eye on his humans in the evenings. If they move, they might be ready to play. Right Edward the Elephant
Jasper can sometimes be a little underwhelmed with our playfulness. Betty Bunny seems to have the same attitude. Jasper will keep his eye on me just in case I decide not to be totally lame.
I think Jasper looks right at home her exploring the Old West. I'm glad he's showing his mustache in the shot to kind of fit with the theme. Those sun-kissed mountains in the back are the Superstition Mountains. In the first comment I've shown the real set of explorers - a phone pic that my sister-in-law's husband took of us on the trail
When patrolling the neighborhood a dog must remain vigilant. Jasper and I did a nice walk around the neighborhood this morning soon after sunrise. Be calm, we found nothing awry.
Jean, Jasper and I had an opportunity to meet one of my Flickr / Instagram friends in the real world this weekend. Borzena joined us at the Riparian Preserve and we had a nice stroll, took some pictures (mostly of Jasper) and got to know each other. She's a very talented photographer so it was fun to share our love of photography. This is one of the shots I took along the way, Jasper posing with his usual grace and professionalism.
Jasper inspects the shrubbery troops. A perfect line. Tops high and tight. Polished roots. Everything is ship shape. Inspector Jasper gives them a paws up. And he knows where to go in case he runs into the Knights that say , "Ni" (Monty Python reference)
Jasper is settling in nicely to the Ranch he acquired (see first comment). Happy, happy cowpoke. Now, time to go tend to the cattle. Mooo
Jasper just loves playing in the back yard. It's his happy place. I took this portrait of him the other evening after some fun play and as the sun faded. I liked the bokeh as the dwindling sun filtered through the trees
With very pleasant weather, we've been playing in the back yard quite a bit. But at some point I have to tell Jasper we've got to go in. Got stuff to do, you know. But Jasper always gives me this totally disappointed look, like, "what do you mean we have to go inside? We were just having fun!" Well, kiddo, life has a few disappointments along the road. Took this shot blind as Jasper looked me in the face to communicate he wasn't ready to go in.
Here's Jasper doing his impression of a barrel cactus, like those behind him. Nice try Jasper, but you're just not prickly at all
On Sunday we went to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. They open at 6AM starting in May so we took advantage of the cooler early morning to check out some desert blooms. There were lots of these purple flowers about and Jasper agreed to pose for a shot or two.
Well looky here, Jasper bagged himself a rooster. Rebel Rooster that is. Poor Rebel, face down in shame. But, such is the life of a dog toy
Jasper at the riparian preserve wondering why Mom took his leash off and told him to stay. Humans are so weird!
I think his coat is looking particularly full in this portrait. Poor guy suffers a bit when its hot. And it's very hot this week. Highs through the mid week are 117ºF (47ºC) and last night the low only got to 91ºF (33ºC). Jean said he was a trooper on their walk this morning though. A few stops to crunch on ice cubes, then soldier on. We don't bother with his after-dinner walk this time of year. Instead, we play in air conditioned comfort.
The weather was really delightful this past weekend. Normally, after Jasper eats his dinner we take a walk around the neighborhood. But Sunday Jasper had play on his mind. We started on a walk, but he did his "business" right away and then started pulling us back home. Once back home, he grabbed Betty Bunny and stood at the back patio door. Oh, we had such fun with Betty and frisbees and running and flying and jumping and tugging and challenging. [pant, pant, pant...] I'm getting tired out just typing about it 😀
"You will play! You will play! You will play! " broadcasted Jasper through the powers of his mind. Then suddenly, inexplicably, I got up to play. Amazing how we fall victim to the powers of a dog's telepathy
Jasper commiserates with Betty Bunny after the humans stopped playing. Poor Jasper never gets any attention!
Here's an example of how Jasper is ignored and lives just a horrible existence. On a typical weekday morning I do a workout while Jean walks Jasper. Yesterday I got done with my workout and came downstairs to find Jean on the floor massaging Jasper. I said, "Hey, how come you never massage me?" She said, "You're not soft and furry and fluffy" True, none of those adjectives fit Todd. But if Jasper isn't getting a massage when they get home from the walk, he's getting play and fun and love. What an existence.
This is not an uncommon sight around our house. We were finishing up dinner and I looked over to see Jasper patiently waiting for the next phase of the evening (which is his after-dinner treat, then play, then tricks, then more play, then...)
Jasper came with us to the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch on Saturday. This is a 110 acre park about 15 minutes from our home. It features 7 recharge ponds that are stocked with fish for the birds. There is also a fishing pond stocked with fish for humans to catch. The park is free and ebird.org typically lists over 300 species of birds that have been spotted there. The park is a real gem in our community. Jasper has been birding with me his whole life. Fortunately, he's never chased the birds. Only watched them with interest.
A shot of one of the ponds in the first comment.
Jasper looking rather austere or aristocratic or something. Lots of blooming bougainvillea right now with big bold color.
Jasper keeps an eye out for lizards and ground squirrels and whatnot. All those creatures that inhabit the rocks and scrub of the desert
Having successfully kept Rebel Rooster under his protective care, Jasper stood tall and proud. It was a rousing chase around the family room.
I use the term "under protective care" loosely. On Rebel Rooster's first day with Jasper, he lost an eyeball to Jasper's teeth. But luckily, in between being a fighter jet pilot and being a nuclear physicist, I spent some time as an eye surgeon so I was able to reattach Rebel's eyeball and he's fully stereoscopic again.
Jasper awaits the toy toss in our “official play area”. The games are so much fun! As long as the humans are actually 100% engaged. It’s funny, but if Jean and start talking about our day or discussing something human during Jasper’s play time, he just lays down and refuses to play until we’re done with the human talk. He wants us fully engaged in the play or he doesn’t even want to play. “Look! You guys are either playing or you’re not. Let me know when you’re done humanizing”. Geez, next he won’t let us look at our phones or watch TV during dinner 😜