Check out my Inflammation

Last weekend my good Pal Kathy and I went to the Swan Island Dahlia Festival here in Oregon.  We walked the fields and perused the displays.  The variety and beauty of the flowers were amazing!  And, yes, this Dahlia is actually called Inflammation.  The name was so funny, I had to post it.

Above you see the incredible symmetry and detail of this flower.  Even the honey bee finds this beauty  worthy of attention. 

There are all kinds of varied colors and shapes, as you can see from the photo above.  Of course, the reason I posted this particular Dahlia was to be able to say, "Check out my Inflammation."  Something about that statement hits my funny bone!

Have a lovely weekend. 

Pineapple Weed Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

Pineapple weed grows in places nothing else would--it flourishes in hard packed dirt, graveled lots and along paved roads.   This one is growing up through the asphalt of a local driveway.  If you pinch the flowers in your fingers you will smell the aroma of sweet pineapple.  The flowers of this delightful weed, picked and brewed, make the most wonderfully calming tea.  This plant is in the chamomile family and can be found everywhere in the Pacific Northwest in late Spring, early Summer.

Unaided by human hands, this pineapple weed grew in the perfect shape of a heart.  Just perfect for Guest Heart Thursday.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.