350/365: "Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness." ~ Richard Bach

2 more pictures above in notes! :)

It was just below freezing today so the frost stayed around, which was very pretty to see. I initially planned on finding something like frosted grass for my Picture of the Day. However, when I stepped out the front door, I noticed the mesh "cage" that I have around our metal feed trough (which I use for a large planter) still had snow and frost on it. I wondered if there would be a nice picture there...

I did find a wonderful frosty subject to photograph on the mesh itself, and though I originally planned to make it my Picture of the Day, one look at my Irish Eyes plant instantly shoved that picture to second position! This particular flower was hiding near the ground and I almost missed it. One of the things I try to do when taking pictures of a subject is to walk all the way around it, and that's how I found this flower! :)

Every time I see this plant, it makes me smile with happiness. My friend Robin gave me an Irish Eyes seedling back in April, and it grew large enough to flower by July, and continued to flower all the way until the flowers FROZE some weeks ago. What a productive, wonderful plant!! On top of that, the flowers which were in bloom are now dried and stunning, adorned with frost and a wonder to behold. I've taken so many pictures of the countless blossoms since July, and once again I am just amazed at how beautiful the flowers are! :)

Richard David Bach (born June 23, 1936) is an American writer. He is widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970s best-sellers Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, among others. Bach's books espouse his philosophy that our apparent physical limits and mortality are merely appearance. Bach is noted for his love of flying and for his books related to air flight and flying in a metaphorical context. He has pursued flying as a hobby since the age of 17. In late August 2012 Bach was badly injured when on approach to landing at Friday Harbor his aircraft clipped some power lines and crashed upside down in a field.Wikipedia: Richard Bach

Explored on December 17, 2013. Highest placement, page 8.