This lovely image is the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, a mere 2.5 million light years away. The Andromeda Galaxy is located in the constellation Andromeda and is the farthest object that can be seen with the naked eye. To read more about the Andromeda Galaxy, click here.

To read more about the myth of Andromeda and Perseus, click here.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier



I picked this image today because it reminds me a little of the blue sky and white clouds I see out my office window. Of all the places I could be, I'd much rather be sitting quietly under the almond tree, listening to the music.

Like a wild cherry
 glimpsed dimly 
through a break in the mist—
that’s the kind can 
stir you to desire. ~ Ki-no-Tsurayuki (ca. 868 - ca. 964)



This is not a daylily from my own garden, which happen to be in bloom right now, but it seems like a fitting complement to the cherries and peaches we had for afternoon snack.

Just a little something before turning in.

Sweet dreams.

Sweet cherries. And maybe some peaches. The perfect snack for a summer afternoon.

Here's something that's kind of cute ... another new "plutoid" or dwarf planet has been named.



Make-make, which is coated in red methane, orbits close to Pluto. As you may recall, Pluto was recently demoted from planet status, and after which the new class of dwarf planets was named. Originally called Easterbunny because it was discovered shortly after Easter in 2005, Make-make was (fittingly) re-named for the chief god and god of fertility in the mythology of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Make-make is about 1,000 miles in diameter, making it about 2/3 the size of Pluto. The only other plutoid is called Eris.