Sunday Safari

The Goldenrod is showing color.

The Asters are in bloom.

The native bugs are drawn to them.

I am still hunting for a balance
between native and non-native.

Chrysanthemums are my favorite
Autumn flower.

They are "not native"
 to my Mid-west tall grass prairie land.

Yellow mums are so cheerful.
I use them as annuals
in September through November.

I have a border of hardy, bright orange mums.
The butterflies stay away from them.
They are in tight bud right now.
Come October they will be in full bloom.

 I saw a Variegated Fritillary this afternoon in the Marigolds.
They are not native flowers but are my favorite from seed flowers.
My seed box is already full of marigold seed for next year.

The Butterfly Bush is also "not native".

I am looking for ways to grow both types of plants
being careful to avoid invasive.

As we slowly replant the flower beds
I am hoping to plant more native shrubs.
Finding a Spicebush chrysalis today
in the Spicebush bed was all the affirmation I needed
to keep working on planting native.

After the rain on Friday
the temperatures dropped.

It has been a lovely weekend.

The Groundhog was trapped and relocated this morning.
Hopefully he left some tomatoes for us.

I like seeing holes in leaves

and sharing apple slices with
 Red Spotted Purple butterflies.

Now is the time to keep an eye for
mimics

and emerging butterflies.

Day flying moths have also emerged.

We are making compost tea.

We are following a
recipe from the internet.

The aerator will work on our mix
 for three days.

After straining we should have food for the asters.

It is time for me to decide
which plants will be coming in for the winter.

I would like to make my potting up soil.

I am trimming back in
the herb garden.
I am beginning to set my harvest table.
Happy Sunday Safari.