Sunday Safari

A cool breeze from the north played the strings of the
wind harp this morning.
I stood on the back sidewalk and watched the bees
in the coreopsis.

The Bumblebees,



the Leafcutters



and the Mason bees found pollen.

The Painted Ladies found nectar.

Coreopsis is a native perennial in my area.
My hedge is 30 feet long, 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall.
It blooms from the first of June through September,
with only one pruning in July for rebloom.
It is a continuous food source for the bees and the butterflies.
Very easy to propagate and grows best in full sun.

Garden check

Last night I stood outside and watched a storm come in from the north.
I gasped at the splendid light display. I went to sleep to the sounds of thunder,
wind and rain.




This morning I took a garden tour.
The morning glories greeted me first.
They are volunteers.
I gave them a twisting willow branch to twine on.
Mother's seeds, Mother's plants.

The zucchini is blooming.
I am checking daily for fruit.
We eat lots of fresh zucchini in the summer.
I freeze zucchini for winter baking.

The last of the poppies were swaying in the morning breeze.
I check the seed pods each day.
I dry the seed for poppy seed bread.

Full circle, back to the Morning Glories.
Yesterday I had planted the last of the saved zinnia seeds.
Mother Nature watered them in very nicely.
I like gardening with Nature.
I like her ways.
We both plant seeds.

Acoustic Brazil

Event

I watched the Black Swallowtail find the parsley.

She was ready to lay her eggs.

I have fennel too for hosting.

Day Lily Lesson

If I only had one day,
one day to greet the world,
one day to bloom, one day to be me,
what would I do?

Hopefully I would be the best I could be!

Teakettle...teakettle...teakettle

The little Carolina Wren has returned.

His call, "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle" tickles me!
I am smitten with this little Wren.

Laying eggs

Watching the female Dragonfly
lay her eggs gave me hope.

She is an ancient insect.

I see Dragonflies for August!

Checking the seeds

The male Gold Finch
checked the seeds in the Cone Flowers.

These are not ripe.

I never seem to ever be able to gather Cone Flower seed.
The Gold Finches get to them long before I do.

Dear Cindy,

I went to a party over the weekend. It was at your son's new home.
A beautiful new home out in the country, on twenty acres of woods.
A dream come true home.

It is a magical place.
So many butterflies and dragonflies I could not keep count.

Your son seems so happy.
Your grandson is adorable!

The years are slipping by.

Sometimes I am tired too.
Sometimes I long to sleep.
But Mockingbird wakes me with his song.

I open the blinds and set my intention for this day.
I breath in the longing for your voice.
The tomatoes are covered in rain drops.

November 16, 1950 ~ June 24, 2000

I miss you dear Sister.

Cone flowers and a Swallowtail

The Purple Cone flowers are in bloom.

The Black Swallowtail found them this afternoon.

I stopped weeding and watched.

I need to take breaks through out the day.

I need to spend time with the Swallowtails and the Cone flowers.

Safari Sunday

Please join Cheryl and I on a summer safari.
We are going bug hunting on Sundays.



We both like bees.

and butterflies,

and Dragonflies.

We both like Lady Beetles.

We like bugs!

What is in your backyard?

A Mid Summer Nights' Dream

Giant Swallowtail

I had been chasing a Tiger Swallowtail
around my neighborhood for over an hour.
When I came into my backyard a Giant Swallowtail greeted me.

My rapid heart beat matched the speed of his wings.

I remembered to breath, to relax
and to enjoy the moment.

I have Mexican Sunflowers in bloom for the Giants.
He did not see them this trip through.

I am looking for a Prickly Ash tree for the Giants.
These are their favorite host plants.
My butterfly book suggests planting one in the back corner of my butterfly reserve.
Sounds good to me.

Full Strawberry Moon

The Full Strawberry Moon is today.




We will have strawberries on the deck at moon rise tonight.

I celebrate this Full Moon.
I decorate in her honor.

For some, June's Full Moon is called the Full Rose Moon.
I honour that name too.

Happy Full Moon

1998 - 2002

Love is Real
Not Fade Away
1998-2002

Grandpa takes care of the Swamp Oak Tree.
He trims the grasses and brings garden mulch.

Grandma caresses the leaves.

We remember.
Our love will never fade.

A quick walk about

The clouds cleared.
I took a walk about the yard.

A female Eastern Tailed-blue was nectaring
on the sweet white clover that grows in our yard.
It is their favorite food for nectaring and for hosting.

I normally see the males in their
shimmery blue iridescent colors.

It is exciting to see the female.

The Orioles are finished with oranges.
The Hackberry butterflies have taken them over.
I am harvesting lavender.

Stormy weather

Another round of storms.



Super saturated soil.

Flash flood warnings have been issued.

On safari

After the rains stopped and the sun came out
I went on a bug hunt.


With all this moisture I was pretty sure I could find some interesting bugs.
Last year I bought the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America.
It is a great way to id what's in the backyard.

The Spotted Asparagus Beetles were in the bird's sunflowers.

This tiny Wolf Spider was in the Coreopsis

as was this leaf Beetle, Oulema collaris.
More showers are on the way.

I can hear thunder.