Saw a lot of friends in the garden today, or were they. . .

While working in the garden today, I saw quite a few friends.  One of them is the little guy who loves moss roses.  Loves them so much he eats them!  And then he hides just feet away from me and wonders when I'll leave so he can go back and have seconds.

 

Yes, that is a fence.  And yes, you must sit on this side of the fence and never go into Mr. McGregor's garden.

I think my chipmunk has the mumps!

These guys just love the fallen service berries.  Must be very yummy and nutritious.  Or maybe just very yummy.

And this lovely creature is from my friend Myranda's garden.  Thank you so much for sharing it with me.   

A Lazy Afternoon

Oh, lazy me.  Only two photos.  But the day is still young. . . .

Today, It's the Daylilies

This summer has been a lovely one for gardening.  I keep moving plants around, trying to get them all in just the right place.  And even if they are in bloom when I move them, they accept my decision and just keep going.  I appreciate it, so I give them lots of extra attention and plenty of water to show my gratitude.

This afternoon, on my venture through the garden with my camera, there were many beautiful flowers, but I think the day goes to the daylilies.  They were just magnificent tonight.

I am still amazed by the complexity of this little plant.  It's doing so well and looking just luscious. 

Even close up.

This little bee held perfectly still for his big moment.

I am a bit worried.  It looks like someone has planted a beanstalk. In preparation for climbing the castle walls perhaps?

Although this is a perennial, not an annual, it just keeps chugging along.  And looking quite striking at that.

The foxglove are almost done.  But last year's foxglove has reseeded generously all around the garden, so next year should be spectacular.  Very glovie.

They seem to have an expression, if not quite a face.

More beanstalks.  

I'd better hide my goose the lays the golden eggs!

Can't hide this beauty.  It just glows.

A bit quieter, but lovely, nonetheless.

This one has its own energy source.  

Maybe I can start charging my phone out here.

Although this is Love Lies Bleeding, it looks more like

Love Spins Totally Out of Control.

Someday I'm going to chomp down on a hollyhock leaf. 

 The critters in the garden certainly find them delicious.  

This clematis always looks like it's stuck somewhere between being extremely beautiful and kind of shriveled up.  

See?

I planted this milkweed for the monarchs.  Is this a monarch?

Hey, are you a monarch?  Of which realm?

Yes, I realize this isn't quite in focus.  But it's pretty!

I moved this little rosebush so many times in its life.  This time I really thought it was going to give up.  And then, wow.

More daylilies.  They only open one day, so it's nice to take a photo to remember them by.

This is going to be a great memory.

Same daylily, different view.  It's true, they last only one day, but no one said you can only take one photo.

The Doom and Gloom is Banished by a Fluttering Wing

I heard on the news that there may be no Monarch butterflies this year.  I know their numbers are way down due to loss of critical habitat and feeding areas.  But I kept seeing them in my garden.  Day after day.  How could I see them if they are no more?  I decided to keep a watchful eye and just see how many I “saw”.

At the end of the gardening season last year I took some milkweed pods and opened them behind the garage in a small strip of garden along the alley.  Well, they must all have germinated.  And today they were put to very good use.  By some strange and some beautiful creatures.  All are welcome.  You can believe the news, or believe your eyes.

The milkweed in question.  Remarkably pretty for a weed.

Some guy I've never seen before.  And there were two of them.

A friend nearby on the Autumn Joy.  There were four of them.  And I know for a fact they were two couples.  Nuff said.

 And the Monarch.

This is the flightiest butterfly I have ever seen.  It took a lot of coaxing to get it to land. Seems to have just been using up tons, well, in Monarch measure, of energy flitting and looping and avoiding the milkweed.  But when it finally needed to refuel, I was lucky enough, and stubborn enough, to still be around.

Finally, a Beautiful, Usable Evening

It's been so very hot and humid for the past few days.  Going out into the garden in the evening has not been pleasant.  Unfortunate, since the plants are out there in all their splendor with no one around to appreciate them.  So this evening, a gorgeous one with a light breeze and much drier air, I headed out to see what the garden has been up to.  

I got an eyeful!

Although I just read in my dragonfly book that dragonflies cannot hear, I guess no one told the dragonflies!  Every time I see one and call to it, it circles around and lands.  It's a lot of fun, but now a great mystery.  Maybe I just smell good.

The water in the pond is so warm.  Like a bath.  Since the fish are cold-blooded, they are as warm as the water.  And totally crazed.  When I'm out weeding in the garden, I can hear large, juicy slurping sounds as they attack and devour the roots of the floating plants.  And then with little fishy tummies full, they chase.  

Last year, very late in the gardening season, I discovered ornamental oregano for the first time.  I just had to have it, so I bought a bedraggled, mostly dead plant.  The last one they had.  Needless to say it didn't do much.  But this year is different.  The early bird gets the ornamental oregano.  So enchanted with its little violet flowers peeking out on the sides.  Unusual.  Beautiful.  And this year, thriving.

Dunno.  But I like it.

The queen's crown for the fairy ball.  

Some things are worth waiting for.  And all the more appreciated for the wait.