Hummingbird Moth

Do you shop for your hummers? I do. At this time of year I'm looking for something to fill out the season. I think they apprecaite something different just as we do.

I am always adding tubular flowers

 to the garden to entice them. 

Along with the hummers came the hummingbird moth.

They favor the Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' with its dark stems, lavender flowers, and deep green leaves with maroon undersides.

They and the bees like Torenia/Wishbone Flower as well. 

Special Day

No Deadheading

Well it is the end of summer and seeds are ripening. I was removing some plants spilled into the walkways this morning and noticed, after I had been working for some time, a  busy goldfinch nearby taking little notice of me. Usually they are so shy.

I decided to take a chance and go for the camera. Sure enough, when I returned, he was still there.  

Not only do they provide food, but the flowers have there own distinct beauty at this time of year. In this case, Mr Goldfinch is being very selective.

"No deadheading please. We'll take care of the preliminaries for you," he seemed to say.

Well, I'm choosing to feed the birds and there will be 

in this garden for a while.

Keepsakes

 Everything is new again with Noah.

Keepsakes from when Rachel was a baby are for Noah now.

Have a brandied peach coke for your trip down memory lane.

We must always have old memories and new hopes. Arsène Houssaye

Male Blue Dasher Dragonfly

Male Blue Dasher Dragonfly

With water gardens, comes a host of beautiful creatures brought ever closer to our attention with our macro shots where we can see detail better than in person actually. Roger passed this capture on to me.  


The male Blue Dasher, with his pruinose blue tail raised high either as a threat or to combat high temperature, has a black tipped tail. His large compound eyes are green and he has a white face that distinguishes him from similar looking dragonflies. His clear wings may have an amber cast close to his thorax  The blue may develop over the top of his thorax, as well, but the sides appear vertically striped with black and yellow.  The Blue Dasher may typically position his wings forward and down while resting. The one pictured looks like he's adjusting his wings upon landing. You may see one soon.


Learn about the very different female Blue Dasher here.

Trellis the Sprawl

Should you, for some reason, have spindly lilies sprawling or leaning into walkways, a good temporary solution is a wire trellis.

There is plenty of room to ease them into position without damaging the plants.

Flowers previously facing the ground and potential victims of the weed eater or lawn mower are now visible for your enjoyment.

But who will watch my lilies, When their blossoms open white? By day the sun shall be sentry, And the moon and the stars by night!  Bayard Taylor

Half White Doe With Fawn

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,

My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;

Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,

My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go


Robert Burns