Hurricane Irene

Well, we were not here in CT for the hurricane, but came home from a week visiting relatives in Ohio to no power, all our garden furniture safely tucked away inside our house, and everything swept clean in the garden beds by the high winds.  The only damage was to the butterfly bush, now at least eight feet tall.  It was leaning forward in the bed almost to the ground.  I was able to trim some blooms that had faded from the top finally!

After some pruning, I wrapped some twine around it and pounded a stake into the ground behind it.  As I pulled it back, I stamped the ground back down wher there roots had pulled up and been exposed above the soil.

 I anchored the twine to the stake and the butterflies were back on the bush in moments.  They didn't care if it was leaning, but I did. It will keep on blooming until early October if the frosts hold off.

A Menagerie in the Garden, Late Summer

With a week of rain and being away for a short while, I haven't had many moments in the garden in the past two weeks.  This afternoon, I spent some time just watching from my window.  This is what I saw in just a few moments.

A chipmunk spent some time under the bird feeder.  I also saw him shake a sunflower but ths seeds were not ripe and did not tumble down upon him.

A male and female goldfinch threw down cracked sunflower seeds.

A couple of sparrows drank poolside from the bird bath.

A duo of Great Spangled butterflies fed on the butterfly bush.

Just a great moment to spend
in a summer garden!