True Signs of Fall

The Butterfly Weed is sending its seed

out on the chilly breezes.

The garden is coming to an end for 2019.

Monarch Caterpillar

I discovered this large Monarch caterpillar

on the Butterfly Weed recently.

I hope he makes it for migration!

Seems late for caterpillars

with so far to grow

and so far to go--

to make it.

Take a look at the link above 

by clicking on the word "late".

Good luck, you fat little guy!

Last of the Daylilies

It can't be that late in the blooming season, 

but the last blooms of the daylilies indicate it is so.

It's the last one of each kind of large daylilies.

There are still a few more Mini Pearls left. 

This rebloomer has a smaller bloom but a large bud count.

The melon pink flower has a butter yellow watermark 

and a lime green throat.

It tolerates drought and humidity. 

The plant takes up less space in the garden border.

I appreciate this plant for all its assets in my small garden space.

The blackening seed pods of  False Indigo 

or Baptisia australus also indicate the end 

of mid-summer. The brilliant blue blooms 

which make a similar natural dye color

are long gone with the long days of June. 

Soon the seeds inside will rattle with the wind.

But the Helianthus or Perennial Sunflower 

is in full bloom, covered with bees.

It dances in the sunshine and 

the breezes we've been having,

It does like wet feet so I watch it 

for wilting if we haven't had some rain.

The hummingbirds are zipping and 

zapping around it, sometimes right 

into the patio area under the deck.

And the brilliant magenta Butterfly Bush Buddleia

is the star of the garden bed now.

Its arching blooms attract butterflies and bees,

hummingbirds and other birds

who visit the bird bath or enjoy

the sound of water from the fountain

as they forage under the bush for seeds.

It's still summer in the patio garden beds.

After the Rain

Sun, low humidity and rain

brings on a profusion

of bloom in the mid-July garden.

Day lilies

Daisies

Butterfly Weed

The garden border at its best.

with a fountain bubbling.

What a wonderful day on the patio!

Before the Rain

Much needed rain is coming tonight.

The blooms are just delightful today.

I thought I'd capture them before the

storm appears and tears or

bruises their petals.

Hibiscus

Nasturtium

Mandevilla

The urn in front with yellow petunias,

umbrella grass, red fuchsia, and

blue summer snapdragons.

The daisies are blooming beyond the 

hydrangea with one blue bloom.

I hope the watering can and its

solar light strings survive 

any winds. We've already 

had to unbend the wires

and repin them to the ground

after they were sprayed 

with the hose.

Everyone needs a drink, regardless.

It Worked!

The Garden Men used an old watering can, 

a garden hook and some solar lights

to create a nighttime waterfall

near the garden bench.

Lovely!

End of June Garden Chores

My 16 year-old grandson visited to help me with garden chores since I'm limited by the gradual mending of my broken leg. He makes a great "Garden Man" intern with his strong arms and legs and engineering mind.

His first project:  Put this bubbling fountain together and get it running.

Love it!

The sound is soothing and cooling

while sitting on the patio.

Second project (visible in the background above):

How?

How much?

Where?

When?

Okay?

Done!

Other projects too numerous to list

but some include:

pulling weeds

pulling up unwanted ground covers

planting 5 new plants

taping the birch tree trunk

killing gypsy moths

disposing of cuttings from pruning

sawing off one-third of bush at heartwood

scraping moss off patio pavers

laying fairy stepping stones

stringing fish line trellis

putting together replacement table on deck

taking packages to mail

WHEW!

Many thanks to our Garden Man

in-training who did two weeks'

worth of chores in two days!

To be 16 again...

Happy Father's Day, Happy Birthday!

The season has moved on 

from poppies and peonies

 to Mountain Laurels blooming.

This year is quite a show of bloom 

from the wild laurels across the street 

and the bed of Kalmia cultivars

we planted a decade ago.

The new mulched bed 

is helping with the weeds.

Raspberry Glow

Peppermint

Yankee Doodle

Keepsake

Sarah

The Astilbe are blooming.

But I do miss 

the watermelon Poppies.

The Difference a Day Makes

The Poppies popped out

before the Peonies!

Love this watermelon color.

And these are the Lilacs from ground level.

Yes, I could walk downstairs today!

Limited Gardening Still Brings Results

Hosta and Lamium and Lamb's Ear will always come up on its own.

As a basis for this year's Fairy Garden, it fills the mulch bed with color and texture.

My granddaughters arranged the accessories and put out the Fairies to play.

Photos from above on the deck since it's so hard to go up and down the stairs.

The Peony buds are about to burst.  The Poppy buds are ready to follow the Peonies.

The self-watering deck planters have been simplified this year with a single large plant

and a white petticoat under each.  The Mandevilla is red for the hummers.

The Hibiscus is yellow for the bees.

The Chives came back but I had to replant all the other herbs:

Rosemary, Sage, Italian Parsley and a Nasturtium for color.

The Siberian Iris are in their glory just now.

Looks like the Knock-Out Roses came back after the devastation by Gypsy Moths 

the past two years.  They will need some food to flourish.

New neighbors have moved in next door where I maintained a border.

Hardy perennials hold the soil and thrive in the heat and sun:

White Sage, Nepeta, Shasta Daisy.

It's a good year for the Korean Spice Lilac too.

The blooms look plentiful on top from the deck!

And William's Japanese Maple planted as a seedling from Sara's yard

looks sturdy and full 10 years later.

Thank goodness for a good backbone in my garden

this year when my leg bone is fractured and recovering!