Flowers and Nature in my Garden

Hosta

2011-09-10T13:20:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite hosta bloom and the only one that I don't remove the blooms.
It has large blooms and is very fragrant.

My Cat

2011-08-16T19:45:00.000-04:00

My cat loves to join me when I am working in the flowers.

I am having a terrible time with voles eating
the roots off my plants. There are holes
everywhere. My cat is sitting by the
hole waiting but so far she has not
caught one. I set 4 traps under buckets
but didn't catch any. Wish I knew
how to get rid of them.

Wren

2011-08-16T19:10:00.000-04:00

Every night for about a week this wren came about
dark and roosted in the corner of the awning
on our porch. He would nestle into the
corner and tuck his head down in
front of him. So cute!

Bluebirds

2011-08-16T19:03:00.001-04:00

I could watch the bluebirds from my deck as they were
building their nest and when they were feeding
their babies. I love this picture of the
baby bluebird waiting for mama to feed her.
This was the second set of babies in this
house. I wonder if it was the same male
and female there both times.

I noticed this morning the bluebirds were
very active in the nest and often
stuck their heads out the opening.
I was hoping to see them fledge but
the next day they were gone.

The male bluebird is busy helping with the feeding
of the new family.

WOW, the mother is feeding her young well.

Budlea "Butterfly Bush"

2011-08-16T18:44:00.000-04:00

Spirea

2011-08-16T18:29:00.000-04:00

The spirea is a beautiful welcome to spring.

Bees

2011-08-16T18:01:00.000-04:00

There are lots of bees in the flower gardens and they

especially enjoy the zinnias. Sharing doesn't seem

to be a problem with them.

"Birds and Blooms" Magazine article

2011-08-16T17:51:00.000-04:00

Milkweed Tussock Moth

One of my favorite magazines is "Birds and Blooms".

This month there was an article about milkweed and the insects

that are drawn to this plant. They discussed the Milkweed Tussock

Moth and the Milkweed Bug. I had never seen the Milkweed

Tussock Moth my Butterfly Weed so I decided to take a look.

There it was! You never know what you might see

when you look close.

Milkweed Bug

Rainbow in the Garden

2011-08-16T17:37:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy it when a rainbow shows itself
when I am watering the flowers. I consider
it my own personal rainbow.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

2011-08-16T17:23:00.001-04:00

The Hummingbird Moths were a constant in my yard as long

as the beebalm was blooming. I couldn't get enough

pictures of them.

Skippers

2011-08-16T16:49:00.000-04:00

Bleeding Heart

2011-07-23T17:03:00.000-04:00

Blackeyed Susans

2011-07-23T16:50:00.002-04:00

You can't beat blackeyed susans for brightening up the garden.

Blackberry Lily

2011-07-23T16:45:00.002-04:00

This flower is just beginning to bloom. When it seeds out, they look just like blackberries.

Bellflower

2011-07-23T16:41:00.000-04:00

Beebalm

2011-07-23T16:34:00.000-04:00

2011-07-23T15:59:00.002-04:00

This sunflower head fit perfectly in this plant stand.

Beautiful volunteer sunflower.

Titmouse enjoying seed from the sunflower head.

Chickadee

Flower Beds

2011-07-19T20:35:00.000-04:00

Apple Blossoms to Apples

2011-07-19T19:29:00.000-04:00

Angel's Trumpet

2011-07-19T19:24:00.000-04:00

Angel's Trumpet, fragrant night-blooming

Angel's trumpet bloom just before opening

Bleeding Heart

2011-04-28T23:17:00.002-04:00

Allium

2011-04-28T23:02:00.002-04:00

Iris

2010-12-02T22:54:00.000-05:00

Hydrangea

2010-12-02T22:23:00.000-05:00

Hosta

2010-12-02T22:16:00.000-05:00

A very fragrant hosta, but I don't know the name of it.

Gooseneck Loosestrife

2010-12-02T22:05:00.000-05:00

Very invasive, but I love the blooms. It spreads by underground runners.
I've been pulling it up for years, but decided to let some bloom this year.

Gaura "Whirling Butterflies"

2010-12-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

Foxglove

2010-12-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

Four O'Clocks, perennials, pink flowrs

2010-12-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

Potted Flowers

2010-12-01T15:32:00.000-05:00

Blue Daze

Vinca

Flower Beds

2010-12-01T15:18:00.001-05:00

Fennel, black swallowtail caterpillers

2010-12-01T14:32:00.000-05:00

This fennel attracted 6 black swallowtail caterpillers.

False Sunflower

2010-12-01T14:12:00.000-05:00

Alternate names: Smooth Oxeye, False Sunflower, Oxeye, Oxeye Daisy, Heliopsis Sunflower

Evening Primrose

2010-12-01T13:32:00.000-05:00

Dianthus

2010-12-01T13:26:00.002-05:00

Deutzia

2010-11-20T23:34:00.000-05:00

Daylilies

2010-11-20T23:21:00.000-05:00

Daisies

2010-11-20T22:58:00.000-05:00

Blue Marguerite Daisy

Shasta Daisy

Crepe Myrtle

2010-11-20T22:51:00.000-05:00

Cosmos

2010-11-20T22:39:00.000-05:00

Coreopsis

2010-11-20T22:28:00.002-05:00

Purple Coneflowers

2010-11-20T22:24:00.002-05:00

Columbine

2010-11-20T22:18:00.000-05:00

Closeups of flowers

2010-11-20T21:52:00.000-05:00

Mallow

Daylily

Peony

Chaste Tree

2010-11-20T21:43:00.000-05:00

Celosia/Cockscomb

2010-11-20T21:28:00.000-05:00

These cockscombs/celosias come back every year in different parts
of the garden. This year there were three different varieties.
This one was my favorite.

Cardinal Flower

2010-11-20T21:05:00.000-05:00

This is the second year these flowers have come up by the pond.
I didn't plant them, so I assume a bird delivered them.

Butterfly Weed

2010-10-16T22:26:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy the butterfly weed because of the bright orange color, and especially since the butterflies love it too.

Butterfly Bush

2010-10-16T22:01:00.001-04:00

I have a white and purple butterfly bush, but the white one is my favorite. In the spring the blooms are really long. As the summer warms up, it attracts lots of butterflies. This summer was very dry and hot, so it did not bloom as well.

Blue Daze

2010-10-16T21:52:00.000-04:00

Blue Daze is a true blue flower that blooms all summer.

Bleeding Heart

2010-10-16T21:47:00.001-04:00

Blackeyed Susans

2010-10-16T21:42:00.001-04:00

Blackberry Lily

2010-10-16T21:18:00.001-04:00

Pearl Crescent butterfly

2010-08-26T23:01:00.002-04:00

This is a small butterfly that seems to like gold and
yellow flowers, especially the butterfly weed.

Great Spangled Fritillary

2010-08-26T22:48:00.001-04:00

Buckeye Moth

2010-08-26T22:32:00.001-04:00

Buckeye Moth ... so beautiful.

Tomato Hornworm Moth

2010-08-26T22:18:00.001-04:00

I discovered 5 of these moths in a friends garden just after dusk. I was sure glad I had my camera. After searching on the internet, I found out they are Tomato Hornworm Moths. When I cropped and enlarged the photos, I was amazed at the long tongue they have that enables them to get the nectar from the flowers.
Click on the photo for a larger size so you can see the tongue. The last one is the best.

Bellflower

2010-08-09T19:53:00.001-04:00

Beebalm

2010-08-09T19:44:00.001-04:00

2010-08-09T19:34:00.001-04:00

Angel's Trumpet

2010-08-09T19:15:00.003-04:00

Blackberry Lily

2010-07-07T20:58:00.001-04:00

Mitzi

2010-07-07T20:29:00.002-04:00

Mitzi loves to sit on the arbor and check out the activities in the yard.

Her treat is a nibble of the purple fountain grass. Checking her balance on the deck rail.

Ah, such a beautiful day to wallow in the lush grass.

Okay, here's your best shot. Now put away that camera

and lets play.

Bluebirds

2010-07-04T23:22:00.004-04:00

In April both the chickadees and the bluebirds wanted to build in this birdhouse. The chickadees nested first. After they left the nest, the bluebirds moved into the house in June. I was not able to clean out the house first but they didn't seem to mind. They are now busy feeding the babies.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

2010-07-04T23:19:00.002-04:00

Hummingbird moth on beebalm.

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

2010-07-04T23:09:00.004-04:00

I was so excited to find 6 stage 4 swallowtail caterpillars on the fennel. I planted it last year hoping to attract the caterpillars but didn't get any until this year. They were on the fennel for 5 days after I discovered them but are gone now. I wonder it the birds got them or if they have moved to the next phase of becoming a butterfly. I wish I could find them to watch the next phase.

Luna Moth

2010-07-04T22:44:00.004-04:00

I discovered the beautiful Luna Moth when I was watering some flowers. It was alive but would not fly. The next day I looked in the same place and only saw pieces of it left. I wonder what happened?

Butterfly Weed

2010-06-25T23:44:00.002-04:00

I love the bright orange of the butterfly weed. Some came back from seed that I put in the ground last fall. I also planted some in pots this spring and moved them to the garden. Hopefully they will bloom this summer.

Butterfly Bush at Sunset

2010-06-25T23:27:00.003-04:00

Sometimes you get lucky and get that "special" photo. This beautiful sunset followed a storm and the butterfly bush blooms were a good contrast against the sky.

Bellflower

2010-06-25T23:10:00.001-04:00

Beebalm

2010-06-25T23:00:00.002-04:00

Basket of Gold Alyssum

2010-06-07T22:35:00.004-04:00

Allium

2010-06-07T22:25:00.001-04:00

Mitzi

2010-06-07T22:19:00.002-04:00

Mitzi loves being in the yard when I am gardening.

Sunset

2010-06-07T22:15:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful sunset!

2010-06-07T22:10:00.003-04:00

The first hummingbird came to the feeder on April 25 and then I didn't see one again until two weeks ago.

Chipmunk

2010-06-07T21:14:00.002-04:00

This little chipmunk enjoyed my front porch for 4 days, showing up each day around noon.

Carnations "Cheddar Pink"

2010-05-03T00:11:00.000-04:00

These mini carnations have a wonderful fragrance.

Spirea Japonica "Bridal Veil"

2010-05-02T23:25:00.003-04:00

Pansies

2010-04-26T23:42:00.008-04:00

Shasta Daisy

2010-04-26T23:37:00.002-04:00

I planted these shasta daisies in pots last spring and then moved them to the garden. They are just beginning to bloom.

Calycanthus Sweet Shrub

2010-04-26T23:33:00.002-04:00

A very fragrant shrub that blooms all summer.

Viburnum "Doublefile"

2010-04-18T23:14:00.001-04:00

Titmouse

2010-04-18T23:07:00.004-04:00

This titmouse spent most of day on the front porch chirping very loudly and looking through the window into the house. He even attracted the cat to the window to watch. I wonder what he was thinking?

Allium

2010-04-18T22:59:00.006-04:00

Spirea Japonica "Bridal Wreath"

2010-04-18T22:44:00.003-04:00

Kwanzan Cherry

2010-04-14T00:30:00.001-04:00

This picture was taken at night with a low flash setting.

Camillia

2010-04-14T00:12:00.004-04:00

The first two pictures were taken at night which made the color more vivid and made the red look darker.

Bleeding Heart

2010-04-14T00:04:00.000-04:00

Wild Azalea

2010-04-13T23:56:00.002-04:00

This is a wild azalea at the edge of the woods. I look forward to seeing it bloom every spring.

Lilac "Sensation"

2010-04-13T23:51:00.000-04:00

Red Dogwood

2010-04-13T23:37:00.002-04:00

Flowering Kale

2010-04-13T23:22:00.003-04:00

This flowering kale was planted in a pot last fall with some pansies. As the weather warmed up this spring, it began to grow taller and then it started blooming. I have never had one to last through the winter so it could bloom and it have enjoyed watching the process.

Photos in the Dark

2010-04-13T23:00:00.007-04:00

I decided to try taking some pictures in the dark and this is the results. I used a low flash and auto setting.

Lenton Rose

2010-03-19T23:52:00.002-04:00

I love the Lenton Rose because it blooms so early. All the snow we had during this winter was very heavy and damaged the plant. I cut back all the dead and damaged leaves. It soon began to put out new growth and has been blooming for about 10 days, which is later than usual.

Spring is finally here

2010-03-19T23:43:00.007-04:00

After a very cold winter with lots of snow, I am so excited that spring has finally arrived, hopefully to stay. But I know March can be unpredictable. It has been warm for about a week and today it was in the 70s. I spent the day working in the yard ... pruning, weeding, moving plants, raking, cleaning the pond. My plan was to not overdo but when I get started I don't know when to quit. The birds are busy looking for a home. I am hoping the bluebirds have decided to nest in the same birdhouse they did last year. The chickadees are checking out the same house. The finch have been at the other birdhouse.

Clouds

2010-02-01T23:32:00.002-05:00

I love the winter sunsets, so I usually check every night to see what it looks like. I was a little late this time and the sun was very low but the clouds were interesting ... very black against the dark blue of the night sky.

Snow Jan. 30, 2010

2010-02-01T22:54:00.004-05:00

We are having lots of snow this winter ... this one was 13". It was a very dry snow, so it made good "snow" ice cream. Another storm is expected this weekend bringing another 10-12". A temperature record was set this past Sat. night at 2 degrees below. I am sure looking forward to spring. With this winter being so cold compared to the last few years, I hope I don't lose any flowers or flowering shrubs.

Coopers Hawk

2010-01-29T22:11:00.004-05:00

This morning while having coffee and watching the birds outside, I spotted this hawk on the arbor beside my small fish pond. I have heard they will catch the fish and other birds. I am glad there is a cover over the pond to keep the leaves out and I sure hope he doesn't harm the birds that come to the feeder. I have never seen a hawk this close and I am not sure what kind it is. I assume it is a Coopers Hawk.

Christmas Cactus Nov. 17, 2009

2009-11-18T20:09:00.009-05:00