I am running way behind in my posting as usual. This month I thought I would show the blooms of flowers that are attracting some fine insects. Insects and birds are some of the many reasons why I garden.
The pink and white phlox both have butterfly visitors
This yellow and orange Gallardia 'Oranges and Lemons' is a new introduction to my garden this summer. It appears to be mostly Lemons in color but it does attract the wildlife.
One of my old faithfuls Periscaria 'Dragons Tongue' offers this delicate white bloom that the bumbles like. Plus these blooms last a long time in a bouquet.
Of course the Butterfly bush lives up to it's name with butterflies swarming around. This plant died back to just a couple of tall stalks this winter. I thought the entire bush was a gonner but is snapped out of it. Right behind the butterfly bush is Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea. The buttterflies and bees usually check it out too as they float around the garden.
Butterflies aren't the only lepridoptra that live in our garden. While I am not out a lot at night to see the moths in the garden it is obvious that the Milkweed Tussock Moths have been here since there are several of their caterpillars on the Butterfly weed.
Oh, and did I mention birds?
I enjoy watching the American Goldfinches eating seed from the sunflowers that are drying up.
The House Sparrows have quite the condo built at the top of the Holly Tree. At the foot of the holly you can see Pink Phlox, Black eyed Susans and a Snowball bush blooming. For August things are looking pretty good here. We have has some rain. Still behind a little in totals for the month but really, I am not complaining because the temps have been mild for August and there has been enough rain I don't have to drag around the hose daily.
For more blooms from around the world you can hop over to Carol's May Dreams Blog many more gardens to peruse. Carol started this meme years ago to keep track of blooms in her garden. We all like to join her now. See you there...
My Bloom List:
Gallardia 'Oranges & Lemons'
Chalk Fingers Senecio Talinodes Mandris 'Blue'
Jackmanni
Ramona
Autumn Clematis
Pink and white Phlox
Black-eyed Susan
Joe Pie Weed
Butterfly bush
Butterfly Weed
Russian Sage
Purple coneflower
Sea Oats
Snowball bush
NikkoBlue hydrangea
Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea
Lime Light Hydrangea
Elegant Hydrangea
Coreopsis
Lucifer Crocosmia
Perscaria 'Dragon Tongue'
Lirope
Carpet Rose
Cigmifuga
Purple Palace and Carmel Heuchera
Crepe Myrtle
Hostas...
Annuals:
Cleome
Black and Blue Salvia
Cardinal Vine
A garden would be truly lifeless without beneficials and other visitors. Glad you caught up to Bloom Day.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean, I just love the beneficials :).
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for including all the wildlife visitors in your bloom photos. Everything was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreat Swallowtail photos, I can't seem to get close to butterflies this year. I love the Milkweed Tussock moth caterpillar photo, I was just looking at them this week since I have so many bristly caterpillers living in my yard, and their beautiful but hard to see moths. I like the bees in the photos too.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of all the insects in your garden, Lisa! I especially love the two swallowtails on your butterfly bush. I don't have any sunflowers, but the finches are certainly enjoying all the coneflowers here. I want to cut some of them down before they go to seed, but it's hard to do when I see the birds enjoying them so much. It's been a great summer, hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteLisa, so lovely to see so many insects in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThe butterflies and bees are doing well.....and I love your Goldfinch, ours has a red head !
We have had far less rainfall this summer and temperatures as been high, way above the 'norm'.
Have a good week......so nice when you do not have to drag a hose around the garden :)
Glad to see butterflies like phlox. We have lots of phlox at the house we just moved to. We are keen on the birds and the bugs among the flowers. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the butterfly and goldfinch pictures!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collection of plants in bloom. It's especially nice to see the birds and insects enjoying the plants.
ReplyDeleteI love most specially that yellow bird on a flower! I've been chasing butterflies to photograph also in the past, but these days even if they are around i can't follow them anymore, as i am tending my hoyas. A weekend is not enough for both hoyas and butterflies.
ReplyDeleteLisa girl those butterfly shots are absolutely beautiful !!
ReplyDeleteYou have way more than we do here but having said that we have had more this year than last, so that is an improvement.
Lots of delicious flowers for them to enjoy and we love the Goldfinches too!
Joy
What a great idea that meme. Your photos are lovely and so many plants in bloom. Do you find your persicaria a problem I wonder? I have always loved the Dragon Tongue but not sure it is hardy here. My variegated one 'just makes it' every year but only just. Zone 6 here.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to see the American Goldfinch in their summer raiment. We only see them here at the end of winter when they are a dull yellow. I don't know what I'd do without phlox. It attracts more pollinators than many of my other plants. ~~Dee
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