What do you get when you put a gardener & a camera toget I wander through the front garden every morning. It seems pretty bland after the flush of Spring blooms are gone. I have been making a list of plants for next year that includes more early to late Summer bloomers to keep it all looking bright. I love the look of the Crimson Pirate Lilies and the orange Butterfly Milkweed together. I want to get more of each out there for next year. ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) The white Lily was a surprise, I thought all the Lilies had bloomed but I guess the bud was hidden under some of the Pineapple Sage. There is a little bit of yellow on the lower left petal, wonder why? ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) I have had a few short sunflowers blooming, they have come up where the seeds fell from the suet blocks during the winter and spring. Planted by hungry birds ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) Jack seems to be happy to see Sunny ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) The Ironweed is beginning to bloom and man is it tall this year. ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) Ever seen a Hosta bloom up close and personal? My three Alba Marginata have been in bloom for quite a while and I was finally able to get a good closeup of one flower. Hosta bloom ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) I certainly will be planting more Fennel next year, I love the bright yellow blooms and there are 5 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on this one. Fennel, more to be planted next year ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) I was really tickled that this shot came out so well. ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
Nice hosta flower. The yellow on the lily petal is the bee landing zone(LZ). Ladened with pollen from previously visited flowers the LZ gets coated with excess pollen. (Do you think she believed that?) Jerry
Looking good Toni! My plan for first thing in the morning is to take some photos before the heat kills everything. Only a couple of my fennels did well this year. I guess the one in the front just gets too much sun. And that's a great shot of the caterpillar!
Thanks Deanna, thankfully the camera is better at it's job than I am. I have hinted for a new one for christmas Jerry, you really did almost have me on that explanation then I reminded myself of just who it was that had written that. Nice theory though. That Hosta flower is 2-3 inches long, I didn't expect one that size. Cheryl, my Fennel is in the west facing front yard and gets full sun for 6+ hours. They are a cool weather plant and I really didn't expect it to last this long. Like last year it will die back and hopefully this fall it will spring to life again. That Fennel bulb is getting huge!! Those caterpillars are the only reason I grow Fennel, I have tried for 3-4 seasons to get a shot like that one. I am thinking of printing and framing it. Thanks Netty. Let's see, you are off work today on holiday....time to get the camera out. Thanks Jewell. Sometimes I have to look really hard to find anything to photograph at this time of the year with the heat and no rain settling in on us. You're welcome koszta kid, we will wait patiently or maybe not so patiently for you to get outside with the camera and show us around your garden.
