Bee in the trumpet

Last night my potted brugmansia (aka angel's trumpet) bloomed for the first time in months; the scent when it first opens is amazing, but this fuzzy visitor doesn't seem to mind the morning-after pollen.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: August 2011

Not much color in the garden these days, except for green and brown; but since it's the last Bloom Day before I move, I thought I'd share a few images. From the top: rock rose, chaste tree (this has been a dependable source of nectar all summer for the bees), the front garden (the chaste tree is on the right, mountain laurel thriving on the left), basil flowers, and oregano blooms (really, these are flowers, though they look more like foliage). I know it's still a month or two away, but I'm looking forward to the end of the blazing heat. Sigh.

To see what's blooming in less fried gardens around the world, visit May Dreams Gardens where Carol hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

A welcome visitor

First caterpillar (Queen) I've seen in a long time on the milkweed. And a few aphids keeping him company.

More summer blooms and a near miss

From the top: Tropicana canna, thryallis 'rain of gold', a small but happy rock rose, geraniums enjoying a new part shade spot under the bird feeder, and pride of barbados looking very hot in the midday sun.

Not sure what happened here, but these look suspiciously like cardinal feathers. Can't imagine what a cardinal would be doing that close to my back door, but I hope he or she is okay....

High summer

Rock rose

Mountain laurel seeds

Tropicana canna

Zinnia seedlings

Russian sage

Standing cypress

The last of the water at Walnut Creek on this morning's walk

A morning of purple and pollinators

I tend to think of hot colored blooms in mid-summer (flame acanthus, firespike, tithonia's velvety orange, pride of barbados), but when I looked out this morning, my front garden was dominated by cool purple flowers. Most striking of all is the sage bush (did we have a drop in barometric pressure last night? they're in full bloom all over town).

Below: a bee in the sage; another bee mid-flight choosing between sage and chaste tree blooms, another favorite with pollinators; and a moth on the wild Mexican petunias.



Eggplant flower; russian sage; and blackie sweet potato vine.



Close-up of chaste tree flowers; more sage bush; and wildflowers (ironweed?) on this morning's walk at Walnut Creek.

Foliage Follow-up: June 2011

So, I've been wanting to do a foliage follow-up post (hosted by Pam at Digging) for months now, and I've finally gotten around to it.









From the top: Tropicana canna, paddle kalanchoe, virginia creeper, lemongrass, coleus, pride of barbados, feathergrass with a knot in its "hair", blackie sweet potato, new hanging basket (I think it's creeping jenny).