Flowers

Here are some of the other flowers we have right now:

Petunias and geraniums that I planted in my garden along with merigolds. We found a Wikipedia page that gives plants that naturally keep gardens healthy:
Marigolds Deter: nematodes, beet leaf hoppers, other pests
Petunias Deter: leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, aphids, asparagus beetle
Geraniums Deter: leafhoppers, Japanese beetles

Osteospermum hybrids (orange, yellow, and white) and Calibrachoa 'MiniFamous Dark Blue'

Petunias that were given to us as a hostess gift

Weigela shrub? We've got 2 of these

Carl, the lemon tree, keeps blooming. It smells so good!

While not blooming yet, this Wisteria vine is growing about 6" every day or two. Next year it should be covered in flowers!

This Thumbergia was a $2 rescue. Planted in front (until the vine takes over) are Ageratum hybrid "Artist Blue." They did not fair too well in the last heat wave.

My cucumbers are flowering like crazy! They must love this hot weather.

My heirloom tomatoes are finally blooming and are actually being pollinated!! I've had countless blooms fall off with no fruit.

Our green pepper plant has 3 peppers and is getting ready to bloom again.

Sugar snap pea flowers are so pretty. The pea pods grow so fast!

And this is just the Backyard!

Operation BUZZ - Update

After my last Operation BUZZ post I decided to get busy (like a bee)!!

That weekend Drew and I cleaned out the stupid rocks from the north side of our "out building" otherwise known as our garden shed. We scored a buy 2 perennials get 1 free deal at the local nursery and planted 6 semi-native plants.

From left to right: Joe-Pye Weed, Bee Balm, Salvia (I think), Bee Balm, Golden Alexander, and Catmint.

Almost immediately the little bee-like Hoverflies (Drone Flies) found the flowers!!

This Hoverfly is on a Lemon flower.

Then after about a week I saw a Monarch hanging out near by!! And finally yesterday when I let Memphis out in the morning to do his business, I saw a BUMBLE BEE, pollen pouches full and all!!!!!! Again this morning my single little bumble bee was there again. She has proven to be very camera shy and high-tails it as soon as I pull the camera out. I'll just have to try again tomorrow morning. Here is hoping that she will tell her family and we'll bee swarming in bumble bees!!

The golden Alexander was in bloom when we planted, but has since finished. The 2 bee balms were just starting and are still producing. The Salvia finished blooming right after we planted, and the Catmint is going strong. The Joe-Pye weed is due to bloom in August and the flower heads are getting bigger every week! I also have 8 butterfly started. When they get big enough to survive the rain coming off the roof of the shed, we will pull up the horrid hostas and put them flanking the door of the shed.

Pictures

Cicada Close up

It's always fun to wake up to a cicada on your succulent plant!

Common Green Darners - in tandem

Canada Darner chilling on our light

Canada Darner close up!

An immature Widow Skimmer let me get REALLY close. He was hanging out on my garden trellis

This male twelve-spotted skimmer likes to perch on our lines going to our house. The female usually perches lower on the garden trellis or a pot.

July 4... Como Zoo

On the 4th of July we went to the Como Zoo with Drew's sister's family. Ty, Drew's nephew, is going to be 2 in August and it was his first time to the zoo.

Ty thought the flamingos and ducks were the greatest!

One of my favorite parts of the Como Zoo is the Conservatory. We missed the bloom of the Corpse Flower by only a day or two. It was still pretty cool to see the closed flower.

Drew and I in the sunken garden.

I <3 water lillies & dragonflies. Here are some other photos that Drew took: