Month: June 2020
First Monarch Caterpillars
I don’t know how I have missed them until tonight. They are quite large.
Monarch Cat 1
Monarch Cat 2
Monarch Cat 3 2020 June 13
Monarch Cat 3
Monarch Cat 4 2020 June 13
Monarch Cat 4
Last of Eight Monarch Cats 2020 June 19
Recent Monarch Visitor 2020 June 17
Monarch Visiting Garden, May 14, 2020
Thistle with Web
Hydrangea quercifolia
My Hydrangea quercifolia, commonly known as Oakleaf Hydrangea started as a wee plant. My original plant is located at the corner of the deck. Some in shade, some in full sun.
I took starts from it and have plants growing in three other niches.


Scarlet Runner Bean Flower with Salvia Flower
Salvia and Scarlet Runner Bean Flower
The scarlet bean plants are volunteers. They are from beans that I grew last session. Last year some neighborhood kids sold us seeds for 25 cents each. The kids went into detail about how easy the beans were to grow, red color of the flowers (scarlet), and how to prepare the beans.
The bean flower has already been partially eaten by a spotted cucumber beetle. They are those pretty little insects that look a bit like elongated green lady bugs.
I have chosen not to use systemic in most of my garden spaces because I want my gardens to be an inviting environment for butterflies and hummingbirds.