I've been wracking my brain to try and come up with something interesting to write about, but all I've got is a slightly related collection of small things, so random bits and pieces it is.
I found a dead garter snake in the lawn when I was mowing, and because it was relatively long and its skin looked pretty in the sunlight, I thought Justin would appreciate the picture I sent him. He replied with the photo below, which I did not like very much.
I worried about rattlesnakes when he was in Texas, but New York state is home to plenty of timber rattlesnakes. There are at least three dens identified by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation on the ranch where he is working, and they are a threatened species so there are laws protecting them. It looks like my worry may continue.
My purple cone flower blooms have really exploded. John was complaining about
my flowers taking over
his garden, until I pointed out that the bevy of bees in my flowers can only be good for all of his nearby vegetable plants.
Snow peas are nearing their end, and I hope to have string beans, cucumbers, and some rain soon.
I saw an adult bird fly away from this house every time I was near the front porch, but never saw or heard any babies ...
until I paid attention to the spider plant hanging next to the bird house. There are three baby birds who haven't fledged yet, so they spend their days standing in the nest waiting for food to be delivered. I do hope they learn to fly soon so I can water the plant and clean up the porch underneath them. Let's just say that spider plant has been well-fertilized.
And that Japanese beetle trap blowing in the background? I have several of them for these detestable insects:
They are out in full force, eating my roses and clematis. These two
were harmed after the taking of this photograph. There is something satisfying about knocking them into a jar of alcohol and watching them suffer a bit. I am still lucky enough to have some beautiful roses that I've gotten to before the beetles.
And they're not eating my hydrangeas, so I'm grateful for that.
I hope your weekend is full of beauty, blossoms, and very few beetles.
Your flower photos today are gorgeous! I love those blue hydrangeas, they remind me of Cape Cod. I have a beetle trap set up in my yard, too. Those little bastards are wreaking havoc on my butterfly bush. Grrrrr.
ReplyDeleteMay the weekend bring rain, new vegetable harvests, and lots of suffering beetles! Great photos!!
ReplyDeleteYour weekend is colorful! Mine is the same but different colors: black rat snake instead of garter, yellow TN coneflowers, and pink hydrangeas. No roses and no peas but yellow squash and too many cucumbers. Lots of herbs (mint in ice tea!)
ReplyDeleteSimilarities are finches in spider plants, and Japanese beetles. Aren't they just about everywhere?
It's so nice to hear about the colors in your world! I've always loved blue hydrangeas because my grandmother grew them, so I'm very happy to have some blooms of my own. And lots of mint for tea on hot summer days!
DeleteYour flowers are so pretty and happy! I'm hoping the few I planted will survive. :-)
ReplyDeletebeautiful! We only have garter snakes thank goodness! I would wilt if we had anything poisonous.. Our garden is not as colorful as yours and so I'm envious. You had lots to say as you searched your brain, you have interesting posts no matter what you talk about!
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are lovely! Growing up in NY State, we were taught to recognize and steer clear of rattlesnakes and copperheads. I don't like snakes and am thankful I've only seen a few garter snakes here in IL. Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh those snakes. I get sick to my stomach just at the pictures...I'm such a wimp - LOL. Wonderful flower pictures Bonny. Love your Coneflowers (which we have had absolutely NO luck with). Fletch says we can pick some green beans any day now - yay!!! And Colin picked two large cukes from his work garden (and a number of hot peppers). "My" doe was in the backyard this a.m. munching on the few apples that have fallen...then she strolled over to some day lilies and started munching on them so I had to scare her away!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And those hydrangeas! They are tough to grow unless you're at the Cape around here. Thanks for the reminder regarding the beetle traps...they'll be attacking our rose bush soon. We have an alcohol tick collector...they've been everywhere!
ReplyDeleteY'know, I think I like random, bits-and-pieces posts best of all! I have some garter snakes in my garden, and they don't bother me a bit. But rattlesnakes? YIKES!!! (Justin's photo is great, by the way.) Your garden is looking wonderful -- except for those awful J. Beetles!!! I HATES the J. Beetles! We used to have a terrible problem with them here, but it's been a bit better since MSU has started testing the release of a few predator insects (top-secret, but promising research apparently). Back when my kids were still at home, I used to pay them by the beetle to knock them into jars of soapy water. It was a very lucrative job for them. . . I would recommend getting rid of your traps -- as they tend to attract EVEN MORE J. beetles to your garden. Good luck -- and enjoy watching them squirm in the alcohol!!! XO
ReplyDeleteYour cone flowers are beautifully stunning, love the other flowers too, seeing baby birds is wonderful, we've not had nest in our garden this year but do have blackbirds nesting in a tree very near our allotment, regularly see Daddy blackbird collecting fruit from our bushes and flying home with it.
ReplyDeleteI think those cone flowers just love that space. I sprinkled a few seeds that my sil saved for me, and they've grown so much they've almost completely crowded out my black-eyed susans. I do love the bees they attract!
DeleteWe have lots of poisonous snakes here, but fortunately none of them live in my yard (that I know about!). A black racer got into the house once, and that was hilarious in retrospect. He was sunning himself on the threshold and fell into the house when I opened the door. I was determined to get him out the door before he could hide somewhere. I kept thinking that I would never be able to sleep in the house if I knew he might be in bed with me when I woke up - YIKES. So I swept him toward the door, and he raced back, and I swept him over and over again until I was successful. Your cone flowers are lovely. I have a yard full of hydrangeas of all colors. I just love how prolific they are all summer. I loved your bits and pieces post.
ReplyDeleteMy little dead garter snake is nothing next to a black racer in your house! What a great story (in retrospect, not at the time) and I admire your determination in sweeping him out! Have you ever considered blogging yourself with great stories like this? I would be a reader!
DeleteI, too, enjoy bits and bobs posts, which are a perfect way to catch up. The blue hydrangeas are a stunning color. Blue flowers (of any variety) are my favorite, maybe because they're rare, even ethereal. You can almost see the anticipation in the eyes of the little birds. They SO want to learn to fly!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful (well, except for snakes and beetles) update. The flowers are beautiful and I think it's really fine that there's a little mess around that spider plant. I'd say it's thriving as a nest! Happy Weekend!!
ReplyDeleteThose hydrangeas are just gorgeous. I could look at them all day long. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you! They are my favorite flower because they remind me of my grandmother who always grew loads of blue hydrangeas and made it look easy.
DeleteOh, the birds! I discovered a nest in a large bush near the front door, but I never saw any birds occupying it.
ReplyDelete