I'm On My Way...

I received my American Red Cross 5-gallon pin.

Here's to many more...

False Shamrock or Wood Sorrels

Our Oxalis is doing fantastic this summer.  It's definitely liking and enjoying the high heat and humidity we've been having.

Three different varieties and all flowering away.  We've had these for many many years, always bring them inside for the winter then back outside for the warmer spring, summer and even fall months. 

The Insect Magnet -Butterfly Bush

It's that time of the year and the butterfly bushes are in full bloom!

They're loaded with all sorts of insect from crawling to flying and from ants to bees and butterflies.

Here is a very small sampling -

Female Monarch butterfly -

Female Black Swallowtail butterfly -

Bumble bee -

Honey bee -

This has been a very good year for visiting butterflies. Oodles and oodles of Black Swallowtails, Yellow Swallowtails and happily Monarchs!!

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above picture?

We've lived here for 19+ years and these critters have been a rare sight.  I've seen one or two, here and there over the years but it's been rare.  However, these dudes were a regular site at my folks home.  I bet if I went over there now I've be able to find two or three no problems.

A Pasel of Opossum, Perhaps?!

Recently we've had a whole lot of digging taking place in and around the tomato garden.  Deep holes too.  I'm guessing there are grubs present and these dudes, as well as the skunks, are digging for them.  As much as I appreciate them help rid my gardens, and even lawn, of these nasty, destructive insects, they're making too much of a mess, so...

I set two hav-a-heart traps the other night, both baited with a fresh grown peach, and come morning both traps had young'ns in them.  Newbie opossums -

Trap #1 -

Trap #2 -

I've had great success this spring and summer catching vermin in our yard.  Yet, surprisingly, they keep a coming.

Apple Deer?!

A pair of young deer; sister and brother (farther away) enjoying the neighbors apples that are ripening and falling - easy picking.  The boy had tiny antlers already poking out too.

I enjoying watching them...when in other yards, not ours!

Isn't She Lovely - Argiope Aurantia

Take a gander at this beauty!

A black-and-yellow Argiope (Orb) spider!

This lovely lady built her web in one of our flower beds and from what I can tell had great success snaring her meals.  I would help and toss cabbage moths or grasshoppers into her web, which she would eagerly wrap up in a ball of silk and begin dining.

Unfortunately, she disappeared several days ago.  I don't know what critter would have bothered or eaten her but I question her web location, as it was only a foot or so above the ground.  We're have skunks and opossums foraging and digging in the tomato garden and surrounding area during the night.  Perhaps, one of these critters found and ate her.

Too bad, I was hoping she'd mate so we'd have more Orb next year but sadly it wasn't meant to be... 

Mud Pies Anyone

With having our walkway redone, which was long overdue, I understood the area was going to look and feel just like a construction site, and as you can see in the picture below it sure does - my lawn, my poor poor lawn, AHHHH!  In reality, I really really had no idea what was coming and how bad it was going to be.  I've been tweaking since the work began.  I've tried incense, yoga, meditation, even edibles.  My doctor won't take my calls anymore, alas.  Hoping once things wrap up and new sod is laid the twitching and sobbing will stop...

What's Up Doc!

We have like a gazillion carrots ready for picking!!

Jack 2.0 sure does enjoy himself fresh carrots, as there's plenty for sharing, and the leafy green tops.

New Full Sun Perennials!

Stopped in at Medway Gardens the other day and picked up several new full sun perennials with a gift card I had received for my birthday back in May.  It was burning a hole in my wallet.

The bees love this plant.  The flowers were covered with all kinds shortly after bring home and still the same today.

The original home owners had a Liatra planted by the pool.  It did well for a couple years then died off.  We're tried once or twice to replant but haven't had much luck.  One more try, this time in a different location.

We've never had this plant in our yard.  However, we have several Butterfly Bushes around the yard and boy-o-boy do they attract all kinds of insects.  Thought this would be another good plant to offer up for they're enjoyment.  Really would love this plant to bring in and attract Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.  If I'm mistaken my brother in Miami had one of these plants and it was covered with Monarch caterpillars - hoping for the same.

Now just need to determine locations for each...

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above picture?

You have to look close.  She's in there and blends in nicely.

Oh What A Relief It Is!

We finally bit the bullet and hired a contractor to replace our front stairs, walkway and driveway retaining wall.  In the process, and since the contractor had heavy equipment on site, we took advantage and had them pull out and remove most of the original shrubs adorning the front of the house.  This work was done on a Friday.

The contractor was to cart off and remove all the brush.  However, their dump truck was full of concrete from the walkway and stairs, so there was no room. They would remove it all come the first of the coming week.  They chose to pile all the this debris on the front lawn and on a spot that was nice and green.  Well, those that know me and my analness, this wasn't sitting well.  The grass would be damaged having all this debris sitting on it for days.

Thanks to my neighbor, his trailer, his muscle and his recycling center pass we took care of it!  We loaded and piled it all on his trailer, tied it down and made the slow 4+ mile trek to the center and dropped it off.

AH, what a relief it is!!!

Toad or Turd?!

Well good morning my little friend!  I'm happy to see you out and about.  I'm pretty sure I pulled you from the pool skimmer not too long ago, and if I remember correctly it was in a nick of time too.  It's a good thing I was paying attention, otherwise I might have stepped right on you and that wouldn't have been fun or pretty /

Actually, up close the dude blends in pretty well with the concrete walkway -

Unlike these Trixie-dog turd nuggets, that she strategically placed at the foot of the deck stairs, UGH!!  I think I'd rather step on the toad... 

Darn dog!

Second, Late Season Planting

Zucchini and Summer squash has come to a seasons end.  I pulled the plants and chopped up nice and fine for the compost, turned the soil they were in and planted two rows; about 50 seeds, of Burpee Bush Blue Lake 274 bush beans.

There should be plenty of time to get a good batch or two before the cold weather sets in - 58 days to harvest.  Time will tell.