The Garden Tour

Please, come walk along with me as I check out the gardens and the flowers.  It's getting late so some of the moths are hovering about.  Look, a Hummingbird Moth, so named for the way it flits quickly from one blossom to another, in search of a sip of nectar.If you click on any of the photos, a closer look at their delicate wings will be seen, as well as their tongue.

One of my favorite flowers in the gardens are the dancing purple skirts of the Harebell.  How such a pretty flower deserved such a silly name,  is beyond me.  Though it is not, I grew up calling this  stem of lavender Blue Bellflowers.  I was close, for they are of the same family., relatives of sorts...

For those of you who know about our test potato 1/2 acre, these are the blossoms of the Red Norland variety, most common of the three we are growing.

The next in line is the Viking Purple, which only has a deep purple skin, with snow white flesh.  I'll be curious to see how good these taste.  They do have a pretty pale pink blossom.,  We will see if they survive well in this Green Bay Packer country...Of all the spuds in our field, I am looking most forward to the German Butterball.  We have been told that the flavor is beyond buttery and keeps better than the Yukon Gold that we had been raising.  I sure wish they were ready for eating....oh, Bill has some of these at the cabin,...I taste an early meal of new potatoes fresh out of the soft-turned soil.

Their blossoms are white also, with the darkest  green leaves.

Yellow Hollyhocks are growing way beyond tall this year, and that's without much rain.  I love these, too.        The Beebalm smells so good.  I guess the moth thinks so too...I don't think the Beebalm will survive the ferns that are pushing them to the side.

The early cabbage is nearly ready for kraut.  Only if it would rain, they would burst with ' crispness.'  The late cabbages, however, will be quite late, should the rains refuse to shower us soon.

I was so surprised to look out the window yesterday and see this shining beauty yelling, "Look at me!"  Wow, she's a beauty, tho her color is more the color of this deep burgundy I write with.

The bees have been busy, busy, busy, collecting pollen and flying from one flower to yet, another.  Just look at all the pollen on his legs and body.  He throws it all over.  Have you ever watched them...they are amazing.  Another of God's miracles, the life of a bee and his business.

Ok, help me out, is this next one a Verbena?  Geeez, my mind is a blank....it's coral and so pretty against the varigated Spider Plant.

Next to the deck are the flowers the hummingbirds, moths, butterflies and spiders are loving.  Remember how I said the Beebalm was so highly scented, well, it's one flower the deer refuse to feast on...and the purple Monkshood is poisonous, so they leave that one alone too.   Enuf Said Bout That!

There's more of my favorite little skirts of the Harebell doing a curtsy just for you.  They have little scent but are prolific growers, seeding themselves wherever the wind may carry them.
We even found some in the middle of the woods...so did the birds plant those?  The deer don't eat these either.

Any guess?  So what is this bud unfurling...it's a Hollyhock., another Cottage Garden favorite, looking so old-fashioned and lovely.  I see why my Grandmothers and Mom grow them.

Finally, a picture of the ' true ' colors of the Violas on my deck.  There is a little peek of the smiling faces of the Johnny-Jump-Ups at the bottom edge of the planter...sweet!

Another pale yellow, almost white, Hollyhock.

And a small patch of the last of the ' Sweet Williams.'

Shucks, the vegetable gardens are beginning to burst too.  Here's a few celery wrapped in plastic pop bottles to keep their stalks clean.  Behind are a few onion rows, spinach, swiss chard, carrots, cucumbers and zuchinni in the largest leaves to the back and Patty Pan summer squash.  I'm happy.  Just planted more beets and radishes that were up in 2 days with this heat.

I don't know about you , but I'm getting tired of this walk around the yard.  I promise, we are almost outa here.  The test potato strip is doing great, bugs under control and hay has been baled.

The bees still are at it, even at this late hour.  It's after 9 already.
I hope they save some Buttercup Squash for me...I love that stuff.

And, what's with all of these early fall blooms.  Do these plants know something we don't?  The Raspberry Semps are WOW!

I'm really having a hard time believing the New York Asters are blooming already....come on.  Summer has just begun!

 This looks like my last White Rosebud...really?  I should be seeing these for at least another month...I'm getting sad.

 Even the Black-Eyed Susans are opening so early.

 A tiny kiss of rain fell this afternoon, only enough for a droplet on the golden baby violet with it's nose out from under the steps.

 The poppies by the apple trees came and went so quickly, I nearly missed them.  I wonder, will the birds transplant some for me, please?

 And finally, now that the sun no longer shines, the birds are at rest in their nests, the air is heavy with the scent of the Phlox of many colors.  There is still a hum in near darkness.  The hummm of the Hummingbird Moths.  The above photo shows two of them. Can you tell the female from the male?  They are a wonder to watch.  So fast, so serious about their work.  Buzz on, Hummers.

You would think I loved my outdoor space.  I do, but most of all, I love that you stuck with me for the garden tour.  It got long, but wait, can you smell the sweetness of the night air.  Now I can sleep and Yes, I danced tonight.

Thanks for tagging along.  We will finish another day, for there is still so much to see....that is, if you want. 

BlessYourPatientHeart