From the Garden

Even though the big show of May is over, my garden is looking great. The rains have been regular and temperatures not too hot! Here are a few photographs taken in the last couple of days.

Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'

Nicotiana alata

Small steps in one of the miniature gardens, surrounded my corsican mint

A spring peeper, camouflaged to match the wall. 

The Abbott's Sphinx moth feeds on grape vine in its larval stage. The pattern is said to mimic grapes. Found this today at Oak Hill.

I took this photograph 3 days ago, it's the male guinea that watches over Moxie (our crippled guinea), my husband named him Ted. Moxie died yesterday, for no apparent reason, we've noticed that she's been a little less active and breathing heavy. Ted will have to move back into the guinea tribe, up until today his only job was watching over Moxie, his favorite lady. She was  3 years old, which is pretty good for a guinea, especially one with so many handicaps. 

There's a patch of Asclepias syriaca or common milkweed on the farm and not only is it highly fragrant but the Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies love it. Next will be the monarchs!

 

Comments

[Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens]

I love common milkweed and feel gardeners take it for granted. It does run but is perfect for a meadow-like setting. And as you say, the fragrance is amazing, it attracts butterflies, it's native, and the flowers are gorgeous. I dug some up from the roadside to get it into my garden and haven't regretted it.

[Karen]

Nurseries rarely carry the common milkweed, but we do get requests at the big nursery I work at. Hooray that people are thinking about the monarchs! If enough people ask, growers will grow it and retailers will sell it.

[Naomi Hoffman]

Your photos are just a delight, Karen. Beautiful. So sorry to hear about Moxie. I've never seen a spring peeper before. Also, next time I go near a grape vine I will keep an eye out for that Sphinx moth..wouldn't want to munch on him (or her) by mistake! That thing is huge!