August

July was hot, ridiculously hot and dry! It was good that all events are shut down, I was home to water, every stinkin day. This last rain was gentle and delivered half of an inch, the garden soaked it in as did the frogs. 

My night garden is thriving, this year I planted 12 moonvines instead of just 1. All are poised to erupt. The thousand or so tadpoles are tiny frogs now. They are scattered throughout and I'm hoping they are eating aphids. The nicotiana, particularly N. sylvestris, is a magnet for aphids and this year they are clean, so I'm sure the frog babies are doing their job. 

The other aphid eater is probably this baby Carolina mantid, so small when compared to the Chinese mantid.

The difference can be seen in the speckles or camouflage of their skin (the Chinese mantid is a solid green or brown), and at least half their size.

I am growing a lot of Zinnia 'Queen Red Lime' and 'Queen Lime with Blush' which produce flowers that are works of art. The pink centers and variable pink or green on the petals is mesmerizing. 

Not only do I have the water containers with tadpoles that are graduating to adulthood, but I also have a water bowl that I call the bachelor pad. Every year I put water lettuce in because it's a shady spot and each year 1 frog moves in and lives the bachelor life. All manner of wildlife come to drink from that bowl and Mr. Bachelor has to hide to avoid becoming a snack for either the baby cooper hawks (yes we have 3 young ones again), or my guinea. Some days the water lettuce is askew and I can only imagine that someone was hunting my buddy. For 2 days he was MIA, but low and behold, today he is back. 

Just about every day he rides a water lettuce plant and I put the hose in his bowl so that the plants go round and round, much like a slow teacup ride at a carnival. I think he has come to expect this daily event and I know that I would miss him if he disappeared. 

Otherwise the tomatoes are ripening and many have been eaten. There will be another tomato log for this year as I have numerous numbered hybrids that look good. 

So despite the summer heat and July's lack of rain, it's wonderful to garden. I squealed when I found so many monarch caterpillars and all seemed fine when I discovered Mr. Bachelor was back, there is always entertainment, enough to keep the mind and body occupied.

 

Comments

[Nancy Aufmuth]

The zinnias are beautiful. (Nancy Riordan Aufmuth)

[karen Rexrode]

I'm usually not a pink fan, but the mix with green in the petals is pretty darn nice.

[Judy Zatsick]

Do you think the same frog comes back each year?I too had one this year in my container and I would watch him from my living room with binoculars. He would leave the container to hunt but always come back and after a few months he was gone. I was so upset. I wasn't sure if he went in search of a lady or got eaten. I sure hope he comes back next year!

[Pam Mcgroarty]

Those zinnias are fantastic. I’m gonna try some as they are one of the few flows that thrive here in New Mexico

[karen Rexrode]

Judy, I'm guessing that it is the same one that returns. What I wonder is why there are never eggs and tadpoles in that water bowl? Too glazed inside?

[Scott]

I'm thinking you made those flowers in the studio.

[karen Rexrode]

Ha, Ha. Now that would be a good day in the studio.