Heart like a Leaf

Special message to my bright and shiny one written on a heart like a leaf. XOXO

Painted Lady and Perfume

My oregano is blooming. I need to quickly cut some stems for drying before they all set blooms. This Painted Lady Butterfly is enjoying the nectar and maybe the heady fragrance. The underside of the wings have a great pattern.

Plant Sitting

I'm plant sitting for a friend who didn't have time to get some things in the ground before vacation time. Well, it's been easy. We just set them in the vegie garden so the watering is automatic. Here is one that's bloomed (Echinacea) and it's so pretty that I am going to have to add it to my garden next year.

Garden Lilies

Pretty pink lilies in the garden. Large blooms and nearly five foot tall stems give us a pop of cool color.

Blue Skies with Sunflower

I love sunflowers in the garden. This one is reaching way up into the blue.

Gold Dust Frog

This sleepy tree frog resting in a yellow daylily is dusted with gold pollen. Hmmm, wonder if that pollen makes those pretty gold spots on the frogs I see. A tighter view of the frog shows the pollen all over the frog's mouth.

Black eyed Susans

One plant last year gave us several plants this year. Saving seeds is an easy way to keep what you like. We save vegetable, flower and herb seeds.

Dragonflies

Dragonflies are everywhere. I think they have consumed all of the biting May flies. Sit outside and they will light on you, perhaps considering the adage "How do eat an elephant? One bite at a time!"

Lilies and Gardenias

My orange and yellow lilies are just opening. I think it's early, I remember late June as the time for these lilies. The garden is full of dragonflies (perhaps due to the May flies that were right on time!) The temperature is unusually hot. A cold front may allow us to open windows tomorrow (please! we are still painting!) The gardenias are blooming and they are fantastic for cutting and bringing inside. It just takes a few, the fragrance is so strong.

Bee on Lavender

Bumblebees are all over my lavender plant. The lavender plant has overtaken my sage so I need to replant/seed the sage in another spot. I've been busy spring cleaning and painting ... well, I'm cleaning ahead of the painting. It's a refresh of the home which is just what lavender gives us,a clean and somewhat soapy refreshing smell!

Squash Blooms

The squash plants are sure looking good this year. We are looking forward to fresh yellow crooknecks and green zucchinis. If you have a Joy of Cooking book handy, the recipe for zucchini casserole is delicious. I double the sauce to make it extra good.