Appreciate the Little Things

 So many sad and frightful events happening across the world right now, earthquakes, fires, floods, terrorist take overs,  it often feels over whelming.  No matter how frustrated I get with the garden it still is always a haven and I'm grateful to have it, but sometimes I need to remind myself how lucky I am.  All the little daily discoveries of hiding toads, giant dragonflies,  hummingbirds hovering in front of me and zipping off in lightening speed.  The call of a Red Tail hawk overhead, a pretty Blue Jay feather in the grass.  A plate of delicious Italian green beans, fresh pesto on warm bread.  The 54 Monarch butterflies released!  The hundreds of bees I see every day on the plants I provided, that is what it is all about.

x5 + 4!

Lilacs before and after, mistake or no?  Definitely have to plant to cover lovely green box.

                                                      japanese beetle eating marigold.  Still here.

Lessons Learned

This has definitely been the most uninspired summer of gardening ever! My dry soil couldn't get any drier, but I definitely learned what plants are the toughest! Hands down, Wild Petunia wins! Well, a caveat, the newly planted Millenium Allium and the Crazy Blue Russian Sage have also done really well. So, I'm trying some more sage, a Russian Sage, and a Spire Sage.  I'm also trying a Super Blue Lavender, a Hidcote Blue Lavender and a Phenomenal Lavender for drought tolerant plants, and I may try a couple of other plants, Darts Gold Ninebark, and some Geum, if I can find them this Fall at the garden center.  I also planted a Lemon Meringue Baptisia in a challenging spot near the Maple tree.

It has been a tough summer of watering, but we really made sure all of our trees were taken care of first, so hopefully they will continue to thrive.

The green beans are still doing well, but I'm not sure we'll see a cucumber.  I also learned that Japanese beetles like pole beans.  They have desiccated my new Cherry Tree, (now under cover) the cone flowers, and the evening primrose.

On the upside I have playful hummers, and I've raised 54 monarch butterflies!  Good Luck flutterflies!

Greenie

cherry under attack,  even the marigolds are getting chewed.

second blooming for butterfly weed!

allium millenium

naughty beetles

hanging in there!

lovely sage

tasty Italian beans

basil, my new crop of choice!