Swallow Tail Butterfly Intoxicated by Phlox Nectar
It’s not hard to find blooms in the garden in August. The hardest part is choosing which to photograph and finding a time to take photos when the light isn’t glaring or the hot, easterly winds aren’t blowing.
This morning, before the sun began blasting out all the colors and while the air was still, I captured a few shots among the many glorious blossoms including, finally, capturing a photo of one my favorite sights in summer – Swallow Tail Butterflies. They are absolutely in love with my the fragrant, white garden Phlox all over my garden. This plant can become invasive — seeding and spreading underground. But, I am in love with its fragrance — as well as the butterflies that pollinate it!
d Hummer (top left) Buzzed Me on the Way to Scarlet Runner Beans (Right)
Aroma-rific Clerodendrum: Jasmine-like Flowers; Peanut Butter-like Foliage
White Anemone Just Opening; these will bloom into Fall
Summer Squash Blossoms Lure in the Bees
Rattlesnake Pole Beans Climbing Repurposed Bamboo Cuttings
Goji Berries Finally Blooming - Will We Get Fruit?!
Tomorrow I’m coaching a client on putting new plants into her garden. Rather than spend hours and hours shopping with me, she decided to have me buy the plants for her and bring them to our session. This is a great service for her, and its loads of fun for me. As a plant geek, I adore a chance to visit the nurseries and hand-select the best plant options to fit each clients needs — from budget to privacy to anything else.
One is an Azara microphylla, which is a broadleaf evergreen with tiny, shiny dark green leaves. It grows fairly vertically, becoming wider with age. In the spring it has tiny yellow flower that are very fragrant, especially on warmer days. In the past I just haven’t found ones large enough for my needs. They aren’t super fast grower, so usually my suppliers only have them at about 2-3′ tall, max. My score was a 7′ tall one with beautiful tree-like form. It was a bit beyond the budget of zero I’d planned to spend, but I knew the opportunity to find a nice one at this size wouldn’t be around for long, so I grabbed it up. (See, if you send me to shop for you, you’ll have the benefit of someone who knows a “must-have” buy!)
