We have seen this caterpillar on the parsley for the past few days.  Watching the caterpillar grow and the parsley get eaten.  That's OK.  

 

We love seeing Black Swallowtail butterflies.  They are so pretty.  Even the caterpillars are pretty.

 

The Black Swallowtails use parsley for their host plants.  They lay their eggs on the plants they want the caterpillars to eat when they hatch.  They love parsley, and they also like dill, fennel, Queen Anne's Lace, and lovage.  So we make sure to have lots for them to eat.  Don't mind sharing when we have lots.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Look who bloomed at our house...in the middle of the night.  Our Night-blooming Cereus.  

 

A couple weeks ago I noticed 4 tiny flower buds.  Over the next week two of them fell off, but the other two got bigger and bigger.  When the buds started turning up, we brought the whole thing inside.  And checked on it for the next couple nights.

 

On Wednesday at 9:30 pm the buds started to open up.  They were completely open at 10:15 pm, and making the whole basement smell wonderful.  That's when I took a bunch of pictures, and admired the blooms for about an hour.  

 

The flowers were still open and fragrant at 3:30 am, according to Jon and Gizmo.  

 

We love this plant, for these special summer nights.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Can you imagine anything as beautiful as this being called a "weed?"  Me too.  Some people call it Queen of the Meadow.

 

We always love seeing Joe Pye "weed" blooming all over town,  all along the side of the road.  We haven't seen any in the neighborhood lately, but they are all along the road to Murphy and Blairsville.  

 

Joe Pye weed is tall:  about 6-8 feet, and when it blooms, this beautiful pink crown tops the plants.  I hope you notice them in your travels.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

On my way into the garden this morning I saw this sweet morning glory.  

 

What a happy way to start the day.

 

HAPPY  GARDENING!!!

 

I am always surprised when the Black Gum Trees start showing their autumn color in August.  Seems too early, but these trees do this every year.  In August.

 

When you are out and about, try to notice the beginning of fall color.  The Black Gums are turning red, the Dogwoods are turning a bit pink and purple, and of course, the Sumacs have a few red leaflets.  

 

Maybe the heat of summer is behind us, and we can start thinking about fall.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Tom sent me this picture on Saturday.  He took this awesome picture of mushrooms near the gate.  Around the big tree there.

 

He told me that he recognized them because of the blog I wrote last week of the Jack-o-Lantern mushrooms at Meeks Park.  And he remembered that they are POISONOUS.  Good job, Tom.  

 

I like to think that I am a good teacher, but if students don't learn anything, then what's a good teacher?   Apparently Tom and I have a good working relationship, and for that I am eternally grateful.  I teach, he learns.  Thanks, Tom.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

Sister Linda's birthday.  Sharing my favorite flowers.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

 

On our walk yesterday, we saw this Luna Moth hanging on a thread of grass.  I had to lift up the grass a bit to get a good picture.

 

I'd say the Luna moth was about 5 inches across at the top of the wings.  They are so pretty.  

 

It feels very special to get to see one.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

I have done really well with the Basil this year.  I have kept it pinched, and not allowed it to go to seed, yet.

 

There are about 10 plants in the garden, and I pinch them every three or four days.  And this has kept the bushes really bushy.  

 

I have finally learned that in order to get the basil to the kitchen, I have to take a quart sized container full of water with me into the garden.  I cut the basil and immediately put the stems in water.  Otherwise they wilt before I can walk back to the potting bench.  This way I take the container into the kitchen, and shift the basil into a pretty vase on the counter.  

 

We get to have basil on everything for three or four days, then I do it all over again.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We have four pear trees, and this is what's left of the pears:  two!!!

 

They have never really produced many pears, but this year we had five.  Three were so low that the deer knocked them off.  But these two are up high enough that they couldn't bump them.  

 

So, I guess I'm going to get two pears this year.  :)

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!