Egyptian Walking Onion Babies

These went into the ground last weekend. I am so thankful that one of my 6th grade teachers (Weiser's Park Elementary School) so graciously sent me these Egyptian walking onion babies. We are looking forward to their showy displays.

Red Glad

The glads are in full bloom. I usually enjoy them while leaving them in the garden, but this one tipped over, so it came inside.

Clematis After the Bloom

What's left after the purple petals fall to the ground.

One Watermelon

Which is better than "none" watermelon. I think if the season lasts long enough, there could be two.

Red and Orange Glad

A nice surprise from a bargain variety bag of bulbs.

Hot Pink Zinnia

Isn't it delicious? Next year, I'm planting zinnias everywhere. They've become my gardening superstars.

Rufous Hummingbird

This hummingbird is probably just passing through on its migration. It spent yesterday evening defending the backyard hummingbird feeder. It might be a female, or an immature male.

Black-Eyed Susans

Highly-recommended perennial. Leave the seed heads up all winter for goldfinches and pine siskins.

Blue Isn't an Easy Color

My Nikko blue hydrangea, which spent its first few years flowering pink. The soil was too alkaline, and it took three years to get the acidity high enough for blue blooms.

Pine White Butterfly

These butterflies lay their eggs in pine trees, and the caterpillars eat the needles.

Clever and Naughty

Pretty sure this is the same squirrel that was chewing on the rooster at the top of the pole holding this sunflower feeder. Pretty tricky.

Butterfly Looks Like a Leaf

I don't know the identification for this one, some type of wood nymph, I'd guess? Let me know. See it with wings open below....

Love Lies Bleeding

Otherwise known as amaranthus. Dramatic decorative and an edible.

Bee on Butterfly Bush

Look at the pollen this guy is packing.

Blue Morning Glory

Once you plant them, you'll have them forever. I tried to weed them out of this garden bed so the peas could have plenty of room...but I missed this one. It's pretty.

Over the Top

First tomato plant to reach the top of a cage.

Little Troublemaker

This fella spent quite a bit of time yesterday gnawing on this rooster silhouette. Tough teeth. He left marks.

Baby Acorn Squash

Happy to see this little guy after doing battle every night with squash bugs. The white powder around the plant is diatomaceous earth. The supposed deadly organic option. It's only kinda working.

Little Sunflower

Could it Be? A tomato? Finally?

Mark the calendar. First date of harvest for 2011: August 3. Fingers crossed we have a growing season well into September this year since it got started so late.

End of Story for Sunflowers

Big wind storm over the weekend, so bye-bye sunflowers. I had several volunteer sunflowers in this flower bed, with one reaching amazing heights. Aviana measured it at 11 feet. Below is a picture of it last week.