Chocolate Cosmos

My mom told me I HAD to grow these this year. I assumed it would be no big deal. I'd just get a packet of seeds, since cosmos are easy to grow. Wrong. These cosmos aren't available as seed. The plants are sterile and only available through propagation. I did locate two plants. They do smell just like chocolate.

A Volunteer Potato Plant?

I guess I missed a spud during last year's harvest. The blue is tulle that protected the snow peas I'm growing in this bed this year...along with the "volunteer" potato.

Rose Conversations

Orange roses are my favorite for color in the garden, but I've yet to find one with much of a scent.

Unwanted Rose?

It looks like my lovely lavender rose has been taken over by the root stock. Over time, this can happen to grafted roses. I try to buy non-grafted roses, but this one was an unmarked bargain bin plant I found about 8 years ago.

Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas

The strategy of covering the young seedlings with tulle worked to keep the birds at bay. One side of the pea fence is snow peas and the other side is sugar snap peas. I can't remember which is which, but we'll know when the peas set.

New Zinnia Plantings

Zinnia babies just planted. Probably blooms by next month.

Squash Bug Panic

My daughter was upset to find this green bug on the new chocolate cosmos plant this morning. She was afraid it was a young squash bug [shudder]. I don't think it is, but I gave it a solid squish and flick, just to be on the safe side.

Tomato Cages and a Cucumber Ladder

The garden beds are all ready. I have room for 10 tomato plants in the cages. The last photo is a new structure - made from old pieces of metal, spray-painted pink. I'm going to try cucumbers on that one.

Leucistic Yellow-Headed Blackbird

"Leucistic" refers to the white patches.

Ladybug Eggs

Nature's bug warriors are fortifying the troops.

Purple! Lupine

I've had pink lupine blooming in my garden for years, so this was a surprise to see. Love it! Can't wait until it fully opens.

Pretty Weed

I have pulled dozens of these plants out of the yard every year for 11 years. They might be winning. These are cornflowers.

"Straw-babies"

That's what my kiddo used to call them. These are "baby" strawberries, though.

Chickadee - Love This Bird

We have a pair of black-capped chickadees in the neighborhood this year.

Purple Columbine

Pretty flower that I *didn't* plant. It's an appreciated volunteer.