Bloom When You Can

It's hot and it's dry.  Long established plants droop in the bright sunshine.  Some are turning brown or have disappeared altogether.  However, if you look you can see beautiful flowers in the garden. My Echinacea coneflowers look great and still attract butterflies.

Minus a few barely noticeable insect holes these Gloriosa Daisy flowers look perfect in the sunshine!

Ed and I planted these Bee Balm plants directly behind the woodland garden bench specifically so we could sit there quietly and observe Clearwing moths.  Where Ed is in the background, the Clearwing Hummingbird Moth, Hemaris thysbe is in the foreground

Now this is exactly what we were hoping to see.  Look how you can see the pink flower through the wings of the moth.  We have red Bee Balm too, but the hummingbirds do not allow the moths to share the red.  Yes, the garden is dry and the weeds are flourishing but there is still so much wonder to behold if you look for it!  

Still Wonderful When Wet

So far every day in June we have had rain.  Most days have been partly cloudy.  I know partly sunny is a more positive way to say that, but as a description of the weather it would not be anywhere near the truth.  Even here where our beds are as well drained as they come, anything you want to do in the garden is a muddy affair.  So far today actually is  partly sunny.  Imagine my delight when I saw this clearwing humming bird moth, Hemaris thysbe and  the flower spider, on Ed's 'Silver Edge' Siberian iris.  After getting soaked to the skin yesterday by a surprise shower, I had left the camera in the house.  I was so sure they would be gone by the time I got back outside, but it seemed worth the effort to try.  When I got back I had time to take just one picture before the hummingbird moth darted off.   I still remember when I saw my very first humming bird moth. I was fascinated.   Seeing one still fills me with delight.  Actually getting a good picture of one is priceless!

Amy's old friend , the flower spider  is not camera shy.  I think it looks bigger than it was  just four days ago.  Apparently the 'Silver Edge' iris is home for now.   The spider barely moved.  I would expect to find this spider right here as long as the flowers last.   It is very welcome in the garden.  With all this moisture,  bugs are everywhere.  I say stick around, eat all you can, have a family.  We can use the help!