It sounds like you have some nice visitors! And I see the makings of a garden humming and fluttering with pollinators! I think Hannah's corner looks very nice!

Thank you. Did I say thank you? I did not! so, thank you!

I'm in a bit of a flurry here, so not sure what all I am missing.

Only pics today are a few of some nice ordinary zinnias.



This one is being et by somebody:



These zin volunteered right under the fence at the edge of the yard by the sun bed. I moved them when they were tiny and they've been happy.

I saw a butterfly today who is new to me but I didn't have my glasses and no camera to hand either. It was on the spearmint and was black, about half the wing size of a Monarch. That's probably not enough info to ID it but it was exciting to see a newcomer!

Beautiful zinnias!

A few new blooms today.

1) Russian Sage 'Filigran'
2) Lisianthus
3) Lamium 'Silver Beacon'
4) Helianthus 'Lemon Queen.' This one's not new, but love all the bees on it. :-)

Oh, I love lisianthus! And I had forgotten about it completely, so thanks for reminding me of an old friend.

I've been ordering seeds today. I also put the seeds from that one supplier whom I no longer trust in test germination saucers (wet paper towel, plastic bag method). We shall see!

That little chamomile plant I bought, I took the risk of dividing it into three sections -- one tiny plant! Because, yanno, I wanted it in more than one spot. I've mulched and shaded it with straw and I think all three plugs will be fine.

what seeds did you order?

Oh, lots and lots.

First, let me share some pictures from today!

1.) Swan River Daisy-- I like this picture even though it's got issues. Mainly the issue is me being foolish enough to try taking pictures in full sun at noon.
2.) Another shot of my lavender blooming.


3.) I put a little fence by Little Rock (I am naming my beds, LOL!) because it kept getting disturbed, though I hope once things take a bit more it won't be an issue.
4.) A new flower! I think this is an aster of some kind; my cousin will know. I just found it hiding under the orange zinnias.


4.) You wanted pictures of the chamomile. Here is the little area where it's planted, and
5.) a close up. Straw is a great shade for it for now.


6.) A little miracle. I transplanted a balloon flower into this container because work was being done where it was and it was not a great spot for it anyway. I didn't get much roots with it and then learned they are very hard to transplant because it is nearly impossible to get enough roots when you try. Over time all the leaves on it died and finally I cut the stems back low. Then today, to my delight and surprise, a leaf! Actually two, but they are too tiny for me to photograph.

It all looks like it's coming along so nicely, Kyla! I like Little Rock--very nice idea. I also am a lavender lover! Very nice photo of the single stem and bloom--I can't seem to get my new (cell phone) camera to focus correctly on a small blossom in the foreground--it keeps focusing on whatever is in back of it. Yup that looks like an aster of some kind. It looks similar to my 'October Skies'--that light blue, almost lavender. Are the leaves aromatic when crushed? I can see the chamomile peeking out over the top! Yay on that balloon flower showing signs of new life!

Seeds I ordered from Peaceful Valley:

1 Organic Amaranth, Burgundy
1 Hollyhock
1 Flax, Blue
1 Johnny Jump Up Viola
1 Organic Bean, Bush Blue Lake
1 Organic Dill, Bouquet
1 Organic Bean, Bush Provider
1 Organic Tomato, Rainbow Cherry Mix
1 Organic Basil, Ornamental Mix
1 Organic Dill, Mammoth
(the 1 means 1 packet -- I copied and pasted from the emailed receipt. :D )

And from Horizon Herbs:

Calendula Mixed (Calendula officinalis)
Bergamot Red (Monarda didyma)
Chamomile Roman (Chamaemelum nobile)
Poppy Black (Papaver somniferum var paeoniflorum)
Comfrey True (Symphytum officinale var patens)

I already have seeds too, and all this will be wintersown.

Catmint20906 said:It all looks like it's coming along so nicely, Kyla! I like Little Rock--very nice idea. I also am a lavender lover! Very nice photo of the single stem and bloom--I can't seem to get my new (cell phone) camera to focus correctly on a small blossom in the foreground--it keeps focusing on whatever is in back of it. Yup that looks like an aster of some kind. It looks similar to my 'October Skies'--that light blue, almost lavender. Are the leaves aromatic when crushed? I can see the chamomile peeking out over the top! Yay on that balloon flower showing signs of new life!

Thank you. I'll have to check if those leaves are aromatic. Edit: I just checked and far as I can tell they are not.

One reason I got this little camera - it's the only one I've ever owned - is that it does very well with close up. (I don't think they are really "macro" technically, so I don't use that term. It has to do with percentages and it goes right over my head. )

Even so, it's not always easy to get the right focus. (I don't have a cell phone set to connect to the internet, for various reasons, so can't use the camera.)

I am also only able to line up two pictures, not three, in a post. I am pretty sure it's because my computer is a small screen. The link to the third one always breaks and goes to the next line. So, two will have to do.

Cat, I love the Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' picture with that little bee. You can tell he's gotten all wet from the rain. so sweet!

Kyla, that first picture with the Swan River daisies. I don't know what you're talking about with "issues". It looks great!

@typwc, welp, it looks pretty good to me too. I didn't like the rain gauge in there, but cropping it out took out the best part, I thought, so I left it. I also had to fiddle with it quite a bit. That bright sun is so tempting, but so hard to get good shots when it's that bright.

Thank you!

Gotta go check my bank balance, I just spent more moolah than I wanted on stuff that is necessary for the garden but, eekers.

I'll feel better once I know what the reality is.

A few blooms from yesterday:

1) Aster 'October Skies--insists on putting out one or two blossoms at a time; can't wait for a profusion!
2) Sedum 'Autumn Fire'--total pollinator magnet!!
3) Solidago 'Golden Fleece' just beginning to bloom
4) Lisianthus finally open--so pretty but took forever to grow and bloom in my garden--not sure why
5) Salvia 'May Night'--pollinator magnet from May to frost; couldn't get a good photo because of all the fluttering around, but the skippers and bees were all over it

Gorgeous, Catmint. I really love that Lisianthus. They have them at Longwood Gardens, I've never really seen them before that except in purchased bouquets. I tried growing it from seed, nothing. Each plant at Longwood looks like its own bouquet. Is that how yours looks too? Of course the pictures I have of them are all on my other computer....

Lisianthus takes a long time to grow from seed and then bloom. I plant all of mine in pots so that I can feed them often and keep them in full sun. Some of them come in for the winter and bloom from time to time.

Thanks Typ! Roses I think this is your lisianthus from the swap! Such a pretty color!

It is Cat. Lots of people wanted them and I usually grow enough to satisfy.

That's quite a list, Kyla. I start thinking about seeds in November. This year I'll stick to the tried and true vendors. I get great results from Summerhill Seeds and Swallowtail Gardens.

Still cleaning up the place after the party. Went around the yard picking up used up fireworks cartridges and other debris. Snapped some pics before everything disappears. Lots more out there. Some stuff hasn't bloomed yet. Getting dizzy with this so I think I'll stop now.

They're gorgeous Roses!