Still Here

(above: sunchokes in the park)

Okay, I'm not even going to try to catch up on what was missed since my last post! At least I beat the 3-month mark....This season has actually been quite exciting with new things in the garden. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to share it all. Maybe I will get to some of that over the winter.

So, onward... This is a stand of sunchokes or Jerusalem artichokes in a park we walk through. They do put on an impressive display. You can see a tired Dakota in the foreground (we took a long walk that day). I took the opportunity to smell the flowers and it is true, they do smell a bit like chocolate. Too bad the ones in our yard are not flowering -- they are quite tall though. Maybe I should sneak some of this variety.

(above: sunchokes in the park)

This caterpillar was hanging on the back door. I carefully put it on the ground for a quick photo-op. Is this what they call a "woolly bear"? It sure moved pretty fast. I left it on the kale to make its escape. We have had a large mix of insects in the yard this year.

(above: caterpillar)


(above: caterpillar on kale)

I guess the Monarchs are mostly moving south, but we saw a couple too tired to go anywhere. We were careful not to touch the wings of this one. It few off to the tree tops after a couple photos.

(above: tired Monarch butterfly)


(above: tired Monarch butterfly)

This seems to have been a year for dragonflies -- more to eat the mosquitoes. Here are a couple found resting in the yard. Overhead in the evenings are busy airways with much zig-zagging.

(above: black/blue dragonfly)


(above: red dragonfly)

Finally, I cannot forget our wonderful bees! There have been so many. I think that a few have begun to hibernate near or in the yard, which may explain the increase in activity this year. I also built a bee condo/house and have had many occupants. They sure do love certain flowers. Echinacea seems one favorite, but sunflowers and raspberries have attracted the largest groups.

(above: bumblebee on echinacea)

Well, we are still here in ND and the garden has grown this year. The season is not done and I am hoping to get some vegetables before the fall frosts come.

The Little One

Okay, by popular demand this post includes a picture of our new addition.

These two get along pretty well - like sisters.


They love sitting in the yard and finding new things...here is a Monarch that decided to hold on here.


The aster is starting to bloom...once it's a mass of purple it looks great.


A late planting of seeds has filled in.


The adventurous dogs wanted to come with on a second visit to the grasslands...


Some great views again...


Also a bit of the insect life...this moth really caught my eye. I almost ran over this spider walking - having haven't seen ones like this in the yard.

Back with a Safari

Hi everyone...no, we did not get eaten by bears or have any mishaps on our trip. Our trip was fine and was only a few days long, I might make some posts later (or might not). But being gone did offer an "easy" disconnect from the blog world.

Anyways a lot has happened in the garden front...I even missed a Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day...but it is easier for me to start with a good ol' Safari.

This is my purple aster plant...it's a bit early for blooms, but there are bugs there!


Good thing there are plenty of these around.


Speaking of these...the bees seem to be quite happy, or is it anxious the summer is closing? I have see a lot of bumble bees in the garden...they seem to like the basil. Here's one bee I spotted.


Another bee hanging upside down in the flower.


Look who visited on their way through!


I have been happy to catch a Monarch in the garden almost every year. Usually just one or two, but they always pay me a visit. It makes my garden feel like...a garden.


That's it...I will try to get be into the swing of things. Besides this is supposed to be my record keeping too.