Monday, August 31, 2009

Bougainvillea

These will brighten up your day. They look great on a wall. I'd love to see them in the wild and wonder how different the wild plants are from the cultivated versions.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Thistledown

Thistledown in the air. Today is much cooler because of the wind. Unfortunately, the wind is also making California burn even faster.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Back to the Crape

These are certainly the dog days of summer. The crape myrtles still look crisp and cool. I love their bark.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Sunstruck

This was just before tonight's sunset really got going. The color progression: gold, orange, purple, pink, crimson. Mother Nature's fireworks.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Bee Being on Bean

Just watched a brilliant sunset. It was cloudy all day so that helped with the drama. It was a tossup between the sunset and the bee--obviously the bee pic won.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Pelargonium


They'll always be geraniums to me. And a terracotta pot of the red ones in the front yard will always be a welcoming sight. They just seem right.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Ugly Bug

Apparently I have favorites in the insect world. This isn't one of them. In fact, it would have been disconcerting if it had flown toward me.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Dragonfly on Amber

Common Green Darners (Anax junius) started appearing yesterday around these parts. Today they're everywhere I look including clinging to the stuccoed wall in the courtyard. They're beautiful up close.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Common Checkered Skipper

These aren't as common as the gold colored skippers that frequent the garden despite its name. It felt like fall today with a breeze and cloud cover. Guess it will be fall soon.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Hidden in Plain Sight

Grasshoppers sure are noisy critters. They were out in force today. So were the lizards.

Friday, August 21, 2009

By Jupiter

No moon tonight. Jupiter is glowing in the southeast. It's still eighty degrees out.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Moth

I don't see much of a resemblance to a moth in the phalaenopsis. Doesn't matter. They make me happy.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Sweet William

The heat broke. So much nicer. I approve.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Garden Ghost


Just when I thought the flowers were done for the summer, the autumn-blooming bulbs started up. Is this earlier than usual? I need to keep a better garden journal.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Compound

Overly hot to my way of thinking. Plus it's Monday. Got up on the wrong side of the bed.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Deer Me

This might be the same buck we saw a couple of months ago. His antlers have definitely grown. And, he seems to have gotten used to having his picture taken.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Anthophora (Maybe)

The coreopsis attracts different bees throughout the season--something I'd never have noticed last year. In fact, I thought there were only a few different kinds. Silly me.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Swallowtail

I really need to plant a (some?) buddleia for myself. Every time I see one, butterflies are hanging out on it. Gorgeous butterfly, gorgeous day.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Crape

Drowsy day. Cooling evening. Breeze blowing.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Umbelling Along

The temperature topped 100 again sort of unexpectedly. The cornstalks in the garden have dried and rattle in the breeze. The days are getting shorter.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Like a Bird on a Wire

This meadowhawk was clinging to the barbed wire in the wind. Yes, the breeze picked up, the smog cleared, and the temperature dropped. Thought the sky might clear enough to see the Perseids but there's too much light pollution, alas.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Minty Fresh

It's broiling outside again. That means the mint patch wafts minty freshness through the garden. Not a bad thing.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Uplifting

Made it to the end of the tunnel and the light was not an oncoming train. Two weeks of only normal work hours ahead. I must make plans.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Withered Chicory

I'm feeling as withered as the flowers. Day not as planned. Spent most of it catching up on sleep.

Friday, August 7, 2009

A Naked Lady

One lonely amaryllis looking cool in the heat. The last bit of summer has fewer flowers than expected. Nice to see this one.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Lamb's Ear

Windy and cool weather kept most of the butterflies in hiding. But the bees were out. And the lamb's ear was fuzzy.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Duskywing

Many tiny skipper butterflies today. They were drawn to the flowering mint--and the tomatoes, for some reason. Our tomato harvest has been outstanding this year.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Helios

I'm so sleepy, my chin is trying to hit the keyboard. Still a long way to go before I can be horizontal. I did get outside for a while and enjoyed it.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Make My Day(lily)

Getting to bed at a reasonable hour is a pipe dream. Maybe next week. At least we're not dragging through hot days.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Andricus kingi

It seems like these particular galls have appeared more than a month later than they did last year. They're like mini, red chocolate chips. It was grand to do our usual walk by the river again.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Bounty

A fresh tomato warmed by the sun is luxurious. The good part of summer. One of many.