Blossoms and Bees

Baby Praying Mantis

While just walking around in the garden we found this baby praying mantis, and other creepy crawlers.

Goldfinches

A little info on goldfinches: Fully grown goldfinches are 4-5.5", they have a year-round black cap a stubby bill,a bright yellow underside,a white rump, and white edges on black wings. Because goldfinches move around a lot there may be times when there are no birds on the feeder. There may also be times that there are a lot of goldfinches on your plants or flowers.

Fun facts

• They are late nesters, they nest in June through September.
• They nest in hedges, bushes, and trees.
• They feed more during the spring and will feed during the whole summer.
• They lose their feathers and grow new ones twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall after nesting season.
• They eat thistle seeds and use thistle down for their nests.
• They build thier nests up 30 feet of the ground
• Goldfinches move around a lot! You could see 25-100 different goldfinches at one feeder in the same day.

Flowers

We planted a garden
Of all kinds of flowers
And it grew very well
Because there were showers,
And the bees came and buzzed:
This garden is ours!

But every day
To the honeyed bowers
The butterflies come
And hover for hours
Over the daisies
And hollyhock towers.

So we let the honey
Be theirs, but the flowers
We cut to take
In the house are ours,
Not yours, if you please,
You busy bees!

--Harry Behn

The herb garden

Okay so we have all the gardens built (except for my shady garden) and the birds like Christian's house, so our nature is going fine this year, but one thing is left. Do you know what that thing is ? It's planting! So let us plant!

Lavender, sachet. Perennial. Hardy to -10 degrees. Short, bright blue-violet spikes rise 12 inches above the foliage. Plant in full sun for best growth and flowering. Soil: well-drained loam. pH range: 6.4 to 8. Height: 2 to 3 feet. Space 2 to 3 feet apart. Ornamental. Use in potpourri.

(Transplanting tip. Keep from freezing and wind. Acclimate over 7 days by exposing to increasing amounts of sun and night temperatures)

Dutch lavender.

Gorgeous pastel flower clusters bloom on large stems above mounds of large silver leaves. Excellent for the herb or cutting garden. Attracts butterflys. Dreid flowers and leaves are supurb for potpourri and crafts. Holds color well when dried.

Bloom time: Blooms midsummer to early fall.

Exposure: Plant in full sun.

Water: Prefers well-drained soil.

Height: Grows to 24" tall. space 20" apart.

Silver Posie Thyme.

Culinary Herb.

Tiny leaves boldly edged in creamy white. Makes an excellent accent in the herb garden. 10" tall x 24" wode.

Care:  provide sun to part shade and well drained soil.

Hardiness: Zone 7 , 0 to 10 degrees.

(-17 to -12 degrees.)

Bee Balm

Monarda hybird

Showy, long blooming hybird; fraglant foliage. Attracts butterflies and humming birds. Very disease resistant. Blooms June to September.

How to grow: Plant in sun or part sun 20-24 inches (51-61 cm) apart. Grows to 15 inches (38 cm) tall.

  That's all for now.  We'll post some more later this afternoon.

Vinca

Vinca is all over our front garden. It matures to be 6" tall and 3' in diameter for one plant! It looks like this we planted 24! But...most of it died. So, what's left is pretty little.