Since I’ve been spending so much of my early morning time working in the yard, it seems only appropriate to do a post about what’s been happening there recently.
This morning was particularly rewarding because, after what seemed like a month not seeing a hummingbird in the yard, I was treated to a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird visiting a nearby feeder while I sat on the stone bench under the shade of the Scotch Pine.
This morning was also good for House Finches and House Sparrows.
Here’s what the front yard looked like this morning. I have thinned out the goldenrod considerably, while leaving some for the butterflies and bees to enjoy as it is about to explode into yellow blossoms. I have left most of the Common Milkweed as well.
I found a bee on the Joe Pye Weed. I could barely see it, as it blends in beautifully with the wildness of the blooms.
This afternoon I took a couple quick photos with the phone of the Culver’s Root and a bee on a specimen that is growing close to the neighbor’s fence.
Also in front earlier, there was a Black Swallowtail Butterfly I captured with the phone camera.
Yesterday morning, I found a young House Finch on the birdbath while I sat cooling off on the stone bench.
Going back to Saturday morning, I had a Monarch Butterfly on the Common Milkweed.
The House Finches were enjoying cracking their own seeds in the sunflower seed feeder.
And a Gray Squirrel was showing off his acrobatics on the peanut feeder.
On July 16, there were insects such as this Red Milkweed Beetle.
A Paper Wasp was flying around.
And a Green Bottle Fly shone in the sunlight.
I found bees on a Pink Coneflower and an Eggplant blossom. I’ve never grown eggplant before, but it sure is pretty,
Google identified this as a Two-spotted Bumblebee on the Monarda.
Going all the way back to July 6, things were just getting started. So the last couple weeks have been like an explosion. Below, photos of the Culver’s Root and a Bumble Bee on the Monarda.
I observed an American Goldfinch that day. I haven’t seen them in the yard very often lately. They are busy nesting in places like the Chicago Portage.
And after years of failure, I have finally managed to grow some Rattlesnake Master. I hope I can keep it going.
We are in for another hot spell the next couple days. Then we are promised rain on Thursday followed by cooler temperatures. I have photos of recent outings and a lot more leftovers from May and June. I am also trying to work on my book. Let’s see what happens.
Love this episode highlighting all the insect life in your garden!! Isn’t it amazing to watch what shows up?
Thanks so much, Ann! Yes, in a way, the extra incentive to clean up the yard and the insane weather going along with it is a blessing in disguise. And after waiting so long to see pollinators, it’s rewarding to know that I am providing them what they need.
Imagine what might happen if others did the same thing in their gardens. As Tallamy says, “A homegrown National Park” !
My dream!
This was a nice twist on your usual posts. I liked it, especially the hummingbird photos. Do you maintain a list of birds or butterflies you have seen in the yard?
Thanks, Bob. I got lucky with the hummingbird, she’s been really sneaky this year. In her honor, I did a yard list for yesterday. I keep a list on eBird periodically but only when something out of the ordinary shows up. I don’t think Cornell is counting on me for House Sparrow data. Other than photos I take of the butterflies, they’re on more of a mental list.
You have got an all action yard. Well done for growing such a friendly garden.
Oh thank you, Tom, coming from you with your phenomenal garden, that is an enormous compliment! What’s funny to me is that I look back on it all realizing I didn’t have much of a plan, to start with I just put in trees because I wanted birds, I started with a small seeded “meadow,” and without grass, the plants just led me along their merry way. Now I feel like I’m in a movement to save the planet, one small lot at a time.