was about all the time I had in the garden yesterday. But ten minutes can be very revealing ~ you can see the Asiatic lilies have begun to bloom. 'Dolly Madison:'
is looking great (and the perfect color for the upcoming 4th of July holiday). A little more subtle is 'Lollipop:'
I actually happened to "catch" 'Lollipop' the other morning when she was just a bud. Look how fun the morning light makes this photo:
I added several varieties of lilies to the garden this spring. I'm not sure why I was on such a lily kick? I don't see any bees or butterflies landing on the blooms?? I have been trying not to plant anything that doesn't benefit wildlife but maybe I was just in a plant "pretty" phase? Ten minutes, if you're willing to look closely, will also reveal a lady bug searching for a meal:
He's on the tip of a way-past-its-peak Black & Blue Salvia bloom above and below, he stopped long enough to clean his face:
When you get such an intimate distance to them, you see their faces/heads are really warrioresque. Complete with pincers, etc., ~ no wonder they can demolish so many aphids. In ten minutes time you will also see:
Echium Amoenum is in full bloom. What a beauty she is. Going about the business of life, a baby bunny accompanied me around the garden:
They have eaten a few flowers and leaves of plants in the beds but mostly they are in the lawn. My philosphy in regards to bunnies (especially the babies) is "I have enough to share." Maybe easy to say because I'm not overrun with them??? The last photo taken in the last minute is of a cowslip bloom (Primula veris) that seemed to be the center of activity:
A spider (or is it two ~ maybe one is a victim??) both found their way to this particular bloom. I was never quite sure what was going on ~ all I know is ten minutes can be quite enough to enrich anyones day.
That baby bunny is sure cute. A little bit of damage is okay, but if they multiply and really decimate the garden, uh uh, got's to go!
Love the lilies. I had planted 'Dolly Madison' from bulbs but it never materialized. Bummer. Those bright colors are great.
Posted by: tina | June 25, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Who knew that 10 minutes in the garden could reveal so much activity! Great shots today Kathleen, glad the bunnies haven't become a burden. ;)
Posted by: Racquel | June 25, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Your close up shots of the lady bug are great!! Love that Lollipop lily. I can do without bunnies, babies or grown...SCAT!!
Posted by: janet | June 25, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Your lilies are beautiful. I like the red, it has less orange than mine, not sure what cultivar mine is.
We have so many of the Asian lady beetles in this area. They bite so I can testify to the fact that they could chomp down an aphid very easily.
Marnie
Posted by: Marnie | June 25, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Hi Kathleen, all that in only ten minutes? You are a master of time and space, and the camera! Dolly Madison is just the kind of show off girl that would find a good home in the Fairegarden. I will put her on the list. Lollipop is here already, along with many others, but Dolly really caught me eye. Good deal on the primulas too. The ladybug closeups are amazing! :-)
Frances
Posted by: Frances | June 25, 2009 at 12:43 PM
That was a well spent 10 minutes!
Posted by: Victoria | June 25, 2009 at 04:39 PM
I have seen lots of bunnies on various posts. We have one also. How is your pond coming along. I received some yellow snowflake from a friend and in my effort to save it I killed it but was so happy to see a bit of it had survived on its own. What was I thinking!
Donna
Posted by: MNGarden | June 25, 2009 at 06:45 PM
You saw a lot in 10 minutes! The ladybug pictures are amazing!
I was on a lily kick 2 years ago too. I think I just wanted to smell them in my own garden. I guess it's okay to grow things just because they are pretty :)
I'm going to look for Lollipop next spring.
Posted by: Catherine/gardenerprogress | June 25, 2009 at 08:10 PM
Kathleen, Love your lilies and wildlife! I just purchased a new lily today. Wish I could remember the name - I haven't recorded it in "the book" yet. It's going to be gorgeous though. I saw several blooming yesterday. I had to return to purchase it today. ;-)
Posted by: Shady Gardener | June 25, 2009 at 08:42 PM
Wow, you got a lot of bang for your 10 minutes! I love the color mix on your lilies and I also love your philosophy with regard to the bunnies. The one pictured is adorable! Does he go for the carrots?
Posted by: Avis | June 26, 2009 at 12:25 AM
Kathleen .. I still didn't get those pictures of my Maypop up yet .. it has been that sort of few days with me .. but I am going to get there girl !
Those are gorgeous lily .. I'm still waiting for mine and being disgusted with the beetle damage ... eeuuuuwwww !!!!!
Posted by: Joy | June 26, 2009 at 05:03 AM
Kathleen, Ten minutes is more then enough to help us breath deeper and relax...You had a delightfully productive ten minutes and thank you for sharing the loveliness you saw...I usually only plant fragrant lilies but Dolly M is beautiful. Have a sweet weekend, hope you get more time in the garden~~gail
Posted by: Gail | June 26, 2009 at 05:36 AM
Echium is unbelievably beautiful!
Asiatic lilies' blooms last so long, this is one of the reasons I love them! Kathleen, your photographs are great, I mean it!
Posted by: Tatyana | June 26, 2009 at 08:09 AM
Beautiful Kathleen, maybe my Lily I showed today is Lollipop it looks like yours. I love your Echium Amoenum - beautiful! You did great for 10 minutes. I seem to only find 10 all week that's why I haven't been around anywhere just hate that I miss everything but have been gardening and have grandsons. I've found out that as I get older 'Wonder Woman I ain't' no more! (Great english too). ;-)
Posted by: RainGardener | June 26, 2009 at 09:07 AM
I love your photographs especially those of the lady bugs.
Posted by: Dragonfly Lady | June 26, 2009 at 08:33 PM