for winged friends. Beginning to bloom right now.
Above: Bronze Fennel blossoms. Planted for the Swallowtails. I check it weekly for caterpillars/eggs, etc. but so far no such luck.
Below: Veronicastrum (Culver's Root) is a favorite of the little bumbles:
The glistening white spires of this beautiful native will grace my garden for the next month and be alive with buzzing until the very last bloom on the tippy top of the spike is gone. My clump is eight years old, stands approx 5' tall and is about 2' in girth. (another opportunity missed for showing the long view, sorry, I'll try to take it later this week)
Above: Hidcote Lavender is beloved by the honey bees. Once most of the blooms are spent, I shear it off for a second blooming. It's been slow to bloom this year (another thing I'm blaming on the cool, wet weather) so I don't know if I'll get a second round or not? It will be interesting to see.
Below: An update on Filipendula venusta rubra. I promised to show the gorgeous pink fuzzy blooms once the buds opened so here it is:
and finally there's this shot (which has nothing to do with winged friends):
but everything to do with what I'll be doing this week. My niece & nephew are coming to stay so I will be AWOL from the blogging world until they leave. We will probably almost develop webbed feet by the time they leave!
I definitely need to plant that fennel if not for the interesting flower heads than for the swallowtail population alone. :) Have a fun time with your niece & nephew. Sounds like a great way to spend a hot summer.
Posted by: Racquel | July 12, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Love, love, love your pictures!
Posted by: Tatyana | July 12, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Great post. Hopefully you're seeing a lot of those winged critters enjoying your flowers! Have a great time with your niece and nephew! :-)
Posted by: Shady Gardener | July 12, 2009 at 08:09 PM
Have fun with the niece and nephew! Great photos of the blooms.
Posted by: Janet | July 12, 2009 at 09:02 PM
WOW, you and that camera! Seriously, You amaze me!
I hooked you up to a blog award (not that you have to play along) but I just wanted you to know!
xox Nicole xox
Posted by: Nicole Anderson | July 12, 2009 at 09:24 PM
My fennel hasn't attracted any butterflies either. It is attractive so I'll probably continue to grow it. The Filipendula is lovely. My father used to grow a stand if it.
Hope you have a nice visit the niece and nephew.
Marnie
Posted by: Marnie | July 13, 2009 at 07:15 AM
Have fun with your family.
I can't believe how tall the Veronicastrum gets!
Posted by: Catherine/gardenerprogress | July 13, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I love veronicastrum and this spring added it to the garden...can't wait for it to grow into itself so well! No instar caterpillars on the fennel here yet! But soon I hope. Have a fun visit. gail
Posted by: Gail | July 15, 2009 at 08:08 AM
Now I think I might need Culver's Root, it reminds of gooseneck loosestrife. Very pretty!
Posted by: Robin Leja | July 16, 2009 at 08:05 PM
The Queen of the Prairie is wonderful. I love your shot of the Culver's Root with the bee too.
Posted by: Sweet Bay | July 17, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Beautiful pictures! Sounds like a fun week ahead. Have fun!
Posted by: Teresa~Gardening with Soule | July 19, 2009 at 10:02 AM
I sure like the Veronicastrum! I have gooseneck loosestrife in my yard as well and it reminds me of that, sort-of, except that the gooseneck really does look like a gooseneck! I would love to have the Veronicastrum in a different color to add to that bed :). I forget, where are you located?
Posted by: Tessa at Blunders with shoots, blossoms 'n roots | July 19, 2009 at 11:28 AM