what happened to me? I was a blogging fiend for a while then all the sudden, nothing. I think I'm slightly depressed. Happens every year when the start date of school is imminent. Suddenly, the end of summer looms and I can't quite face it. I'm struggling with that now. School starts Aug 17th here. ugh. TOO EARLY. What are they thinking???
Maybe the pollinators can help lift my mood? I've had the good fortune of photographing a few in the garden lately. First, a visitor to verbena bonariensis (other than tachinid flies):
That's more like it. Exactly what I expected to see. Next year I'm starting it from seed to see if that makes it more attractive because it hasn't really gotten the attention I thought it would. (re: Marnie's question/theory about whether box stores & nurseries use systemics or sprays to keep plants for sale "bug-free".)
Beyond scarce this year, a Monarch butterfly briefly stopped by the Echinacea then fluttered off, not to be seen again (I feel lucky I was there at just that moment):
and Ben you'll be happy to know, I went out and smashed some Tachinid flies as a result of this sighting. :-)
Something else I'm hunting down and euthanizing (with odorless mineral spirits) are Jagged Ambush Bugs. They've suddenly appeared all over the garden so of course I immediately rounded up the "death" container/chamber and am zealously picking them off my plants (at least twice a day). I don't want anymore butterflies or bees expiring here because of their vice-grip forearms and poison.
It would be a shame for one to nab the beautiful Swallowtail pictured above, wouldn't it?
Speaking of "nabbing," guess what nabbed the praying mantis out of my viola basket (underneath the backdoor light)? A baby Bullock's Oriole. I've sort of been missing the Mantis popping up when I've watered the container lately. He was well-fed so I guess I should take consolation in knowing the Oriole got a lot of nourishment out of that bite.
Kathleen I use to get that way when my kids were home. Now I look forward to every season because it truly is fun to be 52. I use to worry about turning that old.
No wait--autumn is my favorite season. You are one of my favorite people and so I wish you a happier mood and lots of creative days ahead.
Posted by: Anna Flowergardengirl | August 05, 2010 at 08:34 PM
Beautiful image of the Monarch butterfly on the coneflower.
And summer comes to slow and leaves too soon in my opinion!
Posted by: Kala | August 05, 2010 at 09:48 PM
I was just working on my post for tomorrow and saying the same things. In fact I haven't been into gardening much this summer. I'm hoping it's just an off year.
August 17th does seem really soon for school to be starting, although I do remember the kids finished awhile before the kids here did.
I hope you get all the assassin bugs so the butterflies stay safe. I'm glad you saw the Monarch too, what a pretty picture.
Posted by: Catherine | August 05, 2010 at 10:45 PM
The end of summer, the shortening of the day and back to school is a melancholy time for a lot of us~It's raining and it smells like autumn....which adds to the feeling. Your pollinator photos are indeed spirit lifters~Thanks, gail
Posted by: Gail | August 06, 2010 at 06:23 AM
Wonderful photos of your Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies...stunning :)
Pollinators are so important and you are certainly doing your bit to encourage them to your garden :)
Posted by: Wildlife Gardener | August 06, 2010 at 06:34 AM
Sorry that you feeling a bit blue lately. Wow August 17th? Really? That is so early... School doesn't start back here until after Labor Day. Great shots, I haven't been lucky enough to get a pic of a Monarch this season.
Posted by: Racquel | August 06, 2010 at 08:40 AM
Wonderful photos. I just google Jagged Ambush Bug, talk about ugly:) I'm not up on my 'bug' ID's. I do patrol the garden for spider webs because they occasionally catch a butterfly.
The more I think about the big growers using systemic insecticides, the more convinced I become that they must use them. They can't send insect damaged plants to retailers. Without chemicals, greenhouses and big operations would be a magnet for pests.
Marnie
Posted by: marnie | August 06, 2010 at 09:35 AM
I understand the seasonal doldrums, but for me it comes in summer, which is brutally hot and long here. I look forward eagerly to fall, which begins for us in mid- to late October. That's when my spirits lift, as the fall gardening season begins anew.
Anyway, hang in there until things look up again. They always do.
Posted by: Pam/Digging | August 06, 2010 at 09:01 PM