Bert and Bonnie's babies from their second nesting have fledged.  I hear them close by in the trees, but they have yet to come to the feeders.   Bert and Bonnie are staying very busy filling their beaks with the mealworms that I put out for them twice a day.  

The bunnies are shedding and I don't blame them in this heat.  I hope Parsley appreciates my combing to help lighten her coat.    Kiwi and Maple are close by, but don't seem very interested in helping me!  Notice the red cup full of Parsley's hair ... at this rate I'll have enough for a sweater!

 

When I was out in the garden this afternoon, I noticed that the Aristolochia fimbriata (White Veined Dutchman's Pipe) was being chewed on.  Looking closer, I found that the Pipevine Swallowtail (Blue Swallowtail) caterpillars had arrived!  Hungry little guys!

Kalimeris pinnatifida (Japanese Aster) is a mass of blooms right now.

 

 Our little indoor bunny, "Parsley," surprised me on a recent morning when I found her in the rocking chair on our sunporch.  I guess she wanted a different view of the garden!

I have tried to grow Oriental Lilies and Agapanthus but the deer keep winning even when I'm spraying deer repellent.  The deer find them quite tasty ... GRRR!!  Well, this year, I decided to cage them in hopes of getting some blooms. The cages have been successful, and I have been able to enjoy their blooms this summer.  Hooray!

Lilium orientalis 'Muscadet'

Agapanthus 'Ellamae'

 

Growing Ammi visnaga (False Queen Anne's Lace) takes me back to my childhood when I would go into a field out in the country and cut a bouquet of Queen Anne's Lace.  What a lovely memory for me.  

I have tried to grow this little wild flower without success, but I kept trying for several years.  SUCCESS AT LAST!!  This year I actually had several flowers of Dodecatheon media (Shooting Star)!  I'm glad I kept trying!!

 

My Arisaema candidissimum (Striped Cobra Lily) is beginning to slowly spread.  The cylindrical spathe has a  pale pink blushed interior with white venation. I was introduced to these pretties through Edelweiss Perennials where I have ordered my wonderful cyclamen over the years. 

 

Cleome (Spider Flowers) will drop seed and you will have more than you wished for; however, I still enjoy them and especially with this combination with Aralia 'Sun King.'  I simply pull out the cleome that pops up where I don't want it.

 

I have been pleased with this combination of Ajuga 'Bronze Beauty' with Amorphophallus (Voodoo Lily).  In the spring, the ajuga will be blooming and the voodoo lilies will be dormant waiting for summer.

 

Gotta love the spotted stems of the voodoo lilies.

 Caladiums in summer can't be beat!  I have purchased my bulbs from Florida Boys Caladiums for the past couple of years, and they have a great selection ... it's hard to choose!

The bright yellow flowers of 

Hypericum x inodorum 'Hypearl Compact Red'  have given way to the red fruit which should last through fall for a long season of interest.  I need to add some of these pretty stems to my cut flower arrangements!

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' provides interest almost all year with its large leaves, arching conical flower heads with double flowers layered on top of each other, and fall leaf color of crimson or burgundy, not to mention its rich brown exfoliating bark.  Who could ask for anything more from one plant?