It's nail trim day for the bunnies.  "Parsley's" nails are the easiest to do because I can put her on her back in my lap, rub her tummy, and she will go into kind of a trance as long as I rub her tummy.  Our other two bunnies, Butter and Peppercorn, are not quite as easy and we have to make a "Bunny Burrito" wrapping them in a towel.  It doesn't take long to trim their nails, and they get plenty of love and treats when it's over!  Thankfully we don't have to do it but every couple of months.  

Parsley says, "Rub my tummy Mommie."

The trumpets are sounding!!     

Trumpet flowers are finally beginning to bloom!

Look at who is chowing down on my Aristolochia fimbriata (White Veined Dutchman's Pipe)!  I saw some of the caterpillars for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly earlier this summer, but they are out in force now!  I don't have to worry about cutting back my Dutchman's Pipe as the caterpillars are doing that for me!  Eat up my friends!

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly

 Callicarpa americana 'Welch's Pink' has dense clusters of pastel pink fruit making balls of 2-3 inches in September lasting into winter until the birds eventually pick it clean.  It is my favorite beautyberry.

Yellow fireworks???  Yes, Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' has panicles of showy yellow flowers which resemble fireworks.   It is commonly called rough goldenrod and is attractive to bees and butterflies.  Fall bloom time of September - October.

 In these dog days of summer,  Butter and Peppercorn appreciate a little air conditioning.  I freeze water in 2-liter bottles and they like to snuggle up against the frozen bottles.  I am about ready to snuggle up with a bottle myself!!  WHEW!

 Lycoris aurea (Golden Spider Lily) is another of my "Naked Ladies."

 

 Euonymus americanus (aka Hearts-a-Bustin' or Strawberry Bush) has a reddish, pink, ivory to yellow capsule which splits to reveal orange-red seeds.  Fruits and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.

 Seed Capsule of Euonymus americanus

Seed capsule "a bustin"

 In August when the garden is tired (and the gardeners!), there are some plants I look forward to having bloom ... like zephyranthes, lycoris, and angel trumpets.  Anxiously awaiting the blooming of the angel trumpets ... won't be much longer!

Zephyranthes x drummondii 'Big Dude'

Unfortunately, I don't have the name of this zephyranthes, but it's the only double bloom I've seen

Lycoris x albiflora 'Buttermint'  is a cross between Lycoris aurea and Lycoris radiata var. pumila.  The flower stalks are topped with ruffled-petalled, light creamy yellow flowers which mature with a pink blush. Very nice!

Lycoris x albiflora 'Buttermint'

This was a first for me to see "Dudley," our downy woodpecker, sharing our finch feeder with  "Gina," our goldfinch!  What was Dudley doing on a finch feeder of all things!!  Maybe he was showing off for Gina to show her ... "Hey, I can eat Nyjer seed just like you!"

Liriope muscari 'Monroe White'  is a white-flowered monkey grass which begins blooming in mid August and is blooming now.  It gets about one foot tall and has evergreen dark green foliage.  It's a nice change from the typical purple-flowered Liriope.  I have both in our backyard with a section of white, then a section of purple, and ending with another section of white.  

Liriope muscari 'Monroe White'