Category: garden

I’ve waited all summer and was thrilled to spot a monarch on my butterfly bush today.

This summer, my friend the artist Ruth Marshall ran an amazing program with Patti Cooper on the premises of Morris Park Library. As part of their “We Are All Connected Program”, they raised Monarchs. This program offered “art and conservation education [and conveyed] how the health and well being of the Monarch butterfly is connected to the health and well being of us all”. While I didn’t get there during the program; I feel connected!

The lack of diversity in the insects I see is concerning. I’m honestly a little sad that windscreens are no longer splattered at the end of a road trip. Though I don’t mind squishing the invasive spotted lantern fly.

When we worked on part of the back yard this summer, we intentionally chose as many butterfly and pollinator plants we could. This particular butterfly bush is existing and a few years old now. We added two more and I look forward to seeing how they do.

They love the garden this year, buzzing around so quickly I struggle to get their pics. We intentionally planted pollinator friendly plants. On Friday I had a visitor drop in and explore my work.

While most of our garden has been consumed by the local fauna (the rabbit, chipmunk, and deer communities enjoy my free salad bar) we’ve had a few surprises this year. It’s always nice when the garden gives me a gift.

I just wish they happened before I went to the store.

This cucumber has been the largest. To my surprise it was also very tasty. It went well with some pita and enhanced a store-bought tzatziki.

Due to limited space I’ve previously not been keen on anything that is a vine grower. This year I relented and we planted two in the container — with both a tomato and a pepper. That wasn’t the best move, the other plants have been crowded out.

The cucumbers are in love with the weather (at least something is).

An Eastern Tiger
Enjoys summer purple sweet
Butterfly bush joy.