Finally seeing some bumble bees, mostly on the Walkers Low, coneflowers, and the May Night. The record rainfalls that we had in April, May and June are no doubt partially responsible for the delay in establishing their numbers. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of honey bees I've seen this year and that is very troubling.
The butterflies don't do well in excessive rain either. Finally seeing a few in the garden now. This Monarch was looking for a place to lay some eggs. It was exploring the lower branches of the milk weeds before finally going to the blooms.
Still on the subject of insects, can anyone help me identify the bugs on this milkweed? They look like huge, black mosquitoes. They don't seem interested in biting me but I hate seeing them on my lovely milkweed bloom. What are they?
Apparently Japanese beetles don't like water logged soil. The blooms on my roses are always totally destroyed by the beetles beginning July 1. This year very few beetles (so far). My Country Dancer is producing flush after flush of cotton candy pink blooms.
I wish I knew a little about daylily breeding. I've bought many daylilies since moving here but the one below I did not buy and have never seen before. It's kind of pretty with its muted wine colored petals and edges fading out to pure white. It's a late bloomer and appeared for the first time this year. I'm wondering if this one is a cross between two of the daylilies I purchased. I have many varieties planted in a big communal area. I know a few seeds are produced every year but have no idea of the likelihood of the seeds sprouting without human help.
Foxy enjoying a roll in the cool grass.
