Every Blooming THing: Late June: About That Monarch Butterfly and the Cicadas

Grass still growing fast as it has been fairly wet and cool around here.

Regular daisies are blooming.  I have been planting a lot of geraniums (bought on sale for 50 cents) as well as begonias (also on sale).  This is the time I start buying flowers when they put them on sale.  Begonias take care of themselves so I like them.

The landscapers have been over here twice in the last two weeks and have trimmed off branches in the two pine islands as well as the Back 40 and arboretum.  And, then there are all those weed trees they've cut down and yews they've trimmed.  

Sadly the burn pile that I worked so hard on this spring to burn it has gotten even bigger than it was this spring.  I'll be busy in the fall when I can burn again.

On Wednesday I had to delay going somewhere when I saw a monarch butterfly flitting about the thirty or so milkweed plants I have growing in my driveway culverts.  I hope it tells its buddies about it.  I miss those beautiful things.

I still come across a cicada every day, but fewer than before, plus the din off in the distance is lessening.

--RoadCada

Every Blooming THing: Late July 2022

Entering prime time for the yard when it comes to color.  Several hundred black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers are blooming as are hostas, bee balm, day lillies and some of the mums.

Between the heat and blogs, it is hard to get time to work on the yard.  Lots of trimming and weeding to do.  I didn't think it was possible to have so many weed trees growing.  

With a bit of a drought going on, I am able to skip cutting the grass for two weeks at a time.  It is better not to cut your grass during a drought (and really isn't necessary as the grass slows down growing a lot), plus, that saves on that super expensive gas.  (However, I should mention that a drought does not stop weeds from growing.)

Sadly, I have around fifteen milkweed plants that I was hoping would attract monarch butterflies, but have only seen two this year.  Even before the milkweed plants, I used to see several hundred over the course of a summer.  I guess they are right about becoming endangered.  I sure would miss them if that comes to pass.  They sure are beautiful insects. 

Bring Back the Monarchs!!  --RoadArch