A look around: back yard

The Monarda that I was going to remove a few years back is in bloom, and I'm sure glad I didn't clear it out (although I doubt I could get it all out even if I wanted to now).

Rather than show you closeups of the blooms and how much the bigger bees love them, I'll show how this plant really adds to this area of the garden -- just a little look around.

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Another plant I miss

Yesterday I started looking at plants I once grew and now miss. I have another one today, but this one is a bit different.

It's Monarda or "Bee Balm", and looking at these photos I really wish I had it back in my garden.

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Busy bees

Today is a holiday, and I will spend part of the hot, hot day raking algae and watering and doing other unfun stuff in the garden, but I will spend the rest of the day taking a break.

Know who doesn't take breaks? Bees. Especially when it's hot. In fact, when it's really hot outside it's almost impossible to get good photos of these pollinators because they just don't sit still. I tried.

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Most of these shots were taken at the Russian sage, which attracts the smaller bees all summer long. The bumbles were shot on the Monarda, the one bee balm I have left that I can't bring myself to remove as it holds up to the powdery mildew fairly well, and doesn't seem to require all that much moisture.

Enjoy the photos and the day!

Don't be a bee in the heat -- take some time to relax and relish the garden!

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Something to like, something not to like

I've been focusing so much lately on weeds, and cleanup, and the rainy weather, that it's important to realize that there are things that I really like about my garden. Enjoyable things. Beautiful, interesting things.

For instance, this spot next to the patio. I put these Heuchera in these pots "temporarily" three or four years ago. I've never repotted them or moved them. I do water them when it's hot, and fertilize them once in a while, but for the most part I leave them alone.

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