First Frost

Some of the mums are just opening.

These red orange ones are on the North side of the house in the front garden.
I hope they continue to bloom until Thanksgiving.

A few bugs were out sunning this afternoon.

It has been 34 days since our last rain.

We planted 200 Purissima tulips in the Fig Garden and

20 Swan Wing tulips in the Wind Spinner bed
along with 100 Jeanne D'Arc Crocus.

I think both of these areas will look lovely next spring.

In the vegetable garden we planted 160 cloves of garlic.

I hope to have plenty to share next summer.

We had our first frost on the 19th.

I am glad we covered some of the marigolds and squash.

The Garden Rue is still blooming.

I have gathered seed from the cosmos.

Monarchs

Another Monarch emerged from his chrysalis this morning.

Viceroys are mimics.

This one has a couple of bird snips.

Busy butterfly days.

Waning Crescent Moon

We have watched the moon this past week.

The waning crescent moon has been a
 beautiful site in the early morning.

The Buckeyes are making up for lost time.

I have six at one time feeding in the milkweed.

Monarchs are also feeding in the milkweed.

Our Chippy like nuts.
I put a small bowl filled with mixed nuts out for him.

It has been an incredible year for Tiger Swallowtails.

The Female Tiger in her black form is the biggest butterfly in my gardens this year.
She is bigger than the Giants!

Hurricane Irene has landed on the East Coast.
I send blessings.

Sprouts

Our Autumn vegetable garden has sprouted.

We have received 4.58" of rain this past week.

The butterflies visit between showers.

We harvested our first brussel sprouts.

Second nesting is finished.

First Week of August

August came in hot and humid.

The Jewel Wing Waxing Crescent Moon
 traveled the skies.

An inch of rain gave some relief.

The hottest day of the year on the 2nd.
The National Weather Center reported 109 F.

I have begun studying Celtic Astrology.

The 13 sign Lunar Zodiac fits my way of thinking.

I shall be studying the trees in my area.

New Wise Moon

Today we celebrate the second New Moon in July.

I named the second New Moon in a month the Wise Moon.

We have a new visitor.
I am not 100% sure who she is.
I think she is a female Scarlet Tanager.

We had rain this morning.
It was cooler until the sun came out.
Once again the humidity rose.

I bought grapes for the birds.

I think if I grew them they would be ripening about now.

The female Gold Finches are shy like our visitor.

We placed a new Hummingbird feeder on the feeding station.
Raccoons broke the last one.

I am doing a Moon watch.
It will be New Wise Moon to New Sunflower Moon in August.
Each day I am having conversations with the Moon.
I am following her phases, her rise and set times.
I am following my moods, my energy levels and my creativity.

The New Moon is my favorite Moon phase.
I love the dark of the Moon.
I love not seeing the Moon but knowing she is up there.
I trust the Moon.
Tonight I will sit outside under the dark of the Moon.
I will begin my Moon watch.