I love the kind of Sunday where, after church, all I need to think about is what we’re going to eat for lunch. Then, it’s out to the garden to pull a few weeds, take a photo or two, and gaze about at the fruitfulness of late summer.
The insects aren’t sleeping though. They are as busy as, well . . . bees. Bumblebees anoint Gaillardias. Orange and yellow butterflies cover the Zinnias and the Phlox paniculata. Does anyone know which butterfly this orange one is? I have them everywhere right now. The most popular flowers by far are the Zinnias, Z. elegans. Of course, with Zinnias, you get powdery mildew. If it gets bothersome, spray it with a natural fungicide like copper. I think it’s a small price to pay for butterfly visits. This afternoon, Bear and I saw a hummingbird too.
The one missing winged player is the honeybee, and this has me a little worried. However, after I spoke to two of the beekeepers at the farmer’s market, they reassured me somewhat. They’ve had no problems with their hives, and they said beekeepers in Oklahoma aren’t suffering unless they move the bees from place to place. They explained that moving bees is hard on their colonies and causes them to have more problems. I know the word is out though because while I finished purchasing some natural beeswax candles, three people came up and asked about Colony Collapse Disorder. The beekeepers offered to help me establish my own colony in my garden, but I don’t think so, because I don’t like being stung.
I’m also waiting for something besides aphids to visit my Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. No Monarch catepillars yet although my friend, Martha, in Muskogee has them already. I’m hoping she’ll send some this way.
Please visit The Quiet Country House for more Sunday strolling or visit my GTS page for others participating in Green Thumb Sunday.
That’s a very good slide show. It’s clear and fun. Thanks for the Zinnia tip. You are so busy these days that it is good to see you enjoy time in the garden. I’m glad to see your site back up and running too.
Annas last blog post..Flowergardengirl’s Blog is now a Christian Gardening Blog
Sleepy Sunday is a lot better than Manic Monday! I like the snazzing new slideshow, even if it is harder for my computer to handle it. I have so got to get me some Zinnias next year. I finally got a shot of that yellow Swallowtail. I saw it at a nursery where it was, of course, on the Zinnias.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughters last blog post..I Ranted, Now I Rave
MMD, I’m glad you liked it. Thanks. Zinnias are great butterfly attractants, and they are easy peasy to grow.~~Dee
Dee, Great post. The slideshow is so fun, though I have to admit it took a while to load on my dail up. I love the little butterfly. My favorite photos always seem to be those with a little “critter.” 🙂
Aislings last blog post..Sunday Stroll Invitation
Hi Aisling, sorry it took so long to load. My favorite strolls always seem to have a few critters in them.~~Dee
wow, that’s quite a fun way to take a sunday stroll…and your flowers are gorgeous as are your pictures…thanks for letting me stroll along on a quiet monday afternoon…a bit late here but anyway..
lindas last blog post..Oaxacan Wood Carvings ~ "Alebrijes"
Hi Linda, you are never too late for a stroll. Thanks for coming.~~Dee
Dee, Thanks for the slide show. The blooms are just gorgeous! I love Sundays like that myself.
Susies last blog post..A lesson in biology……
Hi Susie, they are just grand, aren’t they?~~Dee
Hey, girlfriend. I’m grateful for your info about the honeybee in OK. I was just the other day thinking about this, well, worrying about it. 🙂 I haven’t see many bees this year at all.
Hugs,
CA
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Hi Rosebud, I’m still a little worried no matter what they say.~~Dee
Hi Dee, I also believe that is a Gulf Frittilary. The larval food is passionvine, and they are very particular so you must have some around you. I am having a terrible aphid problem, yellow ones, on my milkweed also. Pam’s write up of her visit to your place is wonderful. Your garden is much more lush than I remember OK in August. Beautiful.
Gosh, Frances, I must, but I’m not sure where. See all the great things I learn through bloggining. Thank you. I am sick and tired of the aphids, and my hose won’t reach far enough to get them. Time for insecticidal soap since the ladybugs are not doing their thing.~~Dee
Your butterfly is a Gulf Fritillary. They are one of the most numerous butterflies in my garden here just northwest of Houston at this time of year.
Thank you, Dorothy. I never can remember the name of that butterfly. I appreciate it, and they are everywhere right now.~~Dee
Thanks for taking us along on your Sunday stroll. I just ignore the powdery mildew on the zinnias. Some years it is worse than others; this year it doesn’t seem too bad, or I’ve just gotten really good about not noticing it. I like Sundays best, too, when they are unstructured and you don’t have all kinds of places to go and things to do. You can just relax and really see what’s going on in your garden… birds, bees, butterflies… Have a great week!
Carol, May Dreams Gardenss last blog post..The Art of Taking Breaks
Hi Carol, thank you for stopping by. BTW, thanks for showing us that little bit about the right click of the mouse over a link to open it in a new window. I didn’t know that, and I bet a lot of others didn’t either.~~Dee
I really enjoyed your Sunday Stroll! Your slideshow is beautiful!
Carlas last blog post..Son-Day: Welcome Home
Thank you, Carla.~~Dee
that’s a snazzy photo display!
MA
Thank you, MA. I thought it was fun once I got it working.~~Dee
I could see it in Blotanical but not in the ring. hmmm Great slideshow.
perennialgardenlovers last blog post..Orange bug infestation?
PG, computers are weird. You just never know what they’ll do.~~Dee
It’s been just that kind of Sunday here too.
I spray Neem oil on my zinnias, before buds form, it helps prevent mildew from developing.
Good idea, TC, as long as we in Oklahoma do it before the heat sets in.~~Dee
Sounds like your Sunday Stroll gave you a few glimpses of nature at it’s best. I wasn’t able to see your slideshow, it seems to have disappeared. I spotted a few honeybees in my garden this year, but mostly bumblebees. Great tip about the copper, that’s the only thing I dislike about zinnias is the mildew.
perennialgardenlovers last blog post..Orange bug infestation?
I noticed the slideshow disappeared too, so I reloaded it. It works now. Thanks for coming by.~~Dee