Just Fun to Say

We went looking for a new population of Fern-leaved False Foxglove last Friday.

We didn't find any, but we did find a healthy population of 

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain.

And we passed a bunch of Field Thistle.

It was popular with bees and this Great Spangled Fritillary.

Flowers and Bees

It has been a pleasant summer - not too hot, not too wet and not too dry - and so a wonderful year for the garden.

The Virginia Mountain Mint is now in four different places in the yard.

There is more Cardinal Flower than ever.

The hummingbirds flock to it.

The Butterfly Milkweed continues to spread.

Flowering Spurge - one of my favorites - is doing well in two spots in the yard.  This is the first year it has flowered, so I hope it spreads.

The bees are especially attracted to Bee Balm and Joe-Pye Weed... 

...and Swamp Milkweed