Keets are out.
The hen yard was getting crowded, so D chased the keets out.
They are 10 weeks old. They tend to hang out together.
I hope they are devouring lots of bugs!

The reason for the overcrowding?

D was able to get 12 hens and a rooster.

They are buff orpingtons.

They have the reputation of being broody,

being good mothers, and

surviving cold winters.

They are beginning to settle in.

The first hens were getting old, and we were getting

only about 3 eggs a day. There should be more now.

Hummingbird Moths

Hummingbird Moths
Hemaris thysbe

have arrived.

They are one of the few moths that are out during the day.

They are often mistaken for a hummingbird.

They like the same plants.

They are out in the day.

They hover.

These flowers are monarda (bee balm).

It's a favorite of the hummingbirds and the hummingbird moths.

They are also partial to phlox, and I have seen them on petunias.

Today I picked Swiss Chard.
This is a rainbow variety, with stems in yellow, pink, red or white.
I sliced it and cooked it with a little olive oil.
Tonight, I'll freeze it in soup-sized portions to use in the winter.


And D reminded me to take a picture of the first pepper beginning to be red.
I didn't notice until I downloaded -
There are eleven peppers in this picture!

Insects are enjoying the wonderful flowers.

This poor guy is quite tattered, but is finding lots to drink.

This Virginia ctenuchid moth is happy, too.

The bees love the centaurea.

And the honeybees like the milkweed, too.

The Garden 7/9/10

The garden is becoming very interesting.

The Scarlet Runner Beans have begun to bloom

Some of the grapes have little bunches.

Not enough for wine, this year, but perhaps some jelly.

The cabbage is ready for picking.

Now if I could only figure out how to make coleslaw the way D likes it.

These are cherry bomb peppers.

It's been so hot and dry.
Peppers love it.

The Jalapeños are a bit behind the others.

The garlic is almost ready to harvest.

The lilies are in full bloom,

as are the daylilies.

The world is a mass of color.

And we had such a wet June that even with

10 days of no rain, everything is still lovely.

The English Bluebells are volunteers.

They appeared one year, and self-seed.

Wild Flowers

It's a lovely morning.

A perfect summer day.

Begins in the 50s, and will go to the mid 80s with low humidity.

While taking Tommy for a walk, D noticed how beautiful the timothy is this year.

Have you ever looked at it up close? The purple is beautiful. The flower heads are huge this year.

Another wonderful year for mallows.

This one is touched by dew and a bug.

This is such a lovely flower.

Can you guess what it is?

It's milkweed!!!

~

And this is especially happy this year.

We call it wild parsnip.

No idea if that's right.

Bugs love it.

It's related to hogweed, a dangerous weed, so be careful.