Sunday, July 18, 2021

Mosaic Monday #139: The Garden Explosion

One of the many benefits of getting away from home for six days?  The changes in the garden jump out!  It's as though the plants have exploded in volume and color.  Upon our return, even #1 Son commented on its beauty and the multitude of butterflies.  I am thrilled to give you a peek into my oasis!

My fellow gardeners will not be the least bit surprised to read that the bee balm is the most significant butterfly magnet in my garden.


Of course, some species seem to prefer other plants, such as the coreopsis (upper left) or yellow penstemon (bottom).


Today, I was surprised to find a host of tiny grasshoppers hanging out on the prairie coneflower.  They weren't the least bit fazed when I leaned in for the close-up.


Speaking of critters, my commitment to let nature run its course with my native plants is a strategy that seems to be paying off.  The caterpillars that nibbled on the goldenrod do not seem to have had a lasting impact; if anything, the munching caused the plant to branch out and produce even more flower heads.  The aphid infestation on the asters has not destroyed any part of the plant.  And I wonder if, by allowing the aphids to linger on the asters and other plants, it kept them from flocking to the non-natives such as the burning bushes; the last two summers, those bushes had tell-tale leaf curl from aphids -- but not this summer.

In general, I am delighted that the garden has started to "fill in".  As faithful readers will recall, we started with minimal plantings three summers ago.  Through natural seeding, as well as my own strategic sowing of seeds collected from the garden, several beds have begun to take on the full, higgledy-piggledy prairie look that is my goal.   




The "big picture" views excite me, and close-ups are also a source of joy.





The fence baskets and deck pots are also coming along nicely.


The rock garden near the front of the driveway is still a work in progress, and that makes sense given it has only been in place two years.


I may regret planting this lamium, a perennial from last year's baskets; they are not native and can quickly take over a bed.  But for now, they provide color and interest while the rest of the plants get up and running.  Just another part of my garden journey!



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32 comments:

  1. My goodness, everything is so, so pretty and it's always wonderful to see a garden explosion!

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  2. ...you have a fabulous explosion going on. Natives are best suited for your area, lamium is a great plant in the right spot. Enjoy your beautiful garden.

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  3. Wonderful, Angie, to see your beautiful garden. Such lovely blooms.

    I believe you had a fine time there. It's always good being in our own nature around the house. I love it too.

    Happy MosaicMonday... wish you a very good week.

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  4. your garden is thriving! I remember you choosing landscaping not long ago!

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  5. wow, you really have a multitude of different flowers and insects. So much it is almost hard to enjoy it all I guess. Many of the flowers I know, we have them too. But you have many beautiful butterflies that we don´t have. And the grasshoppers. Love them. :)
    Enjoy!

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  6. I love every part of your garden, can't wait to see how the rock garden flourishes! The butterfly garden is just so precious! Well done on the native plants too! It's all enviable!!! :)

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  7. What lovely photographs and mosaics. You have a wonderful explosion of colour going on. Enjoy your garden, it is beautiful.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  8. It is amazing how quickly plants "fill-in" a garden. Your garden, Angie, is looking a treat. Everything is so very pretty. It must be heaven to sit on the balcony and drink in the garden and scenery beyond. I cannot wait until the flowers here once again delight my days.

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  9. Your gardens look beautiful, Angie! Natural, native perennials are always the best plantings both for beauty and the environment. I did notice you had your flowers caged in wire--is that to prevent the deer from eating them or for support? I have to cage so many of our shrubs and flowers or else the deer eat them, even when they are labeled "deer resistant" I do not like to spray them with repellant.

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  10. Everything looks gorgeous and sooo colourful! Beautiful!

    -Soma

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  11. Wonderful colour in your garden. I love all the different plants, do the grasshoppers eat the seed on the coneflower? So good to see the bees and butterflies.

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  12. Hello, Angie,
    Your garden is looking beautiful, so many pretty blooms. I like the native plants too. Bee Balm is a favorite of mine. Take care, have a happy new week!

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  13. Your prairie paradise garden is stunning, dear Angie! And it's not just a feast for the eyes, it also does a lot for the insects. It's wonderful that it works to let nature run free and lice and caterpillars do less damage!
    I'm sending you two posts today (the one from last week too ;-))
    Hugs from Austria, Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/07/auf-ins-hochgebirge-ausflug-auf-die-rax.html

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    Replies
    1. Dear Angie,
      All good things come in threes! (Is that also said in the USA?) Now I have a brand new posting for you, which is about my cats and my daughter's cats ... of course with many, many mosaics :-) And you can also see our garden (or parts of it).
      Hugs from Austria, Traude
      https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/07/katzengeschichten-und-gartenbilder.html

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  14. Welcome home, Angie. Your oasis garden is a wonder to behold. Lovely flowers, trees, insects! Enjoy your little spot of paradise!

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  15. always so lovely to see your flowers both in your garden and in the wild. Especially the wild, so different to ours. Enjoy spring and stay safe.

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  16. Happy Monday. Welcome back Angie

    Much💜love

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  17. Your research and efforts have really paid off and your garden looks lovely. Perfect for your location.

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  18. Abloom, ablaze, all-flowered. So pretty! Sharon’s Souvenirs

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  19. I really really like your natural garden! The riot of colors is an added bonus (and Mother Nature has I'm sure always known the importance of that variety). The big picture *is* awe inspiring, and I am also a huge fan of macro shots. We all need to slow down and take time to appreciate the little things and taking those pictures inspires that. Yours are wonderful.

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  20. Lovely gardens! The house looks very welcoming.

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  21. Nature always finds a way despite all we humans throw at it. Any plant that comes up and thrives on its own is a keeper in my book. Native and naturalized plants are always a good idea because they require minimal care. Everything around you is looking quite lovely. We've had horribly high humidity lately which has been no fun at all. Take care.

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  22. Lovely flowers wild and planned.

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  23. The wildflowers are fabulous, Angie, as are the butterflies they attract. If I am not mistaken I see Great Spangled Fritillary, Mariposa Copper and Edith's Checkerspot there. Well done!

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  24. Beautiful flowers, plants and Butterflies, especially butterflies, they are tremendous.

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  25. I rather like that philosophy Angie. "Let nature sort itself out (within certain parameters). Or is that my Lazy Gardener speak? you have terrific colour and variety now. Just like someone planned it that way!

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  26. Hello! Sorry I have been abscent. Just doing summer things and not spending a lot of time online. Your flowers look great! Such color! Hope the smoke isn't too bad up there. Today it is better and I can see my mountains. You take care and have a lovely weekend. Kit

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  27. Wow, your garden is really taking off. My wife started using more native and low maintenance plantings just to cut down on the work involved and it is also paying off. I love flowers and gardens I just don't like the work. I just want the baby and not the labor pains as we say in the oilfield.

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  28. Wow, beautiful captures of your beautiful garden.

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