Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Life and Light in the Summer Garden

Water, nectar and pollen welcome beneficial insects to our high-desert garden.


The monsoon rains skirt around us with few exceptions, leaving the surrounding area gasping in dust. I and the hose supply our garden and its dependent creatures with a steady, though expensive, supply of necessary moisture in our verdant little pocket.  


Somewhere, a batch of honey will be flavored with David Austin's Heritage rose.
David Austin's Ambridge Rose is a generous host for this most-welcome ladybug.

And so, the busy hum and buzz of life carries on. A host of beneficial insects, like happy children blissfully unaware of the efforts their elders make for their comfort and survival, return my efforts with a healthy, life-filled garden.
A rapidly blowing Buck rose Quietness bloom makes a cushy pollen depot for a foraging bee. Wouldn't you just love to curl up in such a spot?
A painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) on a purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) opens her wings to the moist, late-afternoon air.
A male sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.)  shows off his dandy cloths and a shapely, pollen-heavy leg.

Bright yellow bumblebees (Bombus spp.) decorate the garden beds with baubles of fuzzy flying color.

I find pleasure in providing the venue for a vibrant microcosm where bees, butterflies and an astounding array of living creatures find forage and shelter.  

 (You may click to enlarge the above photos.)


 Visit my garden insectary articles elsewhere on the Web:


A Garden Haven for Beneficial Insects

The Best Herbs to Grow for Attracting Honey Bees

Vines for Bees