Decimated

annihilated, stripped, destroyed...and the words go on.

My beautiful Cone Flowers were consumed

during the days of rain.

They even ate the petals on the flowers!

Yes, Alex, I know what kind of caterpillars these are...squished.

The Cone Flower Community

While watching the Praying Mantis

She spied me!

These are wonderful insects to have in your garden.  As a child I got a nickel for finding one of these and relocating it in our garden.  Lady Bugs, the real ones, were a penny apiece.  I also earned money by removing potato beetles.  The Adult was worth a nickel and the young were a penny apiece.  I became rich!

I am glad to see any pollinators but the honey bees have become a rarity.

The Cone Flower/Echinacea  is now growing its second round of blooms while the others prepare to seed.

A pair of Pearl Crescent Butterflies, I think, dine together.

Sometimes I have trouble identifying them, Alex.

If someone knows the right name. please, let me know.

Pollen Addicts

Belly Up

 belly up

to the bar, boys!

There's room for all 

to drink.

The Rains Came...

Blow, winds, blow!

Leafs fell because of heat and no rain.

The rain came

and kissed the plants.

Washing their feet and their faces

the plants smiled

knowing they were blessed.

It has almost been too long.

Showing My Bloomers

Weeding Rocks...

Here's the tiny section I worked so hard on last week.  The stump from the lightning struck tree is still burning so I had a place to stack more today.

I decided I needed to weed my porch.  Have you ever heard of someone doing that?

Please bear in mind I rarely use any thing I have to buy.  I have lots of rocks and logs so I made my back porch outta those.  Hubby brought me a huge rock last year (he just loves making me happy). Now it is where he brushes the dogs and we use it for many things including a table.  So tools ready...set...go.

I had a tiny helper who posed for the camera.  He/she is only as big as a thumb nail.  Glad to see them coming back.  I also terrified a REAL Ladybug and a Skink.  They did not hang around for a photo session.

You can track me anywhere with my DP can and a vacant pair of shoes.  If you find those two things I won't be far away.

Lizzy enjoyed the cool spots I was digging.  I recycle dog food sacks and lay them under stone to prevent grass invasion.  Between the large rocks I place gravel.

It was a long hot morning.  I had to stop and help get the beef in the freezer (59 per cent of live weight).  Full to the rim!  That feels good.

Back outside to finish.  Hot, tired, thirsty, sweaty, dirty and more but I continued.  I kinda like to finish something once I get it started. I'm a tad bull headed like that.

Please remember the back door is usually the worst.  Ki-Anne doesn't care.  This is before

and after.  One job done for another year!  It was in the shade when I began but not for long.  Too hot to work this hard.

Will my next job be the second fig

or the poor fern bed?

Depends on which one is shadier.

Believing Green Will Return...

The brush pile grows 

On the west side

Lilacs are uncovered

Snowballs no longer hide

Paths are opened

Plants are thinned

We're needing rain 

To make green again

The raised bed holds three glads

Beneath the soil

The spring bulbs 

Are doing rehab.

Cone flowers feed the fly-bys

The rocks shade the skinks

Dry stacked rocks odd wood just lie

Space always grows, never shrinks.

Joining Two Shoes In Texas for her creative prompt this Tuesday. Join the fun.