Beauty of a butterfly...

This beauty sat nice and posed for me. It is either a Diane Fritillary or a Spicebush Swallowtail.

Poppies reaching for the sky.

Purple Spiderwort winter sown for this season.

Moss Rose, what a truly pretty color. Direct sown this spring.

Queen Anne's Lace. It is said that Queen Anne was tatting some lace and pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell into the center of her lace, giving this flower its name.

Teasel, growing wild on our lane.

Zinnia opening up.

In no particular order...

Giant Sunflower

Sunflower against the evening sky

Smooth Pumpkin

Wrinkled Pumpkin

Northwest corner of house

Ironweed

Naked Ladies aka Resurrection Lilies

Naked Ladies aka Resurrection Lilies

Brick path to side of garage

Great Blue Lobelia

Endless Summer Hydrangea

4 O'Clocks, Anise Hyssop, Autumn Joy Sedum

Ceratostigma aka Hardy Plumbago

Ceratostigma aka Hardy Plumbago

I haven't been awol...I've been watering

Endless Summer Hydrangea

It has been such a dry, dry season. I am very thankful that we had so much rain this past winter. Seems as if there is always some area that needs water. I have been collecting rain water and use that as much as possible.

My Hydrangea is blooming and I hope next year it grows to be even more beautiful. I have read that some people have had trouble with the Endless Summer and I hope that I won't be one of them.

Poppies direct sowed this spring are starting to bloom, red ones, yellow ones, lilac, orange- all colors of the rainbow. I love poppies. So spring-like and delicate looking.

Clematis Multi-Blue

Clematis have been blooming like crazy. Multi-blue is almost done, and also H.F. Young, which I didn't post a picture of. Lots of purple!

Clematis Nelly Moser

One of my oldest clematis is Nelly Moser. I dug this up from my mom's yard 6 or 7 years ago and planted it at my old place, then transplanted it here a year ago. Last summer I only had one or to blooms, but this year has been much better. I imagine next year it will fill the arch it is on.

My coneflowers are doing well. These I received from a neighbor last fall. I have 4 plants blooming and the color really stands out.

Dianthus Siberian Blues

Siberian Blues were planted this spring, I received them in a plant trade. Nice bright color and a strong bloomer.

Teddy Bear Sunflower

Teddy Bear Sunflower survived the squirrels this spring, only one of a dozen or so planted after winter sowing. This plant has 4 flower buds, so it is making up for my loss. It is a short plant, only 12 or 18 inches tall.