More of the Big Bee

I am sharing a couple more pictures of the large bee that was in my garden this weekend, you can see it next to a normal size bee, I have never seen one this large, so am not sure what exactly it is.

Camera Critter Saturday Three

This was the biggest bee I have ever seen! I took this picture in my backyard this afternoon.

Gaillardia

This is a new Gaillardia that purchased and planted this year. I like it but it does not seem to stand up well, it ends up bending way over, of course we have had lots and lots of rain this year so the ground is really wet. I ordered it from Bluestone Perennials, I can't remember the name (as usual).

Double Delight

This is my Double Delight hybrid tea rose. It is my favorite, the blooms last quite some time and the fragrance is pure heaven.

Pepper ID?

This spring my husband bought and planted what were labeled as cayenne pepper plants. We plant them every year, the kind that get dozens and dozens of 2 to 4 inch hot peppers, in the fall we pull the whole plant up and hang it upside down in the garage, they dry by them self and we pull them off the plant all winter long to crush on pizza etc.

This plant looks like a banana pepper only they do not turn yellow, they go from green to red and are about 10 inches long with thick skin like a sweet pepper but they are not sweet, they are HOT. Anyone have any ideas what kind of pepper this is?

Butterfly Wings Collage for Camera Critter Saturday

Something a bit different for this Saturday, these are all butterfly wings, that I cropped from my photos.

Whiter Shade of Pale

TGIF!!!!! Friday at long last. It has been a busy couple of weeks, I had jury duty last week, that lasted 3 days. We had our grandsons over the weekend from Saturday til Monday, that was wonderful! So this work week was busy but the weekend is finally here and the weather forcast is for a beautiful sunny day with temps in the low 70s which is nothing like our usual Iowa August weather.

Standing Tall

I was out early in the AM taking pictures, my favorite time of day to take them, just after it is getting light, the dew was heavy when I took this picture.

Surprise Lilies, Naked Ladies

My surprise lilies are done for the year, they are something I look forward to every year, one of the highlights of my gardening year.

Brugmansia

My Brugmansia was in full bloom a few days ago. Smells like heaven.

Camera Critter Saturday

These photos were taken at the Reiman Gardens Butterfly House in June of this year.

Cosmo to go with the Cleome

I plant Cosmos with my Clemoe every year, most years they both self seed for me but I always add a fresh packet of seed for each every spring.

Cleome or Spider Flower

I remember growing and walking down to elderly neighbor lady's garden, she grew these flowers in neat rows in her garden. For some reason I was enchanted by them, I still grow them every year. This one is just starting open.

Old Fashioned Tiger Lily

I have dozens of these lilies growing in my garden, a neighbor lady gave me a few bulbs 30 years ago when I moved in my home. She gave me these and several bulbs of surprise lilies or naked ladies.

Perfection

Isn't this the most perfect beautiful rose bud? We have had storms here in Iowa, it stormed all last evening, so I did not even turn on my computer. The rain we received yesterday brought the 3 total up to over 4 inches.

Pet Pride Sunday Kitty Post

Callie Cat and Jon Pickles

Pet Pride Sunday-Doggie Post

Rosie, Erin, and Quasi-Boy

Cardinal Flower

I have always wanted to grow this plant successfully, I did not have much luck until this year as it likes to have its feet wet which with my sandy soil it just never happened. But last year after the flood and we had to put in a new patio, I now have the perfect spot for it. Because of the lay of the ground the patio slopes to one side for water run off purposes, I planted it right where the water runs off the patio.............perfect! It appears to be very happy. I plan on planting more there next spring. It is the most beautiful red.

Camera Critter Saturday Two

The first photo was taken at the Blank Park Zoo, the second in my garden, any garden will recognize it as the nasty Japanese Beeetle, the last two are of my boxer Quasi Boy.