Here in Massachusetts we've been having a drought, so we were all so thankful to finally get some rain yesterday.
 |
| Hibiscus 'Cranberry Crush' |
Every summer I wonder why it is that the weeds thrive on heat and drought, while the plants we want throw up their hands and cry uncle. Thankfully many of my plants are pretty drought tolerant - or at least the ones that aren't drought tolerant have died already so I don't notice them anymore. (Sometimes it pays to have a short memory.)
 |
| Thank goodness for Purple Coneflowers and Cosmos! |
The veggie garden has been a struggle this year. The plants are doing fine, but I am not reaping the fruits of my labors.
 |
| half-eaten green tomato |
The chipmunks, on the other hand, obviously feel like they are at an all-you-can-eat garden buffet. They've eaten almost every tomato and ground cherry the garden has produced.
I no longer think chipmunks are cute.
 |
| At least the chipmunks don't like onions! |
The snakes that used to live out behind our neighbor's house must have moved away as we've seen so many critters move in this summer in addition to the normal band of roving deer. One rascally groundhog, a small horde of chipmunks, and two bunnies have settled in this year. (I'm expecting around 100 little bunnies next year.)
But I've spotted a few beauties around the garden, too.
 |
| Clearwing Moth and Lantana |
I always welcome the pollinators to the garden.
 |
| bee on Liatris |
It is interesting how different years see rises in different populations of butterflies. While I haven't seen a lot of butterflies in general this year, there have been a number of Swallowtail butterflies, especially Spicebush Swallowtails, which I am delighted by.
In other news, this past weekend marked five years since I started the Red House Garden blog. I can't believe it's been five years already.
Happy gardening, everyone!
