Adventures in Our Backyard Garden

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Oct 11:

Last blooms of our Tall coreopsis that came home from @mtcubacenter a few years ago in a little pot and each Spring and Summer grows to 7-8 foot tall.

#nativeplants #backyardgarden #dusklight #coreopsistripteris

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Oct 10:

Took a break from a Fall gardening project to watch the little goldfinches from our deck today. They love black-eyed Susan seeds. These are some seed heads I left up for them by our deck steps.

#femalegoldfinch #blackeyedsusans #backyardhabitat

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Oct 9:

Noticed this plant lit up by the dusk light tonight. Realized it had bloomed. Had decided it wasn’t a weed and let it grow to see it flower. It’s a seedling of a mother plant brought home from @mtcubacenter Instant Hummingbird Garden class 💜 Whorled mountain-mint.

#dusklight #whorledmountainmint #backyardgarden

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Sept 23:

We were away for 2 weeks and returned earlier this week to find the many asters in our backyard garden in full bloom. Beautiful!

A monarch butterfly seemed very happy to find them today as well 💜

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Sept 3:

I was at Natural Lands for my volunteer ambassador session @mtcubacenter this past Thursday afternoon. On my way back to the formal gardens by the house I took the meadow route. A few images from my observations. Spotted a #redadmiralbutterfly out in the meadow. It then flew and landed at my feet on the path 💜

Then saw some motion next to me and saw a #prayingmantis (a nonnative one well camouflaged) trying to catch a wasp! (unsuccessfully) and then a view down to our ambassador at the pond with visitors. A beautiful day to be at #mtcubacenter .

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 31:

Lots blooming for the hummingbirds 💜 right now. Sat on the deck for some #ornitherapy watching them this afternoon.

2 hummingbirds flying about with visits to red honeysuckle vine flowers, red cardinal flowers, obedient plant flowers and a sit up in the wild cherry tree.

#lonicerasempervirens #lobeliacardinalis #physostegiavirginiana #prunustree #rubythroatedhummingbirds

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 30:

Looks like a beaver (or beavers) are back! This tree was down across the pond path on our walk at the pond this morning , with evidence at the tree base that a beaver was responsible and new wood is on the beaver dam. Can’t wait to see one!

#morningwalk #pondhabitat #beaversreturn

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 29:

Goldfinch visit to our backyard garden at dusk last evening.

#malegoldfinch #dusklight #gardeningforwildlife

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 28:

Spotted this #coopershawk as it flew into our backyard woodland edge.

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 28:

Baby bunny has been keeping me company while I garden. So cute! 💜

#babybunny #gardeningforwildlife

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 28:

From our walk @mtcubacenter last Sunday morning. The #franklinia trees were blooming! Flowers have a nice scent and were very popular with the pollinators. Butterflies, bees, and a hummingbird (it didn’t cooperate for photos 😌). We found three trees on our walk.

#frankliniaalatamaha : Per #mtcubacenter signage: “Extinct in the wild. All known specimens descend from the 1777 expedition by William Bartram”

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 25:

Look what bloomed today! I planted 9 Hibiscus coccineus seedlings, brought home from @mtcubacenter propagation class last year, along the edge of our rain garden. They all came up. Didn’t think they’d flower this year but 3 of them developed buds late. What a treat!

#hibiscuscoccineus #scarletrosemallow

A native hibiscus cousin of the white with red center swamp rose mallow.

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 19:

Stopped to stand in a bit of shade in the formal gardens by the house @mtcubacenter yesterday afternoon and noticed some movement by the steps. First noticed the male in the #blackeyedsusans then realized the female was there as well 💜

#goldfınches #pair #mountcubacenter

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 19:

Stopped to stand in a bit of shade in the formal gardens by the house @mtcubacenter yesterday afternoon and noticed some movement by the steps. First noticed the male in the #blackeyedsusans then realized the female was there as well 💜

#goldfınches #pair #mountcubacenter

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 18:

An observation while sitting at the @mtcubacenter Natural Lands pond this afternoon. Saw something large land at the pond edge and zoomed in for still images and caught a video as well before they flew. Fascinating!

#dragonfliesmating #mtcubacenter #pondhabitat

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 18:

#hummingbirdclearwingmoth also happy with the butterfly magnet #phloxpaniculata ‘Jeana’ flowers this afternoon @mtcubacenter . What a cool creature!

[backyardgardeningadventures]

Aug 15:

Whorled mountain-mint was in full bloom yesterday with lots of pollinator activity. It was one of the 5 plants from @mtcubacenter Instant Hummingbird Garden class in 2020. (As I recall it was virtual with plant pick up.)

It attracts insects that the hummingbirds like.

#mountainmint #hummingbirdgarden #backyardgarden