The Garden in June

There has been an explosion in the number of caterpillars in the garden. So far, I have Eastern Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Giant Swallowtails and Buckeye caterpillars. On one Parsley plant I counted up to twelve cats. This is the first year for the Giant Swallowtail caterpillars to make their appearance in the garden. They are currently feasting on the leaves of my Meyer Lemon Tree. I also have a Mexican Lime Tree, but no cats were spotted on it. I planted a White Veined Pipevine, so I'm just waiting for the Pipevine Swallowtail cats to show up. Maybe I need more of the Pipevine plant? 

Swallowtail Caterpillar

 Swallowtail Caterpillars

The Artichoke that was planted last Spring has finally bloomed out. I tried to leave some blooms on the plant for the bees. I ate three Artichokes, which I steamed and dipped in a lemon butter sauce. They were delish! Of course, anything dipped in butter taste good. I'm mesmerized by the gorgeous thistle like blooms. They also smell like perfume. Here are a series of Artichoke pictures:

Foliage and flowers around the garden....

Caladium

Coral Vine

Mona Lavender

Kent's Oregano

Firebush (Hamelia patens)

Autumn Fern

Agapanthus, Potato Vine and Red Penta

Sunflower

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my garden.

June in the Garden

Thanks to some much needed rain in the Spring, the grass is still green and the flowers are blooming. This 'Big Red Sage' was just planted this Spring. The blooms are a fuchsia color and not really red. The plant is very tall and the hummingbirds love it. I'll probably be planting some more next year. 

The coral vine is blooming. We planted it last year. The hummingbirds are all over it!

The 'Juliet' tomatoes are the only tomatoes that we planted that are producing fruit. 

The FBA's (Future Butterflies of America) are at it again.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the 100's this week. I noticed I'm filling up the hummingbird feeder more than usual. 

Stay Cool!