Bugs, Flutters and Flowers.

A missed opportunity today. I saw a Short-tailed Swallowtail and didn't get a picture. Mainly black wings, at least they looked black, could have been very dark brown, yellow spots on the wings and a beautiful blue on end of tail. They are apparently only found in the Maritimes.

Another swallowtail though. A familiar sight this time of year.


And this one. The best I could do as it wouldn't stay still for long.


I'm not sure what this is. It looked like a cross between a bee and a wasp. Looks like it's legs are well covered with pollen.





Another bug of some sort.


Poppies and White roses are now blooming.



Feathered flower in the garden, lol. Drinking at small water feature.


Then off to find more bugs.

Todays exciting capture.

While wandering around looking for bugs to photograph, and while taking a picture of a bee on chives, right before my eyes was......correct me if I'm wrong....but I think it's a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. I can only say that I was so excited I nearly got sick and when taking the pictures off onto the computer I got even sicker worried that none of the photos turned out.

So here it is: Click on picture for larger view.

It's been over cast with rain and drizzle pretty well all week. Granddaughter and daughter arrived on Tuesday and we've been on the go off and on despite the weather. Yesterday it cleared up for a while and we had friends over in the evening. We were sitting outside when it started to rain so it was back inside again. They've both gone off for lunch which gives me a chance at the computer.

There are two icebergs off Salvage but too far off shore to get a shot. They just look like two dots on the horizon.

Lovely granddaughter and lovely daughers elbow, lol.


I haven't used the camera all week so yesterday while the sun was shining I walked around looking for insects. Not much to be found so took a few pictures of a couple of parts of the garden.
The first Rose of the season has bloomed.


The Wild Iris's are now blooming.


Laurie in the garden.


There's still not a lot in bloom but with all the rain we've had this week the garden is exploding it seems.

Are They Bugs or Thugs!

Can someone ID these two bugs for me. I haven't seen them here before.




A few flower pictures.


Cosmos


Maybe someone can tell me what this plant is. I have loads and they are very pretty when all in bloom.


The first bloom on one of the Iris's my mother gave me in April. It's quite large and gorgeous.


A bit of rhubarb, some chives and spinach.

A Few Small Creatures

Parents arrived around 10:30 am and it was a lovely day. Not as hot as the day before but quite comfortable. My mother and I went to the greenhouses after lunch. There's not much left there now but we did come away with a few annuals. Last night after supper my father was complaining that he was cold. "COLD?" I said. "Yes, freezing" says he. Asked my mother if she found it cold, she didn't. Next thing I see my father with his coat on, oh dear, time to light the fire.....sigh! lol. And my granddaughter flew into St. John's yesterday so hoping to see her and Laurie this coming week.

Yesterday morning I got some macro shots of bugs. There are more insects about now and I just love taking these shots.

Ah...Summer.

Himself went off on Sunday headed for Spain. He says that a couple of health problems he's had have left him since he's been there. I think it must be a bit of a coming home for him as he spent 20 years in Spain. As to me here, I haven't stopped working in the garden since he left. It seems I get a lot of weeding done and a day or two later I'm astonished at how many of the weeds have come back. It seems an unending job and I don't know how many more years I can keep it up. If I had a half a dozen fast workers here for a day I would have it all done.

At the moment I'm waiting for my parents to show up. I worry about them on the highway as my father is almost 90 years old, has a bad hearing loss and can only see out of one eye. Can you see why I'm worried!! He was suppose to have his eye fixed up this month but they've changed his appointment to September.

It's another glorious day. Yesterday it reached 32 C here in the garden. There have been a few butterflies around but haven't been able to get pictures, same with the bees. I'm still looking for a dragonfly. I must look back at my pictures and see when I started seeing them last year.

Still not a lot in bloom yet although everything is growing wonderfully well. I think this is going to be the best year yet for the plants. A few pictures I've taken around.

Female Finch

Blue Jay bashing a sunflower seed.


In my wanderings, I came across this little angel asleep in the grass.


I believe these are call Cups and Saucers. Not sure though.


Lunaria


I've never found out what these are called but look quite nice in drifts.

Chives