Thanks for the ID, Hoovb- it's in bloom down on Santa Rosa road here, climbing up fences and filling in under huge Iceberg roses. I was tempted to pull the car over on the way home from work and knock on a few doors to see if I could get an ID, but I didn't want to have to explain myself to any Home Security Alert employees. Renee

Question:"Threedodsmom (waht a cute name!), what is the yellow flower in your fist picture? And I love the lush look in your second picture. I see some dark red in there. What are they?" Answer: standard button garden mum planted last fall, blooming now in July. A happy coincidence ! Dark red touches are Jacob Cline monarda, knockout rose new growth showing, and canna "Wyoming" leaves. Second Question: "Threedogsmom, I have those exact daylilies that are in your first picture - rust with bright yellow - a gift with no name tag. I always wondered but assumed they are just a variety of Ditch Lily. Is that right, or do you have some other name for them?" Answer: They are not the common ditch lilies - you can see a ditch lily in my second pic down, to the right, a tall scape towards the front/right of the bed. You can see more pics in the "poised for lily explosion" thread I started. I do not remember the name of the burgundy and yellow daylilies in the first pic, but they have multiplied very well in just 2 years ! Got at Lowe's.

You are not alone. I've been noticing the leaves on my dahlia and penstamon were disappearing. I'd studied the plants but found no bugs nearby. Then, today looking out my window that is near the thistle bird feeder, I noticed the birds that were waiting for an opening on the feeder. They were congregated on my dahlia and penstamon, biting off edges of the leaves. There are leaves all over those two plants in various stages of hole-ness. I wondered that they did not eat the quince leaves right above, or the lilac bush right next to them but they were definitely making mincemeat of my other two bushes. Not a seed situation, but leaf-eating, pure and simple.

Ron, I really like this effect. Liked your watercolor one too. Oh, to be able to play around with photos like this! Carla