Bee Balm

I have that centaurea, too, Casey. Mine is done flowering for now. I'll have another crop later this summer. Here is my bee balm after the rain--love the smell of the leaves.

Have never seen a Rose Breasted Grosbeak at our feeders til just 10 minutes ago. It certainly is braver than all the other birds except maybe the chickadees. He just kept on eating as Dh cleaned and refilled the bath less than 8 feet away. Pic not very sharp, and taken through a window.

Alisande, what fun memories that swimmin' hole pic brings up. In the '50s us kids swam in the 'mule pond' at the coal mine about a half mile from town. The mules that worked the mine were kept in a barn about 50 yards from the pond and the deep mine main shaft was about the same distance. We also swam in a creek with rocks stained with the orange sulpher from the mines on the other side of town. Can you imagine that happening today...and just what contaminants are still in my body.

Glad to say you seem to have survived very well, Gazania. The swimming hole above was in Massachusetts. I hope it's still there, and the water is as clear.

Your Grosbeak is lovely. One appeared, with an Indigo Bunting, right after my daughter Gillian died, but I haven't seen either since that day. Many years earlier I hand-tamed Evening Grosbeaks along with other wild birds in my yard--a memorable experience.

Peony with ant. Taken with Droid Turbo phone.

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Finally a decent day without rain. Loads of new flowers in the garden. Not sure on this variety of rose. Judging by it's leaves it could use some attention.

Can I just point out that JoanMN's peony has an ant on it! See Jim, I'm not delusional, the ants love the peonies.

Snapped from a car on the way to Charlotte, NC. The triangular area between the entrance ramp and the highway was nearly completely filled with day lilies.

Bob, our daylilies are just starting to bloom now.

Fantastic pictures today, everybody. I love the flowers and birds. Just beautiful and such vibrant colors!! I was lucky enough to get some help this weekend and I finished my new garden in the back yard.

Our peonies are always crawling with ants, we have to check them before we put them in a bouquet.

No ants on my peonies. I have not see any of those large black ants anywhere on the property. However, those itty bitty things are all over the yard and this rain has got them making big hills all over the place. On the peonies, I rarely see anything on them except an occasional flying insect.

murrysmom, love you new garden. The stepping stones to the bath are a nice/practical touch.

Thanks, Gazania. I was thinking, too, of making a small plaque for Teddy and putting it in the garden.