Happy Holidays

I realize this post is late for some major holidays and early for others. Nevertheless, I wish you joy and light during the long nights. And a happy new year! May it be filled with color. (Photos: blue jay eating seeds fallen from our feeder and my frosty morning walk)

December

I'm preparing for the polar vortex--the bitter temperatures, the raw winds, the deep snows. What do I do? I walk outside. I touch up a few garden chores here and there. I sit on the porch, bundled in a warm coat. I gaze at the night sky (photo below two days ago, pre- Super Moon). 

The more time I spend outside now, the shorter winter will feel overall. The snow is gone (for now), but the frost arrives each morning. This is oregano with a lacy, icy loveliness.

Snow-vember

Saturday morning I woke to some beautiful snow on the ground. My first thought was "Snowshoes!" Yet when I went outside to clear off the steps, I heard gun shots. Alas, it's deer hunting season. High powered rifles can send gunshots long distances. On these days, I avoid the woods. Today, Sunday, most of the snow has melted and crusted over. Insert sad face here. I have mixed feelings about hunting season. The deer love to eat my garden, but they are marvelous creatures. I've observed the personality differences between the two that hung out near my house this summer, but now we're up to four in the area. And they love to chew on apple trees. So mixed. In any case, hunting season will be over soon, and we'll have more snow. Definitely. This is Minne-snow-ta. 

Frost on Feverfew

We've had our official freeze, and the growing season is over except for the greens. I'll try to keep them growing because even at the end of the season they're better than the stuff shipped in. To be clear, I'm not complaining that stores ship in produce. In the middle of winter here in Minnesota , I'm grateful! Below are some photos from our place...oak and hazelnut. 

The mess that is my garden

With the combination of late heat and humidity, heavy rainfalls with wind, and now cool, damp weather, my garden is a mess. Tall flowers are knocked over, things that don't normally get diseases are looking sad and limp, and then there's the fact I haven't weeded for a while. I've got some work to do this weekend! I have to remember that no garden is perfect.

The bok choy will taste good, even if there are weeds...

...as will the pea pods (second batches sown in July).

This weather has been good for my begonia on the front step.

And on warmer days, the bees love the basil. (It was tough to capture their rapid movements, but there are two in this photo.)

Now the fall colors are beautiful.

Happy Autumn!

Fall Feeding Frenzy

Painted Lady butterflies have been migrating through my area, and they are hungry! They love Joe Pye weed.

The Painted Lady rests.

Bees and butterflies share the same space.

Still popular are the Cosmos flowers.

The native asters attract bees as well.

The garlic chives have attracted the butterflies and just about every kind of bee, including honey bees. I wonder how that honey will taste.

Below is my new favorite photo. I didn't notice the frog until after I took the photo. Seredipity!

All photos copyright Linda Larson 2017

Bees, and wasps, and a frog friend

My year of the bees continues. They seem to like Cosmos, Joe Pye weed, and oregano.

When I was working on the mulch between the beds, I noticed some agitated wasps. Turns out, they have nest tucked under one of the boards. You may be able to see one wasp make its way into the nest opening, in the middle of the board at ground level. What to do? I certainly didn't want to get stung, but yet I'm committed to pollinators this year. So I've left them alone. I work around them, and they leave me alone, too. In fact, I've noticed fewer cabbage caterpillars this year. Once we get a hard freeze, they'll be gone. I can wait. 

And here's a tree frog on my compost bin. I've been busy so I haven't had a chance to stir the compost like I should, so he has a feast of flying food.

Mushrooms after rain

No, I won't eat these because I don't know what they are (and I'm not a big fan of mushrooms anyway--it's a texture thing). For size, the green leaf is about four inches. I tried to look these up online and realized how little I know about mushroom, other than they look cool. In the final photo, you'll see evidence that someone is eating the mushrooms (and corn and acorns). 

Bee Theme Continued

Several years ago, when we first moved out to the country, I planted some seeds called "mallow" and were labeled wild flowers. Now I see that they're considered weeds, which proves to be true since I dug them up years ago and yet they return. So I've embraced them, and it's a good thing, too. Today they're covered in bees. So I've included the photos below. I think the final photo is a honey bee from a neighbor's hive. 

Day lilies in my garden

I've got a few day lilies, and they thrive in my Minnesota garden, even with partial shade. Those classic day lilies that spread and spread, becoming monstrous and sprawled? I love them. They are growing at the edge of the woods, defining the border and giving it a pop of color in mid-summer.

The newer day lilies keep to themselves a little better. I've got these tucked on the opposite edge of the woods. They're at the end of their blooming time, but the foilage looks good the entire growing season. 

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Bees, Too

Yesterday we visited new Bee Center at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The interactive displays were interesting and great for all ages. I learned some new things about bees and pollinators. Of course, we visited other areas, too. One of my favorites is the clever Japanese garden. That's yours truly in the second photo.

We also explored "Amazing Spaces," which are variations on a theme of tree houses. My handsome hubby posed for this photo. 

We had fun exploring. Look for twelve tree houses in all. Here are a few more photos...but not too many. I don't want to spoil the surprises.