The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Category Archives: Critters

Hummingbird moth – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

The hummingbird moth, categorized as an insect, continues to hang on the Verbena and I’m appreciative of the opportunity to try and capture her on film. Well to capture her digitally, if accuracy is important to you.

hummingbird moth

I originally planned to list out some cool facts about the hummingbird moth, but figured I’d share the link to the Birds and Blooms article instead. You can check it out here.

Interesting fact: Birds and Blooms magazine did a small feature on me in their print magazine years and years ago so I’m partial to those fine folks. Hence the reference to their link. I’m solid like that.

Daily Garden Photo – Blue Winged Wasp

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

I did it.

I made it to day two.

Rejoice.

Your pic of the day:

Blue winged wasp

My daughter was volunteering at a half marathon (she’s so good) and I, ahem, volunteered to bring her and hang around for three hours until she was done. Beyond seeing her to her destination and ensuring her safety, my visit served two additional purposes.

  1. To eat at a restaurant that I hadn’t been to in years, specifically to gouge on their killer buffalo chicken pizza. And to also reminisce while there as my wife and I had partied on the roof of the restaurant while in college (don’t ask). I clearly recall saying to my wife during one party, while still in the courting phase, “Well at least if the roof collapses below us, we can make dinner for everyone.” She should’ve known what she was in for then.
  2. To scout nearby nurseries for plants.

Mission was more than accomplished.

With a full belly, I shopped and ended up picking up eight new perennials and one grass. We’ll get to that gem of a grass on another day. And just so you know, the eight perennials were made up of five of one type and three of another type. So while the total was an even number, the sum was all about odd numbers.

Always odd.

At checkout, the dude ringing me up saw my five mountain mint plants and congratulated me on such a fine purchase. He proceeded to share his experience with mountain mint and how cool it was to see all the …

I cut him off before he could say any more.

My response: “Let me guess, the blue winged wasp?” He smiled a big ass smile and we shared a moment. It took all my strength not to give him a bear hug.

I love the blue winged wasp, more formally known as Scolia dubia. They fly from mountain mint to mountain mint and while it’s a struggle to capture them with a camera, I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy hanging out with them.

I’ve since bought six more of these Pycnanthemum muticum and patiently wait for them to eagerly spread in the garden.

Critter pics

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

Still plugging away in the garden.

Still not ready to share the results.

In the interim, here are some photos I’ve taken the past week.

Hope you enjoy.

More Monarchs this year than ever before. Here on Joe Pye Weed.

 

Enjoying the Allium.

 

Spread your wings little guys and gals.

 

 

Swamp Milkweed attracts them all.

 

I thought I was photographing a Monarch Caterpillar only. Turns out a Praying Mantis had captured it. I can’t lie, I maneuvered the caterpillar loose. I did not let nature take its course.

 

I’m giddy over Plantskydd

Posted on by Posted in Critters, Deer .

Y’all told me and I finally listened.

And shit, you were all right.

This Plantskydd stuff works (fingers crossed that it will continue).

The deer have been hovering and yet they haven’t touched a thing since I starting use this a week ago.

The best part? I didn’t have to re-apply after the rain. And we’ve had a lot of rain this past week.

The leaves were sprayed (and yes, I didn’t fear the temporary coloration of the leaves. I read labels) and that was it.

My precious peonies haven’t been touched.

The Baptisia has been ignored.

 

The Sambucus, which has never grown more than a few inches before being chewed down, actually bloomed some.

Ninebark ‘Amber Jubilee’ foliage continues to grow without interruption.

My dear Filipendula are thriving. And I’m crying tears of joy.

But I’m most excited about my Thalictrum. It has never survived to full bloom and it appears we are finally on our way.

 

Thank you readers and commenters.

Once again you’ve proven that you’re way smarter and more aware than me.

More to come with this.

 

I like it

Posted on by Posted in Critters, Winter interest .

I felt an itch today.

An itch to garden, whatever that means.

I walked my grounds in flip flops and a t-shirt because it was a pleasant 60 degrees outside.

I desperately wanted to weed. Or dig. Or snip.

But that opportunity didn’t exist.

The birds were raising hell throughout the backyard and I decided maybe running around and trying to photograph them might scratch the itch.

It sort of did.

 

 

Damn it is difficult to get them to sit still. Oh well.

When I was done I took one last pic before I walked through the front door.

Pat on back time.

My garden looks so much better in winter than it has before.

I actually stopped and let it all soak in.

I like gardens.

And gardening.

Even in winter.

 

Chasing down the hummingbird

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

I’ve noticed one remaining hummingbird that has been buzzing around the last few days and so I made it my mission to capture one last photo of him or her before he or she heads south. This hummingbird has been attracted to a batch of pink obedient plant (Physostegia ‘Vivid’) so I set up camp nearby on my deck. After an hour of failed surveillance and a lot of sitting and waiting, I finally got something as the hummer lingered in a nearby crabapple tree for only a few seconds.

humming-3

Not too bad of a shot I guess. At least I walked away with something. My guess is that the hummingbird has since packed a bag and is off to greener and warmer pastures.

I did try killing time by snapping a few shots of other birds coming and going from the river birch tree also near my deck.

bird-2

 

bird-3

And shocker, a few photos of the garden as she quickly descends into hell autumn mode:

Joe Pye, Bee Balm and Karl Foerster grass

joe-pye-foerster

 

The blooms of Indian grass.

indian-grass-blooms

 

And moving from back to front: Boltonia, Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’, Baptisia and Joe Pye Weed.

driveway-bed-2

QOTD: What did you do in your garden this past weekend?

 

 

 

 

The latest and not always greatest in the garden

Posted on by Posted in Blooms, Critters, Garden problems, My garden, Summer .

Some observations from out in the garden:

This white bee balm is the only one to have survived last winter and while it is nice to see it blooming, it honestly doesn’t do much for me and the powdery mildew is real bad, worse than with all of the other bee balm. We don’t know until we try, right?

white bee balm

 

Right plant for the right location = happiness, as seen with the Physostegia (Obedient Plant) below. This first photo was taken back in May when I dug up and divided a massive batch of these and relocated them to my newly extended and very empty garden bed.

divided obedient

Two months later and they are thriving in a very wet and full sun location. I am very psyched for the massive pink display to arrive next month.

obedient vivid

 

You’ve all seen all of my numerous pics of Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ and read my raving reviews of this perennial but in the spirit of my last post and with full disclosure, here is the reality of the “legs” on these right now.

veronica bad

Fortunately, I’ve shielded most of them with other low lying plants so the blooms remain the attraction.

veronica good

 

I love how one ‘Karl Foerster’ grass (Calamagrostis) can break up a mass of perennials and not only lend a different height/uprightness, but a different texture as well.

front bed

 

I cleared this area of nasty Canada Thistle by cutting them all at soil level and not by attempting to pull out the roots like a dope which has failed me miserably for years now since it actually multiplies the number of weeds when pieces of root break off.

thistle path

I will now finally track the results properly. Here is one example of the cutting.

thistle cut

And about one week later. I’m going to now cut it back again soon and will continue to do so until it kills itself by sapping all of the plant’s energy. Or so I hope. More to come.

thistle

 

I just purchased a few ‘Delft Lace’ Astilbes solely because I fell in love with the red stems and red tinged foliage. I’ll be sure to track this one for you and hopefully I don’t fry them since you know, they need constant moisture and it is the dead of summer. Smart.

delft astilbe

 

My attempt at a path with a true destination worth visiting.

 

These purplish bee balm are incredible right now and are my favorite current place in the garden. 

planter bed 2

 

planter bed

 

bee balm 2

They are bringing in a ton of visitors. 

hummingmoth 2

 

butterfly bee balm 2

 

Check out all of the action with this video.

QOTD – Where do you purchase most of your plants? And I want specific names and locations please.

Thank you.

 

Butterfly and Bee chasing

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

I really wish I could record myself as I’m busy chasing around the butterflies and bees. There is nothing goofier than watching a 6 foot 3 inch man run from flower to flower trying to get the perfect shot of one of these creatures. The only thing funnier than watching me gallop around like an infant chasing a balloon, is watching me attempt to get into position for the money shot. It’s like a lesson in how not to perform a yoga move. Downward Dog gone wrong.

So as you look at these photos and the video below, just keep in mind what went into securing them. Know that there is someone on the other end of the camera who puts his own awkwardness aside for the benefit of the reader/viewer. A true selfless man who looks possible injury in the face and pushes on.

I am a warrior.

Grats.

butterfly coneflower

 

butterfly cone flower 2

 

macro 2

 

butterfly bee balm

 

butterfly bee balm 2

 

macro

 

 

One flower, one foliage and one fail

Posted on by Posted in Blooms, Critters, Foliage, Garden problems .

THE FLOWER – nothing carries a more powerful scent in the garden right now than the flowers of Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’ (Koreanspice viburnum). When people knock at my door, I take my time answering just so I can watch their nose twitch a bit, see them turn around and try to locate the origin of the smell and then eventually ask “What smells so good out here?” 

viburnum aurora

 

THE FOLIAGE – This is my first year with Sambucus racemosa ‘Lemony Lace’ (Elderberry) planted in the garden (was in a container last year) and it was the quickest of all the deciduous shrubs to emerge this spring. I’m in love with it even at only a foot in height right now.

elderberrry

 

THE FAIL – The Eastern Tent Caterpillars are back on the Crabapple tree for a second consecutive year. Last year I simply slashed open the “nests” and let the birds have their way with the caterpillars and the tree seemed unaffected by it all. Will do more of the same this year.

bag of bugs

Hummingbird Moth

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

My absolute favorite time of the year in the garden is the beginning of summer when it is hot, the days are long and flowers are in full bloom everywhere. I like it hot. Like a lot hot. During that same time, my garden is inundated with a certain creature who happily flies from flower to flower in search of the almighty nectar. And her name is hummingbird moth.

hummingbird moth

Hummingbird moth and milkweed

Upon first glance, this moth looks and moves just like a hummingbird but upon closer inspection, it is clearly a damn handsome moth. The species that visits my garden year after year is Hemaris thysbe, also known as the hummingbird clearwing. Some facts about this hummingbird moth:

  • They hover in the air and unfurl their long tongue to sip nectar just like the hummingbird.
  • They are typically an olive and burgundy color.
  • They range from Alaska to Oregon in the west and Maine to Florida in the east. They are most commonly found in the east, typically in your standard suburban garden.
  • The caterpillars feeds off a number of different plants including Honeysuckle and Hawthorn, both of which are located on my property (who knew?)
  • They then burrow into the soil to overwinter.
  • The moth emerges in late spring with red scales which it loses upon its first flight. The wings are then transparent, hence the name “clearwing”.
  • They are most commonly seen during the heat of day in summer and most often witnessed sipping the nectar of the Bee Balm plant.
  • They lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and those eggs hatch within a week or so.

While they can be difficult to photograph due to their constant motion, I am up for the challenge each summer and enjoy spending hours following them around like an infant chasing a balloon.

Here is a hummingbird moth enjoying my phlox.

hummingbird moth

Hummingbird moth and Phlox

hummingbird moth

Hummingbird moth and phlox

hummingbird moth

Hummingbird moth and phlox

And as mentioned previously, two of them devouring the nectar of their favorite flower, Monarda (Bee Balm).

hummingbird moth

Hummingbird moth and Bee Balm

Summer cannot come soon enough.