Juli Lawrence – Rakish Gardening

July 22nd, 2008

I was just taking some goods to the compost pile, and I’m constantly drawn to my back butterfly garden. The Cinderella butterfly weed is enormous, it’s blooming, and I’ve even had a monarch already. I’m watching for my caterpillars, but no sign of any yet.

But I’ve never seen so many bees in my life. They just love that butterfly weed. I don’t remember last year being like that. I counted 15 big bumblebees (the velvety kind) and many more other assorted bees of various kinds. And one big wasp. I’ve got to get some pictures so I can identify the many bees. I put my face probably an inch away from these guys to get good looks, and I’ve never been stung. (I’ve been stung stepping on bees, but that’s it.) Either I’m the bee whisperer or bees really won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Heck, I bother them and they don’t sting me. (But no swatting…I just like close looks and squeals of joy.)

I’m afraid the bees may be working on those plants and neglecting my melons, though. I have zillions of blooms, but haven’t seen one melon yet. I plan to hand pollinate tomorrow and try to get some going.

So I was admiring the bees (and the fact that rain evidently washed away a lot of the aphids) and a flutter. Just inches away from my face was a golden little bird. I thought a goldfinch, but it may have been a golden oriole. I’m not sure, and probably won’t be sure unless I can see it again and get a picture.

I gasped from excitement and he flew away, so I headed back to the house. As I walked by the vegetable garden, there he was, with a friend! Two of them. Sitting on tomato stakes. I just don’t think I’ve ever seen birds that yellow before, and I’ve seen many goldfinches. (They like my sunflowers, though I don’t have any growing this year.) For a second, I thought someone’s pet birds got loose…that’s how striking these birds were.

I’m also starting to see hummingbirds, in my butterfly garden (kak supriz), and at the feeder.

It is so incredibly ironic that it took moving FROM the country to suburbia to find the joy in the birds.

There are few things I like about the burbs, and bird watching is one thing. The other things include: DSL, cable TV, pizza delivery and being able to run to the store for a candy bar.

Everything else sucks. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the girl. I’ll never stop missing it.

• Hummingbirds are finally visiting
• Phil Hendrie and organic farming/gardening
• Mama Robin
• Ladybug eating the oleander aphids

Tags: beneficial insects
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