Hands in the Dirt & Water: Dogs Go Swimming Part III

Hands in the Dirt

I admit aside from harvesting cucumbers, lettuce, jalapenos, the first tomato, basil, cilantro, and stalking my strawberries (the chipmunk is still eating these before I can)... I haven't done a lot of gardening of late.  I also noticed that the fawns (or it may have been the woodchuck/s) have eaten most of the flowers that aren't fenced to include my peppermint, daisies, and sweet william, and others.  I didn't keep up with spraying my liquid fence... uggg! 

And remember all those beautiful apples that were growing?  They are all but are missing.  I have seen the squirrels eating them; guess they were really hungry.  Another reminder to self... to spray/defend crops.

Let's take a look at what is blooming!  The bee balm is holding strong (and nothing has eaten it); in fact the purple is peaking and just lovely!  I also have this tall flower with the bunches of purple flowers at the top (top left photo).  It's pretty! 

I have another peculiar red flower... I think I remember planting it as a bulb last year.. it didn't bloom and I just figured something ate the bulb (bottom left photo).  Nice surprise!  After a quick search I think it might be a Crocosmia!

I also have noticed other inhabitants.  Like this big green caterpillar... a little search is calling him a Antheraea polyphemus.  Which is fancy scientist for moth.  But, neat still! 

And do you see the "humming bird bug" hovering near the purple bee balm below?  A little search is calling that one a Spinx Moth.  Yup, I am totally enjoying all this outdoor stuff!

Hands in the Water

When we last talked about dogs swimming in the lake here and here Sammy had gotten this far... paws in and tasting the water.

Well, yesterday our little water pup took a huge leap in growing up. 

She swam. 

All on her own. 

Like she was born to swim.  So excited to see her making leaps and bounds like this!

The both jumped in the water, blew bubbles, drank water, doggy paddled and splashed around and then they would run back out of the water to shake off. 

The mister and I were reward with two very tired dogs at the end of it.  What an awesome way to cap off a long weekend!! 

Linking to:
~Outdoor Wednesday with Southern Daydreamer~ 
~Cottage Flora Thursday's at Fishtail Cottage~

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Travelling Moth

Enjoying time in my garden; checking out the flowers and visitors = happiness!

Their are two ingredients that I need an abundance of in order to stay my normal chipper self -- dirt and sunshine. That said gardening is a natural fit for me since it gets my hands in the dirt often and gives me a reason to hang out in the sunshine!

My small garden is designed to be a full sun mid summer garden full of tiger lilies, bee-bombs, daisies, honey suckle vine, petunias, a variety of herbs, tomatoes, hot peppers, and cool blue-purple flowers in these photos. It's on the verge of popping into color and attracting humming birds, butterflies, and honey bees. I'll be sure to snap a couple of photos when it's all blooming!

Until then, I will have to be satisfied with these blue-purple flowers and moths -- which are drenched in color compared to all the rain we are getting!