Humboldt Traffic Jam. . .

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When five or more cars are on the 101.

All going in the same direction.

At the same time.
And you wonder why I live here.

Crocosmia 'Solfatare'

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I said I would publish a photo of the yellow crocosmia when it bloomed and, finally, here it is.
This crocosmia, or Montbretia "Solfatare", as is its botanical name, is different from the orange and red crocosmias which bloom in my garden. The plant itself is smaller, growing to about 12 - 14 inches in height as opposed to the towering 36-inches the 'Lucifer' can reach. It sports bronze-y foliage, which is quite beautiful nestled among blue flowering shrubs such as Ceanothus. In fact, mine is growing quite nicely between a pale blue Ceanothus and a dwarf, green & red-leafed Japanese maple. The last major difference is that is blooms much, much later in my garden than the others.

Froggie

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The last two times Clay has taken the cover off of the grill, this little guy

has been inside. It sits, rather non-plussed by the sudden light, for a few minutes

before coming to its senses and hopping away into the mint that grows at the edge of the deck.

This time I had my camera close by. Isn't he/she cute?

Hummingbird Moth

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This guy (or gal) was in the office foyer last night, frantically

fluttering around the light fixture. The metal part of the fixture

is 2 1/2 inches tall, so you can see how long this creature is.
When I was a kid, we called these "Hummingbird moths",

but according to several sources, they are a type of Hawk or

Sphinx moth. The moth flew free after I took these photos.

Lonicera

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Commonly known as Honeysuckle. The white and yellow one is called Lonicera japonica, or Japanese Honeysuckle and the pink one is called Lonicera Dropmore Scarlet and has beautiful purple-green leaves and tendrils.

A Garden Intruder

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I've never seen a spider like this on our property.
It looks dark and menacing, all scrunched up with its legs
facing front over its head. *Shudder*!

Brown Moth

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This was on the door leading to my office this morning.
Looking a little tattered but very much alive, it allowed
me to get within 2 inches of its little body and never moved a wing.

Blue Hydrangea

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I know I've done this before, and this blog isn't even that old, but the blueness of this lovely flower head that grows on a plant outside my office is so beautiful that I took another photo today. And so I offer it to you.

Ashland Flora (and Fauna)

Pin It Walking around Ashland this past week offered an
opportunity to snap a few photos

of the local flora:

Chicory


a mystery flower

Moss Rose mutation

Clematis


Beautiful and mysterious seed pods

a sweetly scented, perfectly formed rose

And, if you look carefully, a doe guarding her young who
are sleeping, hidden away under the tree's branches.

(For a larger view, click on the photos.)

More Glads

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I'm racing around trying to get ready to leave for Ashland when I suddenly I'm brought to a halt as I see that the small yellow gladiolus with the beautiful red and purple throat has finally bloomed.

Pollen clings to the delicate, purple-edged stamens.

Oh, to be a bee!