Category Archives: the Lot

Spring Arrivals

backyard bed, bulbs, spring, the Lot

We did it! We made it through another cold, dark winter. The Spring equinox has passed, the first robin was spotted, and now freckles of color are appearing on the Lot.

From left to right are the winter aconite (Eranthis cilicica), crocus (Crocus tommasinianus), and snow drops (Galanthus).

More Skipper ID Clues

loki bed, pollinators, the Lot

I’d written not too long ago about a little winged insect in the backyard garden which I thought was a checkered skipper. At the time, I didn’t get a good photo of the wings when they were open. Well, guess who visited today after the rainfall? It was fluttering around the catnip.

Top of Checkered Skipper Wingspan

The color of the fuzzy body and base of the wings was a dusty blue. Is it weird to want to cuddle an insect? I did a quick search of the latin name (Pyrgus communis) to make sure this was indeed the same species. Everything checks out!

Enjoying a Loss of Control

backyard bed, rambling thoughts, the Lot

Both Memorial Day and Labor Day are usually busy weekends on the Lot. I utilize the 3-day weekend to either get the garden ready for the season or begin to wind things down for the arriving autumn. Today I had a long list of items to begin:

  • divide and move the Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
  • move the  ‘Burgundy Bunny’ dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) since it isn’t receiving enough water
  • move the Himalayan Cinquefoil (Potentilla atrosanguinea), ‘Dazzleberry’ sedum, and ‘Dark Reiter’ geranium (Geranium pratense) since they are no longer receiving enough sun
  • plant the ‘Advance Blue’ bellflower (Campanula cochleariifolia), leadplant (Amorpha canescens) and 2 unknown red sedum that have been sitting in pots for way too long as a gardener decides where they should be placed
  • divide (maybe with a jackhammer?) the Maiden Grass
  • research how-to and hopefully divide the Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
  • mulch newly build beds

However, Nature will do as she wishes. She doesn’t really care if a gardener has a to-do list for the weekend. As I was digging, the rumbling in the already overcast sky began. Within the next several minutes the rain started. I ducked into the garage to see if the storm would blow past. It didn’t.

As I stood in the doorway looking out at the backyard, I was able to notice the sights, smells, and sounds of the garden during the soaking rainfall. It was beautiful and so relaxing. I caught a bit of it to share.