Bees, Bugs & Butterflies

My garden has had it’s share of bad bugs this year, spider mites (the worst infestation I have ever had), aphids, japanese beetles, slugs… the list goes on. But, right now, my garden is also filled with good bugs, including gulf fritillaries, bees of all kinds, soldier beetles, lady bugs.. here are a few photos. Click to enlarge.

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Gulf Fritillary

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Soldier Beetles

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Soldier Beetle on perennial Ageratum

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Lady bug on marigold

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Bumble Bee resting on a coleus

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Bumblebees on Dahlia

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Hyacinth Bean Vine

Hyacinth Bean ‘Ruby Moon’ (Lablab purpureus) – This is the vine I used to cover one of my arches this year, and I’ll definitely grow it again. Right now, it’s covered in purple flowers and dark purple pods. I even like the foliage of this vine (and, it’s drought tolerant!).

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Flowers

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Purple Pods

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Pink Mountain Laurel

I added a new shrub to my garden this spring, a pink mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia ‘Sarah’. This one has bright red buds that open to pinkish-red blooms, with green glossy foliage. This shrub will get about 4′ tall and is much more compact than the native mountain laurels we have here (which I also love!).

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Kalmia latifolia ‘Sarah’ blooms

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Glossy foliage

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Spring Garden Photos

These photos were taken over the past two or three weeks. Click on first photo to view gallery style, or to view full size, right click on each photo and open link in new tab.

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