This week we have reached the letter X, an extremely difficult letter . . . 
. . . But I didn't want to think too hard-- it's summer, a time to relax and to watch puffy white clouds or jet trails make a pattern in the blue sky.
Summer is also an exciting time in the garden as the garden teems with insect life and blooms like these of my favorite flower, the purple coneflower, fill the garden with color.
Or when exquisite creatures like these flit about searching for food. Note this is not the same dragonfly I pictured last week; I've had several varieties come to visit in the past week.
It can also be an exasperating time--the Japanese beetles have arrived!Check out more ABC posts here.
And a note to garden bloggers, particularly those who attended Spring Fling: Sometime tomorrow I plan to post a review of the book A Garden of Invention. I hope you'll have time to stop by and read it sometime.
Cute idea for a series of posts. Have enjoyed them.
ReplyDeletePure brilliance with that X in the sky!
ReplyDeleteOh! I have of those in my garden too! And some liatris, Jupiter's beard, etc.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you caught jet trails that made an "X"!
X-citing idea!
ReplyDeleteAs always, your photos and ideas are all very good.
ReplyDeleteToday, the thing that I think stands out for me as very original, is the first picture of the plane trails. That would not happen very often, certainly not to order! Great to capture it.
Lovely photographs Rose.... what a beautiful dragonfly...I have not seen one like that here.....
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that the japanese beetle has arrived.....grrrrr, get out of Rose's garden......
I am having trouble with lily beetles this year....I am beginning to wish I had not planted them......oh the joys of gardening.......
I'm not seeing as many Japanese beetles this year, maybe we have eXterminated them finally?
ReplyDeleteI'm still reading Garden of Invention, just started a few days ago. I'm looking forward to your review of it.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
This is an eXcellent post Rose. I really like your header photo too. We had this dragonfly in our garden this week too.
ReplyDeleteOn Jane's urging, I went to see Luther Burbank's shovel at Greenfield Village! When ABC Wednesday starts over, I think I'm going to join, even though I'm not the best with timed things like that!
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, how did you get those pilots to draw you an x;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dragonfly. I never see them around the farm. I have Japanese beetles too so it's time to cut off the rose blossoms.
Marnie
That's a good use of "x" Rose. I like the big X in the sky.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are definitely rated A - not X :-)
ReplyDeletePS Thank you for the comment! As you can imagine, I totally agree with you!
I have to laugh at your jet contrails! I've always said that our main "scenery" around here is the sky!
ReplyDeleteThe sky is such an essential part of the landscape in central Illinois, so it doesn't surprise me that you came up with jet contrails for "X." It is a hard letter to do.
ReplyDeleteI bet your Hollyhocks look gorgeous from a distance. Even up close they look pretty good, despite a few holes. I squished the first Japanese Beetle of the year a couple days ago. It felt good.
Happy July!
ReplyDeleteHappy ABC Wednesday.
Your gardens are lovely. I love seeing the bees and the dragonflies. I just love all the bugs. I belong to the Xerces Society.
I think anything for the invertebrates! Now who eats those beetles????
Sherry
I love the X of the contrails..creative post for X...love all the garden shots...the purple coneflower is beautiful, and what a great capture with the bee...
ReplyDeleteTerrific x's. Particularly fond of the criss crossed contrails...
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone for stopping by; the first photo was one I actually took a couple of months ago. I was out with my camera trying to get a photo of the first tulips when I looked up and saw the jet contrails. If I had been purposely looking for an X, I never would have found one:)
ReplyDeleteGreat series of x-iting flowers!Thanks for your visit!
ReplyDeleteYou said in your comment that you saw many anchors on other blogs. I should like to see them too, for I want to see if they differ from the Dutch ones.
Despite the JB damage, those hollyhocks are lovely! I hope you squish or otherwise destroy the little buggers ... from what I've heard about them, I am very glad they aren't an issue here!
ReplyDeleteNice capture of the crossed jet trails for an X. I agree your garden is Xciting and quite Xcellent. Good luck with those Japanese beetles.
ReplyDeleteAn eXcellent ABC Wednesday post Rose :)
ReplyDeleteLove your X in the sky :)
ReplyDeleteYour letters are always so perfect : ) Brilliant!
ReplyDelete