This was all giant ragweed a few years ago. I think Queen Anne’s lace is a huge improvement.
It was 77.8°F at work, when I left. The blowers were off, and there was a hot, plastic smell wafting around the department. I’m usually cold at work, so I’m not complaining too much, but I was glad to go home. Hopefully one of my coworkers wasn’t nursing a baby power strip fire.
Now that the bees and flowers are gone, the sumac trees are fruiting. The fruit is edible.
My favorite thing about zinnias is that the flowers contain tinier flowers.
There used to be tons of giant ragweed growing in the thicket by my patio. This time of year I was always miserable from allergies, because of it, but this year hasn’t been as bad. And I guess that’s why. I only just noticed I didn’t see any. Maybe invasive honeysuckle choked it out? And now the poke berries, burdock, ironweed, and jewelweed are choking out the honeysuckle.
And yes, the fur tree by my patio died. They were going to cut down all the diseased fir trees a few years ago but never did. The birds still use it.
The purples are blooming, finally! I also have a few cosmos buds threatening to open.
I had a monarch butterfly visiting my firstborn zinnia this morning.
My little baby is all grown up. And a little chewed up.
This is probably the last day for heavy bee activity. The weather has been weird, so the sumac flowering has been staggered, drawing out the bee activity longer than normal.
You can hear them humming. It’s hypnotic.
The girls are still working hard.
And this is why it’s called flame-leaf sumac.
The girls are still at it.
red paper boat 