pollinators in the summer garden

   After the bustling activity of springtime, things got kind of quiet in the garden for awhile. The various pollinators began their nesting time and they were foraging closer to their nests. But that has all changed and life in the garden is VERY BUSY!! The hummingbird babies have fledged and are busy chasing and squabbling among the flowers and feeders. The spring migration of Painted Lady Butterflies has ceased but they've been replaced by the slow fluttering dance of Swallowtails and Monarchs. I love to watch them as they perch and feed on the bright pink Echinacea Flowers that are so prolific this time of year. The wild bees such as Mason and Bumblebees are loving the yarrows while the shiny black Carpenter Bees are foraging in the salvias all day long! They are up before sunrise and are still out there well after the sun has gone down. Speaking of sundown, that's the time when the bright yellow Night Blooming Primrose unfurls its flowers and the Sphinx Moths are on them as soon as they open!! It's so fun to watch them hum and feed like tiny hummingbirds in the evening light. It's one of the many treats of summer!  The many kinds of wasps are having a good season this year. They're on insect patrol in the flowers and do their own special brand of pollinating in the process. We have a shallow dish of water in the garden and the wasps and honeybees LOVE to drink at the edge or even float on the water. It's their spa in the summer heat. Speaking of honeybees, we have a lot of them foraging in the garden all season long. This time of year they aren't interested in the sugar feeders. They're busy in the flowers instead. Some bee favorites are squash blossoms, cactus flowers, spearmint, basil, poppies, tomatoes, peppers, scabiosa, guaras,carrot flowers, cilantro blossoms and so many more! The garden is alive with their music and I am grateful. Life on this beautiful planet wouldn't be the same without all of our precious pollinators and I'm happy to help. And you can too....
​With much love from the garden,
​Marianne

About the Author
Marianne spends as much time in nature as possible which, of course, includes her garden. These monthly posts are a way for her to share her experiences in the garden with others so they too can feel the beauty and wonder of our Mother Earth.