Bogturtle's Garden- June 21 to end

 

Discovered the change made to blogger that makes sizing the photos simpler. Finally!  The groundhog, that had gotten in the fenced area and decimated a row of beans, a row of carrots, was discovered by me and ran between the fenced area and a pile of branches needing chipping up, right into the trap. It seemed a dark and safe area. This is the photo of the trap that worked, sorta. So it was captured. But I can see the wire did not completely engage. Wish I had noticed. When I picked up the trap, the animal's weight opened that near end and it ran off. So it is still a menace 

Here is the low growing Azalea, again. Maybe called 'Orange Creeper', but who would name a plant so strangely?

In many places, the wonderful native called Stokesia laevis is coming into bloom. A fine, tough evergreen, that seems quite deer resistant. I am on the outlook for the less common white clone or straw yellow one. They are here, as far as I know. 

This photo, and the one below, are reversed. The last of the branches of the huge Cornus mas 'Golden Glory', that was taken down by the heavy winter snow is now in a trash can. I am using the chips to deter the animals from digging into the fenced garden and to keep weeds down, everywhere. 

Another colorful male Box Turtle.

Below is a video of the hummingbird feeder right outside the window where I sit. Every Spring a pair claims it and the squabbles, as strangers trying to visit, are amusing.  But getting the videos is difficult, as these birds are shy. And sometimes the TV is reflected in the window or can be heard. 

As soon as I lift my hand to the camera, to hit the zoom, to bring the view closer, they flit away. 

Still working to publish the best capture of the humminbirds that are using the feeder just outside the window where I do this blog.

Just loaded with these beautiful flowers, Stewartia japonica or Pseudocamellia japonica blooms across the lawn, at the edge of the woods, centered in the middle window of the 7 in that wall.  Like the perverbial Japanese gardener, I cannot help but focus on how any plant or planting departs from being ideal. The beautiful little tree is very slow growing, and colors beautifully in Fall. With these and the wonderful flowers. all good.  Its faults are that is sheds them all over any pato or lawn near it, the flowers lasting only a day or so, while coming for more than a week. 

Stokesia laevis again. And I have become concerned with the decline in all the little insects that pollinate. Far fewer than in previous years. I suppose wholesale spraying for ticks and pests can be having a disastrous biological downside.  

Blooming in perfection, Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'. And the large leaves color beautifully in Fall. 

One end of the little rock garden features the white flowered form of Lychnis coronaria and Stokesia.

Leaving the havahart trap out, as if the groundhog would run into it again, only resulted in an Opposum. They eat anything and seem very low IQ. Nor as bad as a Skunk, though. I trapped one two days in succession with apple slices. I don't think the Groundhog will go into this trap again.  Maybe if I bait it with Kale. 

Pseudocamellia japonica, or Stewartia j. through the center window. 

The pale straw colored yellow clone of Stokesia laevis called 'Mary Gregory'. Blooms are slightly smaller, and the plant seems a mite shorter, but I am so glad it has returned. Now I am looking for the 

white flowered clone called 'Divinity'. It bloomed las year.