This morning was another hot day and I got to the garden early. Given the damage done to the large Plot Against Hunger garden, the rats, and the general end of season malaise, I just did a little harvesting (more arugula in my own garden and lots of squash in the large plot), weeding and thinking about when certain plants should come out in preparation for fall. In this annus horribilis of the garden, the flowers have been the saving grace. The zinnias that we planted after the installation of the new fence are providing bouquets for numerous gardeners.

The zinnias certainly are thriving on the sidewalk border.
They’re also attracting bees, butterflies–and today–a hungry finch, whom I was not able to capture well with my camera.

I zoomed in here so you could see the finch body, head obscured by the flower, center left.
I captured some morning glories.

I love the way they look lit from within, and these have a nice stripe.
And some that were closing, looking like luscious cherry swirl ice cream cones. (Did I mention it was hot?)

Okay, only two have the ice cream cone look…
A bee was doing gymnastics.

Flowers can be so hard to navigate…
And an Ailanthus Webworm Moth was partaking of the garlic blossoms. Striking creature. I had to look it up, as I had not seen one before.

See the orange, white and black creature lower right.
Love the gymnastic bee 🙂 So sorry to hear that the vegetable plot is not performing well; that is disappointing and discouraging. I know the feeling. However, the flowers sure lift one’s spirit!
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Thanks, Mary! That’s why I photographed them instead of the garden. Much happier results.
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Yes it’s good to remember there’s two sides to everything and it’s just as well to look on the bright side 🙂
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I have always been a lover of, and a cheerleader for zinnias. The fact that they are coming through splendidly, even during this annus hornbills, only deepens my respect for them. Not the showiest or most exquisitely delicate of flowers, their humble hardiness and happy color is truly a comfort when all is said and done.
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I’m cutting bouquets every week and mixing in some mint and oregano and a little artemisia. I like their sturdiness as well. Cut, they last a week. They’ve been fabulous to have in replacement of my other flowers. Some of the colors are fabulous…
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I understand entirely Lisa – my garden last summer was a hornbillus!! 🙂 The winds, the rain, the heat, the sleet – it was the summer from hell and I haven’t got a plan for this year still………. It is so despond making!! Still the zinnias are gorgeous and very cheerful and the bee is very clever. Not sure about the moth …… xoxo
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I suppose the moths are pests, but anything that eats ailanthus trees can’t be all bad.
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Thank goodness for the flowers
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I’ll say!
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Beautiful zinnias – they do feed the soul. Sorry about the off year, it has been hard on many. I always wonder what folks did before there were grocery stores and what they raised was what they ate. A bad crop year would have been disastrous. I am always grateful to the farmers who grow our food. Bless them!
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Yes, being dependent on my crops has been something on my mind lately–grateful I’m not–and grateful there are folks better at growing than I am!
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I love my farmers! ❤
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Leave it to zinnias to cheer a person up! They are so pretty and happy. And the photos of the morning glories are . . . well, glorious! I love the ice cream swirls. You are maintaining a very good attitude, in spite of everything . . .
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I’m trying! At this point I’m thinking, well, there’s always next year!
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I really like the photo and the bee caption. It provides a whole new perspective on bees.
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Sometimes when I watch them I see that they land on unstable surfaces and have to work to get here they want.
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we often forget that they work
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I’m sorry about the problems you’ve had, but at least the zinnias look beautiful. I’m afraid I had a bit of a struggle seeing the finch, though. 🙂
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Yeah, I should have done one of those red circles around it, but I don’t know how. 😉
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Morning glory….one of my all time favorites. Ephemeral.
Peta
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Thanks! They are very pretty.
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my zinnias are making me smile this time of year, I agree they are special:-) My morning glories are taking over my garden, I need to tame them back a bit-but they are pretty in the early morning.
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I forget how beautiful the morning glories are. Mostly I’m ripping them out because they are so prolific, but it’s nice to see them.
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I have them in my garden beds tangling up the flowers and vegetables. I do enjoy them but you are so right-very prolific!
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Lovely photos, Lisa. Your flowers are stunning. I’ve never had much luck growing zinnias, and there you are with a bumper crop. Isn’t it fun to find the birds, bees and moths or butterflies enjoying the flower nectar? It’s one of my favorite parts of time in the garden.
I know you’ll squeeze every last day out of the season. xo
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Thanks, Alys. It’s one of the good things about the late season this year. That and the arugula!
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Long live arugula!
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I just had to stop by to say I love the zinnias, they look very striking. It’s great to see they’re attracting the bees and other creatures. I love the morning glory flowers, too.
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Thanks and thanks for coming by!
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Zinnias have always been too stiff and sturdy for my taste, but I’m coming around to liking them. Yours are beautiful and such a treat after your ugly vegetable summer.
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Yes, the flowers have been the best part of the garden this year!
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Those Morning Glories are beautiful, especially when closed! I’m so glad you shared these images. The zinnias are lovely, too, and all that they attract, too. I’m so glad these flowers bring beauty after such a difficult season in the garden
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How would have thought the morning glories would be so attractive closed? Not me, but they sure caught my eye. I’ve got a fresh bouquet of zinnias, mint, oregano and artemisia for the week now. Have a good week!
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Lovely photos! Reminds us of the days in the East Coast! Have a wonderful week ahead.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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The flowers are lovely, and the morning glories particularly attractive. Such a beautiful color!
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I had not noticed their stripes before. Thanks for stopping by!
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All the flowers are so pretty!
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I think we’ll have them for a few more weeks yet!
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