Finally! I’ve been waiting forever for the Monarda to bloom, and not only did I get a bloom, I got a teeny-tiny little manti-dude friend! Given the dark manti-knees, I’ll hazard a guess it’s a Carolina, and given the fact that there was a Carolina ootheca on the Tornado Honeysuckle when we brought it from 544, that’s probably a safe bet.

I keep forgetting to figure out what these blue flowers are, but I just love them! Photo doesn’t do them justice at all; they’re lovely!

Rosemallow is tough, indeed, and apparently likes its swamp very much.

I ripped out the grass and made a flowerbed around the ridiculously expensive pipevine. It was not fun, but one HELL of a lot easier than ripping up the really big flowerbed full of goddamned crap-grass. Anyway, I installed edging so grass can’t creep in (theoretically, at least). These plants shipped with the second blazing star; two red lupines and two light purple speedwell.

Tickseed is a pain in the arse to keep deadheaded, but it sure is pretty!

I just love these dwarf cosmos; they’re the colour of lemon pie filling.