It rained most of the weekend; so much that the yard was soup, and it was very muddy when I finally broke down and cleaned the goddamned hairy bittercress out of the cosmos bed. When I got it cleared out, I discovered that I had one seedling. One. I had saved some seeds, but not enough because they usually seed themselves everywhere, so I’ll have to supplement 544’s Bright Lights this year. I didn’t take a picture because it’s seeds sprinkled on soupy mud, but at least it’s done. I also seeded the Black Swallowtail bed with Golden Alexander and Florence fennel…for whatever that might be worth. There’s carrot and one tiny dill seedling already growing there. I threw a bunch of other seeds hither and yon, but of course, didn’t take pictures.

I had a good idea what was nomming the crap out of my coneflowers, and I caught one of them red-handed (black multi-footed?). From the looks of my flowers’ leaves, I do not predict a shortage of Silvery Checkerspot flutter-guys this year.

It’s a good thing I don’t worry too much about what colour a flower is because all four of these were labelled “Balmy Rose”. At least one of them is a very purple rose!

I may live to regret it, but at this point, I’m glad I put Virginia creeper around the bird pool. Hope it doesn’t choke out the pachysandra; this was just a few strings last year.

I moved the butterfly bush that hadn’t done all that well  (Black Knight?) tight up against one that had done better, the put the little New Jersey tea guys in together. I hope they do well!

Bebe Monarchs are growing. I didn’t count, but they’re still doing okay so far; the milkweed is growing faster than they can eat it (for now).