Butterfly weeds are finished blooming and the aphids have disappeared. There's a few pods on the plants that were not heavily attacked. Hope to be able to have some seeds to plant before Winter sets in.
Echinaceas are blooming with gay abandon, in several shades of red and orange. Goldfinches(?) Chickadees(?), at any rate, some mostly yellow birds with black markings have been picking at the seeds in the drying flowerheads. Have never seen these birds before this year.
Zinnias are hanging on as best they can, almost completely consumed with mildew. Will try some new varieties next year that are supposed to be mildew-proof/resistant.
The dill held great promise for swallowtail caterpillars, I watched a female lay approx. 30 eggs(she studiously avoided a huge pot of parsley). Surrounded the pot with a chickenwire cage, and many of the eggs hatched. Only eventually saw two caterpillars of appreciable size, where the others went is anyone's guess. Was it possible birds got through the wire?
Squirrels laid waste to my hollyhock seedlings. Snatched a few more seeds and will try again.
I've been impressed with the tithonias, although haven't seen any butterfly activity near them. The plants are tall, dark green and slightly fuzzy/downy. Flowers last about a week, will try to harvest some seeds.
Anise hyssop, woodland sage, zinnias and coleus is all I have for the bees. Drink up, girls.
Don't know why my borage hasn't been setting seeds, it's usually a terrific re-seeder. Maybe less sunlight is the trigger?
Those seeds that were supposed to be snapdragons turned out to be Anchusa, a VERY tall forget-me-not. So tall they had to be staked. Blooms are so tiny that they're really not worth it, unless you particularly like periwinkle-blue flowers.
Planted some tall sedums surrounded by alyssum, in big pots atop brick pillars. and the birds pecked the sedums almost to the roots. Had the sedums for many years and the birds never bothered them before. I was all set for some pink Fall color and now there won't be any.