Garden Bloggers Bloom Day brought a great gift – six (and I stress SIX)  Monarch butterflies dancing on the Joe Pye Weed. This is very unusual. Until yesterday we have only had one Monarch at a time, but yesterday THREE monarch were dancing on the zinnias. With six Monarchs we are in a celebratory mode.

It has been a difficult summer in Greenfield, Massachusetts, with days and days of rain in every month. The rain did not affect all the flowers, but there was less exuberance. It was a thrill to welcome six Monarch butterflies.

Roses are very important to me, and I have only a few because our garden is so wet. ‘The Fairy’ is always determined, and  although she struggled this year, she is doing better right now than she has at any other time of this year.

The Drift “Coral”. a small shrub, is another strong rose. She will bloom through September – and maybe longer.

I  cannot do without Alma Potchke aster. It is a strong bloomer, about three feet tall, and reminds me of a dear friend, Elsa Bakalar.

The great thing  about Woods Blue Aster is that it is low and will bloom for a long fall. It is also very energetic and has sprawled out  on our Hugel.

I added Gaillardia this year. I love  the colors and she continues to bloom, but because of all the rain she is not as vigorous as expected right now.

This lobelia joined Gaillardia and is in the same boat. I have great hopes for greater bloom next year.

I must have black eyed susans – so vibrant and long blooming. Bees love them and I keep the bees in mind when I choose flowers.

Turtlehead is a plant that loves water, but even she took a while to come into bloom.

When we bought our house six years ago we immediately bought three hydrangeas. We wanted large shrubs  to create a ‘friendly fence’ because our yard is right next to our neighbor’s drive way.  They have all three turned into very large shrubs, doing exactly what we desired – and pleasing our neighbor as well.

I will end with the Cardinal  flower. This is a plant that loves water and grows  tall, up to five feet or so. I have had her growing for three years now and I have just learned an amazing fact. I did know  that  she increased every year, but I did not know that she is capable of throwing her seed here  and there. I have given some away, but this year I  will have to remove those babies, as well as a number of the tall plants. It does take a while to learn about our plants.

I thank Carol for giving me, and us, Bloom Day.  It is a gift to make me take a regular look at the garden – and think about what is – and what will come.