Wordless Snowdrops

Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'

Join Me at the Madison Garden Bloggers Fling!

Dear Friends:

I'm focusing on hopeful things. In June, gardeners will gather in Madison for the Garden Bloggers' Fling, and I'm on the planning committee! The Fling is a meet-up of garden social media communicators that has been held annually since 2008 (except for a two-year hiatus because of COVID). In addition to garden bloggers, others who can attend include YouTubers, vloggers, Instagrammers, and podcasters...basically, anyone with an online, regularly updated, public outlet for sharing gardening content.

The dates this year are Thursday, June 23, through Sunday, June 26, and you can learn more and register here: Fling registration.

I may be a little distracted in the weeks ahead as we close in on the event.

In addition to Fling planning, my focus now is on the spring garden, my indoor potted plants, and signs of new life, new hope, and new blooms.

Sedum hybridum

Lantana camara 'Bandana Rose'

Gerbera jamesonii

Passiflora incarnata

Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger'

Oxalis vulcanicola 'Zinfandel'

Because of numerous tasks that surround preparing for a major event, I may not be as present here in the blog space for a bit, but I will visit from time to time, and I will be back and active by midsummer. And I'd love to meet more of you, in person, at the June 22 Garden Bloggers Fling!

Wordless Signs of Hope

Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'

Helleborus orientalis

Zinnia elegans 'State Fair Mix'

The Butterflies of 2021 (And a Happy Announcement)

Monarch among prairie plants

One of my favorite activities during spring, summer, and fall is to hike, and count and photograph butterflies. I report my sightings to wisconsinbutterflies.org. This past butterfly season was fabulous! What follows are a few of the butterfly (and one of the moth) sightings of 2021, in no particular order. There were many more; this is just a small sample:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (black form female)

Pearl Crescent

Black Swallowtail

Clouded Sulphur

Common Wood-Nymph

Viceroy

Silver-Spotted Skipper

Snowberry Clearwing (moth)

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Red Admiral

Monarchs (mating)

American Lady

Giant Swallowtail

Cabbage White

All photos were taken in natural areas, botanical gardens, and my own property. Frankly, every time I see a butterfly brings a special joy, and I look forward to the season ahead.

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Good news! My blogging friend, Donna, of Gardens Eye View, and I are co-authors of a book to be published in the months ahead. We're thrilled to be working with Golden Dragonfly Press. Stay tuned for more information soon!