Summers Beauty

I am an avid gardener and my favorite time of the year aside from the beautiful spring flowers, birds chirping, trees blooming and bushes spreading would have to be the summer. I adore waking up early in the morning while the dew is still fresh on the grass and no one else is active in my community as it is only 6am. I am still pretty tired, but after the coffee is brewed and I enjoy my first few sips, I am ready to go exploring the great world of gardening.

My garden has grown, so to speak over the many years of tending and my appreciate has certainly grown for the many different species of flowers, shrubs, trees and the like. One of my favorites if the old fashioned marigold. There are so many different varieties, shapes and sizes and some reach as high as three to four feet in diameter. My favorite reason for them is that they keep many different pests away from my garden. They also last from late Spring into the Fall and are extremely hardy.

A long tradition with marigolds is that they are associated with the Day of the Dead, as their vibrant color and aroma is believed to guide spirits of the dead and used to decorate alters of family members.

It's flowers are edible and is a source of many natural dyes. I have just started to experiment with the dyes and have created some interesting designs I have made using an old tee shirt which twisted created an interesting pattern I am proud of and once properly dried, will wear.

Now another beautiful discovery is that my plants attract many different species of birds and butterflies along with the rampant squirrel and chipmunks. I have noticed butterflies like to come out during the day and usually I spot them in the afternoon once the sun has been out for hours warming up the buds and the opened ones seem to ready themselves for the butterflies to nestle themselves deep within my blossoms.

I have started to take photographs and have a catalog of my favorites including the one presented for this story which is breathtaking. I am most proud of these stills and have recently decided to enter a local contest for the best garden photos for this year. I am excited about my chance as I am dedicated to the continuing of the marigold species along with the prospect of finding new ways to have more and more butterflies as they bring a beauty that every gardener wishes they had.

What I have learned that there are 150 species of butterflies in my section of the country and one of my absolute favorites is the White M Hairstreak which is an explosion of vibrant blue with black markings. It is glorious to see and I am awestruck once I see them and always try to have my camera ready for that perfect shot. I just so happened to see one and was praying that my presence wouldn't disturb it, so I crept as carefully as I could and took the shot and at that same moment, it flew away. But, lo and behold, not far from this flower, I notified yet another beautiful species called, Viceroy or the ever popular Monarch. I was so excited that I dropped my camera and the butterfly was startled and flew away. My heart sank, but I knew that I would get another chance one day.

The sun was starting to go down as I have spent several hours in the late afternoon taking pictures and weeding my beloved plants when I finally decided to call it a day and take in a bouquet of my flowers, especially the marigolds as I had a recipe that I wanted to try and heard that the properties of the marigold were amazing. I was planning on making a vinaigrette and wanted to use the petals for garnish. I couldn't wait to get started, so that was my next plan of attack. I am so thankful I have this wonderous talent for growing some of the prettiest and hardiest of flowers that attract the sensational and beloved butterfly. I fully intend to continue this for as long as I can and look forward to each day I have here on this earth to spread the joy of flowers with others.