In the backyard

I came home from work and the afternoon was so beautiful--mare's tales clouds, a setting sun, a cool breeze, and a lush greenness born of the four inches of rain we've had in the past few days. Perfect weather for doodling around in the backyard with the camera.















The 'Better Boy' and 'Early Girl' were somewhat disappointing this year. The Girls were small, not very sweet, and tended to rot quickly. Maybe I'll go back to 'Celebrity' next year again, like last year.















The 'Sweet Million' continues to give us all it's got.
















Even the zucchini, which survived its repeated early encounters with hungry bunnies (not Niblet--some little Eastern cottontails), is still sassy. We've gotten some zucchini two feet long, man. That little plant's got it goin' on.















Despite a severe bee/wasp allergy, there's nothing sweeter than watching little honeybees do their thing in the flowers. Here, a little honeybee pollenates my way-gone-to-seed basil.















The last of the echinacea flowers that still looks pretty. I love that beautiful magenta color, and how the spiky centers of the flowers contrast with the soft petals.















Ignore the disgusting cigarette butts--is this a monarch caterpillar preparing to cocoon? I'd better dump out Kat's ashtray as carefully as possible to prevent the onset of pre-natal monarch lung cancer.















In the nasturtiums, which always remind me of my mother and my 'buelita (my grandmother in Mexico who passed away when I was young). Their sweet scent just makes me warm inside.















Check out our raspberries! Yum!

There are these weird white fuzzy-ish worms on this plant on the fenceline. Here's a (blurry) close-up photo of one of them:

They're not really fuzzy--they look more powdery, like a powdered donut. They also move very fast, if that helps in the ID process.... well, they're fast for caterpillars, anyway.
















While we're playing "tell me what this is" what is this flower? Locally, they call them "snapdragons" but I've seen snapdragons, and these ain't it. I think they're called that because the seedpods, when they're ready, burst and shoot their little seeds out at the slightest touch. I love playing with them, watching the little pods just snap and spray those seeds. I feel like I'm helping the plant, like the bees who pollenate it.















A sure sign that fall is coming--the mums are huge and the blooms are beginning to open. Yeah, baby--I love the autumn!















The pear tree's limbs are bending low, heavy with fruit. Last year, we didn't get very many at all, but this year--we've got 'em coming out our ears. Yum again.















Slugs simultaneously disgust me and fascinate me. Something cool about a snail going around without his house on, hangin' tough, braving the elements.

Well, I may have set the record for number of photos in one post--certainly a personal best, anyway. I'll leave you with a few photos of the different-colored marigolds that surround my vegetable garden.