Hummers and roses

It was a wet Saturday for most of the day even though we saw a bit of sunshine. The ground is pretty wet and DH is wondering if he'll be able to mow at all this weekend. The temperature is still really pleasant and we've been able to keep the windows open and enjoy the outside sounds of birds...lots of birds. I actually slept well last night. Hurray. The end of the yuck is near. Good thing. I'm flying east on Monday.

I knit some on Sonnet and here's my progress. True, I'm not a speedy knitter but I am making some progress. This view is pre-coffee this morning.

The honeysuckle is lovely this weekend. While I was taking photos, a hummingbird werrrrrrred in to sip some nectar. The image is a little fuzzy but it is the best of the ones I shot.

The roses are starting to bloom. I have what I call shrub roses as well as tea roses. There's one miniature rose, too, unless the poor baby is really stunted. These roses came with the house and I'm doing my best not to kill them off. In the past I have not had the best track-record with keeping roses alive. *ahem* This summer starts the third full year of having responsibility for them. The good news is that they are all still alive and there are more blossoms this year than before. The bad news is that something has started eating the leaves again. I don't see any little crawlers but there has to be something there. I spray with a rose bug spray but last year several of the rose bushes looked pretty bad by July. Of course, part of my problem is that I'm not home everyday to police that garden. I'm open to any and all suggestions about what to do with the roses.

Comments

[jen]

I"m not sure one could get a better impromptu shot of a hummingbird! You'd have to be set up, ready for it, with a fast shutter speed to get a better one. Sonnet is looking good!

[Julie]

Beautiful honeysuckle! And nice hummer shot too! I catch them mostly at my feeder though I know they visit my honeysuckle as well but of course mine isn't yet blooming.

[cindyg]

When I read the title, my first image was large motor vehicles decked with flowers.... The bird is much nicer, and I'm impressed that you were able to capture it in a picture. That's a lovely rose. I like the way the petal edges look as though they were trimmed with pinking shears.

[Kim]

My suggestion: Neem oil spray. It's organic and good for what ails your plants. I order it from Gardens Alive, which is a wonderful company. I've been ordering stuff from them for years and have no complaints at all. If you have a slug problem I highly recommend their Escargo.