First Azure Bloom

I managed to catch the first bloom of this Salvia (azurea, for its color) by chance in the last hour of daylight late Tuesday and this plant's botanical name is apt. This picture is a bit tinted from the sunlight, but the flower is indeed blue just like a clear sky.

Where the Echinacea Came Up This Year

Everywhere.

And so of course then, what I had was some to give away.

I Was Chasing a Hummingbird Moth

But wound up with a skipper and a wasp. (The hummingbird moths outwit the smartphone camera's capabilities, with their rapid wing movement.) The wasp, I believe is Monobia quadridens, a returning visitor in the garden. I can't remember when the hummingbird moths were flying at Floyd Bennett last year. But one summer I did see them in July, another mid to late august. This year, this weekend was the first I saw of these clearwing moths that fly by day visiting flowers. It's encouraging to see and then recognize at least a few returning pollinating visitors in the garden.

I think Monobia quadridens wasp with a backful of pollen on Monarda punctata, Floyd Bennett Field

Making Themselves at Home

 In this case, the bees in the plant and the plant in my commmunity garden plot.  I'm hoping the Monarda punctata will be sowing itself around like the echinacea seems to be and that this year isn't just a fluke. Because, I could swear these plants were not in this same place this year as last year. (and for Joe and Martha I think this was true too.) If this really turns out to be a native that likes where it is and is happy to move around and make itself at home, I would be pretty happy.