The garden never sleeps..........

 There were a few surprises in the garden on my recent return............such as a pot of these beautiful Stargazer lilies on the back deck, blooms just opening and begging to be cut and brought inside away from the overwhelming heat - 106F the day after we arrived at the cottage. 

Note I always trim off the heavily pollen coated stamens, they will stain anything they touch!

 Then of course the moonflower and morning glories - seeds I planted in the large pot here on the driveway.....to give the porch a little shade in the Summer afternoons. 

They did reach the top of the porch while I was gone, thanks again to the kindly neighbors watering efforts (pots dry out so quickly in 100+ degrees day after day). Although I've yet to see any moonflowers bloom, the blue of the morning glories is evident each morning - if I catch them in time before the oppressive heat sets in and they curl up, their short life over. 

This bird is back.........probably the same one who's been circling the neighborhood for several years. I heard so many blue jays screeching in our neighbors' front yard tree a few days back - then saw the hawk fly out with this..........................

.............in its talons which it promptly dropped on the lawn before landing on the mailbox post.  Poor baby birds, or perhaps eggs, were gone...........have never seen a predator remove the nest too, what did it plan to do with it? I'm wondering if this was the same bird who took my baby finches from the nest on my front porch in early June - would not be a bit surprised.