God's creatures

Many creatures are at home in my garden. While my amateur camera skills prevented me from photographing birds this weekend, a few creatures were kind enough to remain still for a second or two.

Birds throw seeds from the feeders to the chipmunks waiting below. This little one has a mouthful.

Our garden has 16 oaks, with a squirrel's nest in almost every one.

Bumblebee on Salvia guaranitica. Bees and hummingbirds love blue Brazilian sage. In March I dug out and discarded a big clump of it because I thought the roots were diseased. Mistake. Tony Avent reported in his newletter this month that the tubers store water during dry spells, making the plant drought tolerant.

Behind the bee balm (Monarda 'Jacob Kline') and daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva), a sweet creature is willing me to go inside our cool house on a hot afternoon.