Summer Heat Wave(s)

As with the rest of the world, we have been experiencing major heat waves that have kept me out of the garden. I finally mustered the energy and fortitude to weed and take pictures. As I did some weeding, I noticed a very peculiar looking moth. After about 20 minutes on wonderful Google, I deduced that I have an Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth among my Salvia. It is about 2.5 inches long and the body is the thickest I have ever seen on a flying insect. As much as I love gardening, I still have to come to terms that bugs will thrive in a healthy one.

Standing guard

 The durantas are starting to bloom! So lovely. . . 

 My aloe when it lived inside our house

 This is what it looks like after living in the shade outside our house

 The alamanda bush was cut back after several frosts this past winter. It has now come back in full force.

The honeysuckle vines weren't very happy after the frosts either. Both have recovered nicely.

 Mandevilla 

I haven't seen this cute honeybee in a long while. I miss its presence.

I'm glad I took pictures of my bleeding hearts when they were in bloom. They aren't in bloom now and I can't wait until they present themselves again. Such beautiful flowers!

My double petaled petunias are not liking the heat. They haven't bloomed this nicely in a long while.

These Christmas cactus flowers aren't the only things I will be looking forward to when the cool weather hits.

The above three pictures show my succulents in different phases. After I moved the first succulent outside (cannot remember the name at this time), they seemed to flourish with the flapjacks. Yay!

My purple oxalis always make me happy. They are such a joy to have in the garden.

This pink Bougainvillea is currently in my care but really belongs to my mother-in-law. I hope she will be pleased with it when she gets back in town :)