This has been a mild summer in most of Colorado. A mild summer here means lack of wildfires, no excessive flooding, pleasant temperatures and frequent afternoon showers that do not last more than an hour or so. It also means that the deer and elk have plenty of native grass in the meadows to satisfy their appetites thus leaving the flower beds to the enjoyment of people.

This is a collage of some of the flowers that do well in my flower bed. These are low maintenance and bloom for long periods. There is the native monkshood purchased years ago at our native plant sale. Some years it fares better than in others and so this year it is enjoying the ability to fourish in full color in its place of growth. Also pictured are bee balm, black-eyed susan, and russian sage. These plants do well in attracting honey bees and the sage and monkshood are resistant to the curious elk and deer. It is gratifying to enjoy the colors of the neighborhood beds this year. I am grateful that the elk and deer are happy as well.

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.”
~Henry Beecher

Peace.