Sugar Holes.

8-5-12 VERMONT: It was another action-packed weekend. Judy threw another dinner party—Alison, Dan, Lily, Bruce, Donna, Phyllis, Arnie, Lou and Ned were joined by Lisa and Zoe. The day was hot and muggy, again, but the evening was nice enough for everyone to be outside for the whole party.

All the overnight guest left this morning for points south. A huge branch fell off one of the roadside sugar maples this morning while the sky was clear and there was only a light breeze. It fell into the pasture without breaking the fence, as yet.

Today was another hot one, but tonight’s T-storms are supposed to bring in a cold front—we hope.

New blooms: star clematis.


Monarch?? Wrong-It's a Viceroy.

Viola. The radiating, dark lines guide the pollinator like the lights along a runway. The pollinator gets the nectar in the center hole while those pom-poms dust him with pollen. The rest of the petals are to attract from a distance.

Lobelia. Same deal. Radiating petals draw the pollinator while that sconce over the hole lays on the pollen.