Monica Knits

These cuff-down, knitted socks incorporate, 1 x 1 ribbed cuffs, bias lace, and a round toe. Shown in size 12-24 months. The pattern provides instructions for sizes 0-6 months and 6-12 months as well and includes an optional peasant heel and Kitchener toe.

Pattern Information: Two Toes Tubes Baby Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Two_Toes_Tubes_Baby_Socks__D10417220.html

Cotton Blend Yarn: Knit Picks' Comfy Fingering^TM Semolina (24819), 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic, Fingering weight, 50 g (1.5 oz), 1 skein

I mentioned that I had completed 8 pairs of socks over the past few weeks. These cotton windmill socks, knitted in size 0 - 6 months are one example.

Pattern: Picot & Infant Windmill Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Picot_Windmill_Infant_Socks__D10416220...

Cotton Yarn: Knit Picks' Comfy Fingering^TM Ivory (24814), Sea Foam (24828), 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic, Fingering weight, 50 g (1.5 oz), 1 skein ea. Main color (MC) is sea foam; contrast color (CC) is ivory.

The Stargazer and Lollipop lilies bloomed a few weeks ago, but my red lily flowers (not stems or leaves) appear to have been eaten by deer, who have been sleeping in the southeast flower bed. The lilies in this photo grow near the driveway, a much busier location in the yard. Since this spot is not a deer bed, I've been enjoying a few weeks of blooms.

Though most of the Gaillardia blooms are spent, there are still enough that you can still see bees gathering pollen.

I stopped for a few minutes to watch the bees gathering pollen from my lavender plants. They moved at a dizzying speed from flower to flower, undisturbed by the heat or observers. Don't look for a bee in this photo though--I was capturing the morning sun backlighting the flowers.

Recently I wrote about using stitch markers for the Lily of the Valley Socks. They are even more useful for the "Queen Silvia Shawl", which has even more lily repeat patterns. The pattern, found in Nancy Bush's book "Knitted Lace of Estonia," recommends 2 stitch markers for separating the garter stitch borders from the central lily lace pattern. I found it helpful to use additional stitch markers for separating the lily repeat patterns as well as the initial cast on. So far I have knitted 56 rows: the garter stitch border and 3 pattern repeats. I made two changes to the pattern instructions. Read more ....

The stunning metallic copper sheen of these Japanese beetles belies their ravenous, destructive habits. These invasive, foreign pests are indiscrimant leaf and fruit eaters and the native insectivores don't seem interested in them.

This amazing butterfly has visited the dragons'blood sedum blooms three days in a row. When it folds its wings together, the outside surfaces (underside of the wings) are silver grey which reflect the color of the pink flowers. In short, the butterfly disappears in plain sight, though the "blue" eye like coloring on the grey wing surfaces is sometimes visible. When it opens its wings the top side is an orange / black color that is strikingly beautiful as well, but in sharp contrast to the sedum colors. In this photo you see both colors, the top side of the further wing, and the underside of the nearer wing. The partially raised nearer wing shows the pink reflection of the sedum on its grey surface.

I didn't spend much time outside today because of the heat advisory, but this oriental poppy came out in splendor going from bud to bloom over the course of the day. My Ostrich fern didn't do so well today. Even in the shade its leaves wilted and started to dry up. When I noticed, I gave it water and hope I wasn't too late. I just learned the heat advisory has been extended for another couple of days, so I'll have to watch the fern carefully. ... great weather for my solar clothes dryer! So tomorrow, I'll wash the dogs' pillows and hang them out to dry.

Crown vetch is an invasive plant that has been sold for erosion control cover. I spent a week earlier this year digging down 2' to remove roots of some that had established itself at the edge of my garden. I now know why. The subdivision across the street is filled with the stuff.
This is not something you want in your garden even though the bees like it. See the load of pollen that has been gathered.

According to the "Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual," this non-native plant is also toxic to horses.