Rosehaven Cottage

While exploring Golden Gate Park, I came upon a heavenly sea of nasturtiums edged by Mexican primrose (why I love San Francisco)

P.S. I've turned comments off because I want you to simply enjoy the photo. No words required.

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Monarch butterflies have been visiting the garden and finding the 'butterfly bush' to be an irresistible treat

If you'd like to see more of my photographs,

please visit CindyGarberIverson.com

*GARDENING DISCLAIMER: Although I do not condone cultivating invasive plants, bushes and shrubs, buddleia (aka 'butterfly bush') is not considered an invasive pest in our area of the world (San Francisco Bay Area of California, USA) where summers are rainless. It does not propagate here. That's the only reason I have one.

Spotted a Gulf Fritillary butterfly in my garden for the first time... completely by accident

I saw a couple of monarch butterflies fluttering around the buddleia (aka 'Butterfly Bush')* that's in full bloom in the garden, so I took my camera out to try and catch some shots. Imagine my surprise when I saw another butterfly I didn't recognize, got some shots of it sipping nectar and came inside to find it is a variety I've never seen before (let alone photographed). I'm pretty stoked!

*GARDENING DISCLAIMER: Although I do not condone cultivating invasive plants, bushes and shrubs, buddleia is not considered an invasive pest in our area of the world (San Francisco Bay Area of California) where summer's are rainless. It does not propagate here. That's the only reason I have one.

The best aphid protection my roses have ever had

Mr. Hooded Oriole (above) and his wife keep my roses aphid-free along with help from some other birds. I simply provided all the birds with a burbling water fountain set in the middle of the rose garden, and the birds reward me by gleaning all the bugs off by rosebushes.