In accord with its otherwise explosive nature, July is a fireworks display of yellows, oranges and reds. A dramatic shift from the droopy, timid pinks and whites of June.
Day Lilies 
Mullein/ Verbascum 
Black Eyed Susan 
Coral Honeysuckle 
Scarlet Beebalm/ Monarda
Socket has now laid 8 chipmunks to rest… or, um, digest. The one he set free upstairs that eventually escaped out the door and leapt into the forest off the deck does NOT count. Exhausting work I tell ya.
By far the most disturbing creature we have encountered in the wilderness thus far is the Dobson Fly, pictured here in larval form (on a paddle) and adult form (captured in a jar.) The kids are aquatic and feed on small fish while the parents hang out in trees watching. They are not poisonous and do not bite humans unless provoked. They just look creepy as all hell. Oh, and since you might not be able to tell scale…the little one is 3 inches and the adult is 5 inches long. Yikes.
