The ever-so slightly cooler night air draws me outside in the evening, looking around the garden and wishing for more light and more time to spend.
Tonight, the bright flowers of the night shone under the moon and beckoned me.
As did the actual lights hanging about the birds’ favorite gurgling fountain.
No matter how or when you look at it, the garden is a magical place, isn’t it?
This amazing moth made an appearance around our Datura the other night – entranced by the sweet scent of the white trumpet-shaped blooms. In the dark, my DH and I both watched it fluttering around.
When I first heard it close by, I thought it might be a hummingbird, but then I caught a full-moon lit glimpse and realized it was a huge moth.
Then yesterday a giant thing blew by my head while I was out pruning, and lo and behold it was our moth. I raced to get the camera, expecting it to be long gone by the time I returned.
Happily it was not. I climbed on a chair to get a closer look and took her portrait.
One of my twitter tweeps thought it might be a leopard moth. I haven’t been able to ID it yet — what do you think?
Oh, my. This morning’s sky was so beautiful that I had to run back inside and get the camera.
Also enjoying this beautiful morning was this lovely young praying mantis, perched on top of the trash can. (I’m sad to report that when I came home and checked on him, I found only his legs down on the ground…ugh. Some bird must have had a good breakfast…oh well.)
And here are my attempts at capturing the long view of my Datura all in bloom this morning. 
Dakota had to come see what I was doing out in her yard this morning!
I walked all around my garden beds this morning, inspecting the cause and effect of the recent rains. So many things are just jumping up and down in the garden, saying, “look at ME, look at ME!”
So I thought I’d share my observations with you today.
Fellow Austin garden blogger Lori, of The Gardener of Good and Evil, just posted lovely photos of all her blooming Datura plants. She has six of them and I can’t imagine how huge they must be.
The recent rains have brought dozens of buds to my two plants (one planted, one volunteer), so I thought I would share the promise of blooms.
This is a Mealy Blue Sage that has been sad and pasty-colored all through this hot summer, bu today it is a vibrant blue-purple color. It clearly likes temperatures that are only in the 90s and it loves the rain.
The Verbena is always more colorful after a nice rain.
The trailing Lantana and the Blackfoot Daisy are checking out each other’s neighborhoods!
This Cape Honeysuckle that I insist on keeping in a pot for orange on the deck (which isn’t really the best way to try to grow it!) LOVES the rain and just explodes with color afterward.
This is my mutant Brugmansia – German Double Pink. I can only report that from the order I placed, since I have yet to see it bloom and some critter has been EATING the leaves all the way up the stem. I hope it survives. I haven’t seen anyone on it.
And, of course, I have lots of WEEDS who are saying “look at ME, look at ME, too.” But I’ll spare you the pictures of those!
Imagine my surprise when I was watering last night and found this little lovely night bloom coming open on my Datura.
It’s especially nice, because we are hosting Supper Underground here in our back yard on Saturday night with about 30 people coming for dinner. Our guests for the evening will be able to enjoy the pretty white blooms and their sweet fragrance. Thanks, guys!
While I love the Purple coneflower, I’m always intrigued by the white — here you see the first of three that have returned from last year.
Isn’t the light pretty on these Wisteria seed pods? Wonder if I would have any luck planting some…have you ever tried?
Mothere Nature and Daylilies clearly don’t care if you’re sick, as you can see by the yellowing lilies above. They arrived on Friday and today I finally had to tough it out and go plant them. I hope they didn’t suffer too much.
I spent several evenings with the catalog, looking at different varieties and trying to decide on a plan. When they bloom, I should have a rainbow of vibrant colors in two different heights. This is truly an experiment, so I have my fingers crossed. 
How about these little limes? I can just taste the iced tea, mojitos and fresh pico de gallo we’ll enjoy with these babies when they ripen.
The caladiums have popped up in the shade garden and bring a bright, light look to this dark bed.
White Daytura coming back after a long winter’s nap.
Now, that’s what I need — a nap. But not this afternoon.