A shot of fresh air: A winged visitor to my sanctuary

Posted on Jun 11, 2008 by Susie Collins in Blog, Media/Videos, Organic Gardening, Susie Collins

My home is your home

We’ve designed our home and gardens to be a sanctuary– free and clear of all synthetic chemicals– not just for me but also, in the gardens, for the birds and the bees! Water is a good enticement– the eight ponds and two bird baths are irresistible to many different kinds of birds as well as insects like wasps and dragonflies.

The mosaic plants in the large entrance pond offer a perfect landing pad for thirsty wasps. They come and hover for a few seconds, select the perfect spot, then land and drink. Even though I have a nasty reaction when stung by wasps, I never feel afraid of them when they come near me to drink. I just feel a deep pleasure to have created an oasis for them to come and have some respite from the hot, dry weather.

Here’s a larger view of the pond to get some perspective; two mosaic plants are in the foreground. They grow like water lilies– the pot is set down deep and the plant sends up long stems streaming with roots and topped with the amazing spiraled leaf clusters. Every once in awhile, a very small, bright yellow blossom appears randomly.