In the blistering heat of August – 102 degrees Fahrenheit as it is – it is always a pleasure to watch the wildlife enjoy the bounty of flowers ( thanks to a very, very VERY wet May and June) in the late afternoon when the death star is setting and the heat is abating some.

Every year about this time, I just can’t resist the beauty of Pride of Barbados. Evidently neither can this Giant Swallowtail.

This plant is just georgous!! Even if it is edging out the Golden Thryallis.

Bees are predictably thirsty too this time of year. They use the water to cool the hive, and hydrate themselves and their brood.These girls are just too darn cute!

A Tersa Sphinx moth came for a visit on our screen. Such a sleek beauty. Getting ready for sunset to start feeding.

And a huge grasshopper. Why? Because why not hop to it. Har har har.

And here to make a meal of all of those lovely visitors – a HUGE garden spider.

EEEEEEEE!!!!!! What an amazing web.

Actually I am very fond of spiders. They eat the pests of the world – especially in my veggie garden. They have also been prolific this year. But this one cleverly positioned himself above the pond where all the dragonflies where mating and laying eggs. He was just eating them all!

And since dragonflies eat mosquitoes, I found it in my best interest to move this lovely spider to the bog area where less dragonflies were buzzing by, too preoccupied in mating to watch out for any lively predators and their snares.

Another welcome predator and avid insect eater in my garden. Mister Eastern Bluebird, perched on my veggie garden. “Go to it handsome fella – eat those pesky squash bugs!”

Amongst the other garden predators, I had some very cute ones show up this year. Frogs!! And hundreds of them. Teeny, tiny little  frogs. On my window glass….Probably lured there by all the moths and June bugs flying toward the light.

And of course in the pond. Goodness they were tiny (as you can see compared to my grubby garden fingernail). So darn cute!

I believe this is a little cricket frog.Anyone notice the little spider on the left hand side – trying gingerly to get to the other leaf? He’s probably thinking:” If I move slowly and quietly enough – he won’t notice me….”

A little stare down contest going on over here….And of course Dick felt the need to have a fish pedicure. Summer can be so tough on those little toes.  The pond truly has SO many functions. 🙂

Yes, sunset over the garden is just lovely. Going, going………..

Gone.