Garden Woes & a New Polymer Clay Cane

As you can see my cane muse is on vacation. Not sure what I had in mind when I put this together.

 Here's some canes I made from it. I'll make tiles tomorrow.

You have to be a glutton for punishment to try and garden in this lousy part of the country. It's a constant battle against heat, humidity, storms, mosquitos and weeds. The hot weather arrived early this year, temp's in the upper 90's and high humidity so when the last couple days we had cooler weather, low 80's and fairly nice humidity, it was almost nice to sit outside and enjoy the flowers.  So what happens?.... the annual invasion of the Japanese beetle.  They are like locust they devour all the pretty blossoms.

This is one of my favorite garden pots. The purple and white flowers are called "Cup and Saucer". They are a double bell shape that kinda looks like a cup and saucer. What  fascinates me is both colors are growing on the same plant.  The beetles haven't attacked them yet, but I'm sure they will.

I can't remember the name of these, they are perennials and have been growing in this spot for several years.  This is what they looked like a couple days ago.

This is what they look like now.  Well not really, there are a few blooms and leaves left in this photo, by now they are completely striped to the stem.

This is one of my cone flowers... see the happy bumble bee? I haven't seen any honey bees this year but quite a few bumble bees. They just wander around on the flower and take a little pollen. 

Not beetles, they are chomping away on the petals and will soon be devouring the lilies.  The trumpet flowers on the gazebo are covered with them and I even found some on the petunias... which they usually leave alone. Needless to say I am not a happy camper.  Time for a Bloody Mary.