u/lookedwest

I believe that is a brown belted bumblebee.

Plant is Downy Gentian, a native, but this is cultivated.

I live in marginal Zone 4/5!

My FiL passed away (Jay) and it was sobering to read last year's passages that featured him so prominently (esp his summer garden). It was actually kind of cathartic to fill in more passages from the same time frame last year with updates and see where I was at the year before.

I've never kept a journal like this one and it's so organic and kind of accidental at the same time - I'm loving it! Basically I just journal on pages but leave in open spots or some blank pages, then come back to that same area in the journal around the same time the next year and fill in the rest. If anyone's interested I could post more photos of unfinished spreads/blank pages.

It's also SUPER slow and does not actually need attending to every day - I think it's a great way to journal if you can't commit to your journaling fully and only when inspiration strikes, aka - for any ADHDers like me out there heh - that way even if it's years later you can fill in blank pages for Jan/Feb/March etc. as you wish and get some benefit (hopefully) of seeing how you've changed/grown.

I’m also on iNaturalist but the last pic is some kind of paratoid wasp I couldn’t ID for species so if anyone can - help me outtt haha otherwise:

1&2: great black digger wasp on I believe mountain mint
3: this one had a weird name I can’t remember, dill
4: cicada killer, dill
5: Mexican sand carrying wasp, rose

Edit: 3 is five banded thynnid wasp

I work outside and we are in the heat dome 🌞 money and time are tight - hello hot dogs 🌭 so many ways!

Please not yellowjackets? (Super near to our deck sitting spot) it appeared the last 48 hrs. Thinking wasp but there’s also this weird white slime mold or something outside the door in a half circle. Mystified.

We only live 5 mins away from this Lake and usually go out for just a few hrs when we can (usually after work) - anyway I know the gear is minimal - I do have a dry bag but don’t take it when I’m only carrying some drinks ☺️ I need a smaller one haha

Chibi our corgi takes his job of supervising us very seriously

Embrace imperfection✌️☺️

Some pals I found on the various roses I take care of professionally :) I really try not to spray anything - I’m a big spider lover and this first photo had such a cute little jumper - he kept wanting to jump on my camera lens! Yes, I spend the beginning and end of my day picking off rose slugs haha! The lacewing is always good to see, they love eating them :3

Seen in my neighborhood. I applaud these long established arbs still arbin’ in 2026 zone 4 during a D4 drought lol - probably planted 35 years ago

I’m excited to see mine grow bigger… seems to have potential but I’m not getting the deep purple until *right* before the bloom ends. I’m thinking it’s our terribly hot weather and that we’re in a D4 drought in Zone 4

Marilyn Monroe always best ❤️

I can’t believe the singed edges deal with a rose issue in such a unique way - it is so cool. They last so long on the stem, I am breath taken! Plus, a best rose is a rose that’s already been visited by a bee 🐝 just love it for still keeping the theme!

When the lake goes still you really feel like you're riding a magic carpet :)

He was pretty scared at first and ignoring his treats but by the end I think he enjoyed it - it was 2 blocks away from home ❤️

With sage and “cheddar pinks” dianthus