Lately, there haven’t been many opportunities to spend time on the porch due to travel, work, and uncomfortably hot days. However, today was not one of those days—it was absolutely wonderful. The morning was cool enough for reading with a blanket, and the afternoon was beautiful, perfect for leisurely time in the garden while capturing moments with my camera.

The lilacs and lupine of June have given way to milkweed, lavender, lady’s mantle, and rudbeckia in my cottage perennial garden. I tend to plant and then walk away, so this garden is also filled with grass, wildflowers (or weeds?), and volunteer flowers. Fortunately, the pollinators and Judy the hare don’t seem to mind.

Monarchs, fritillaries, painted ladies, and pearl crescent butterflies competed for the blooms, alongside honeybees and bumblebees. My patch of common milkweed has provided sustenance for at least 60 caterpillars, which are now tucked away in a screen house for a safe metamorphosis.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for this day of tranquility. I reflected on the small joys that nature provides—simple yet profound. The vibrant colors, the gentle hum of buzzing bees, and even the occasional rustle of grass as Judy the hare hopped by—all serve as reminders of the beautiful life thriving in my little corner of the world.

Here’s to summer, more porch time, garden exploration, and the wonders that unfold when we take a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty right outside our door.