When I first moved to Minnesota, about four years ago, I hardly saw any pollinators around this area and it struck me as odd because I live in farm country. But then again because of the farming and the pesticide that are use I was there not really surprised. So I made it my mission to at least be an agent of change in some level and create an environment that would attract pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. So imagine how happy I am when I go to my little plot of land and sea that little garden is buzzing with bees. From purple coneflowers to beautiful sunflowers, the bees are all over them. Pollinators, but especially bees, being me joy. In that moment, as you watch them hop from flower to flower, you see nature’s circle of life at its finest. And wait until the New England aster starts blooming. Then it will be the most beautiful dance between the bees and the Monarch butterflies.

This morning as I stepped into my little garden I could hear the buzz and I couldn’t tell right away where he was coming from but didn’t realize it was coming from these flowers. Everything was perfectly aligned to give me that immediate moment of a perfect summer garden. The sun was shining, there was a warm with a little breeze, the flowers were strikingly brilliant and in that moment it was perfect joy.

I was not planning on cutting any flowers to bring them inside but I wanted to capture that moment in the garden inside my house. Are I went and got an old measuring vase that is chipped on the lip so we cannot use it for measuring food. And I cut a few blooms to bring inside and bring that feeling of summer indoors.

A few clippings of cosmos, of echinacea, purple clover, ferns, rudbeckia and Queen Anne’s Lace. All of them in a simple arrangement that made me smile. And how can I not? Look at those colors!

Thank you National Pollinator Gardens Network for inspiring us with the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (http://millionpollinatorgardens.org). I am not at that level yet but this effort is a source of inspiration. Check it out if you have not. Good people doing good things.

Wishing you all a wonderful week head full of those little magic moments that summer brings. Happy gardening!

You may find me joining some of these fun link-ups: In a Vase on Monday, Mosaic Monday, Friday Bliss, Home and Garden Thursday, Pink Saturday, Nature Notes, Dishing It & Digging It, Thankful Thursday, Grace at Home, Weekend Blog Hop, Garden Blogger's Bloom Day (15th of the Month), End of Month View (31st of the Month), #MyGloriousGardens, Six on Saturday.