Police - your laitris are gorgeous! So that's what they are! Some random shoots of them appeared in the garden of our rental house, so I left them to see what they were. Now they are much shorter than yours, but blooming, and look the same. The bees like them. Have just a few. And ermahgerd, what gawky looking cranes! They are adorable! Like something out of Dr Seuss! I've never seen one so close up, tho we used to drive to Nebraska and see thousands of them congregating. What a sight and sound that was!
Maple- I wonder how your bird phobia came about . I know lots of people have phobias about different things...often snakes and spiders. I suppose anything can become a phobia. I've always enjoyed birds,, and am glad that here at the rental castle we have a bit of a variety. Yesterday had about 30 house martins swooping gracefully above catching insects. We have quite a few sparrows. And I've noticed one family ....two parents, and two 'babies'. Well, they look about like the parents do, a bit plainer, but are always hopping around and fluffing up their feathers and saying...."I'm the baby----gotta love me! I'm the baby---gotta feed me!"
I'm glad the nights have been a bit cooler. Well, I guess I should get busy and go do something.....even if it's wrong.