The small animals on or near plants are sometimes the challenge I choose for photography. The walk around Brookside Gardens resulted in a few worth sharing:
The spider on the yucca flower![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59a947c9893fc067169a1515/t/59a9d82002d7bca420cfd61d/1435320886008/1000w/2015+06+IMG_1018.jpg)
A damselfly that must have been tired since it stayed put for such a long time. It is an ebony jewelwing!![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59a947c9893fc067169a1515/t/59a9d82002d7bca420cfd61e/1435320909807/1000w/2015+06+IMG_1033.jpg)
A mourning dove enjoying the summer sunshine in the garden![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59a947c9893fc067169a1515/t/59a9d82002d7bca420cfd61f/1435320929447/1000w/2015+06+IMG_1045.jpg)
Bees at the hollyhocks. I always associate hollyhocks with a great aunt’s house. She always had them planted around the side steps to her house.![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59a947c9893fc067169a1515/t/59a9d82002d7bca420cfd620/1435320948993/1000w/2015+06+IMG_1049.jpg)
A bee on a hydrangea. Brookside has quite a variety of hydrangeas these days and this type seemed the most popular with the bees the day I was there.![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59a947c9893fc067169a1515/t/59a9d82002d7bca420cfd621/1435320975028/1000w/2015+06+IMG_1133.jpg)