It's still plenty hot and muggy out there, but since I wrote my last blog post, the summer drought has ended. Suddenly we are getting plenty of rain, five inches last week alone. The grass is green and growing again, and the hose is getting minimal use. However, I do get a little frightened of the frequent storms, since there has been increased tornado action in the Midwest recently. The rain is very welcome, but I'm still looking forward to cooler days when working in the yard is a bit more comfortable.
The monarch chrysalises featured here last time have both eclosed (hatched) and flown the coop. This whole process really never gets old for me, so I'm hoping to find more eggs out there soon.
Both butterflies were female, and the first one stayed nearby for most of the day, allowing me plenty of photo opportunities. The second one I kept inside till the next day, thinking I'd have better picture taking. But that was a mistake. When I keep them inside too long, they are too anxious to take off, and simply refuse to pose. When I release them within a few hours, they are reluctant, testing their wings on short flights. That's when I can get some good photos.
This particular shot was taken two days after my monarchs left me. I'm convinced it was one of my girls, because this butterfly was immaculate still, with fresh, crisp wings. Many of them are tattered when you see them in the garden. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
But otherwise there really isn't much new in the garden this time of year. I should plant some late season flowers, if only I could find some blank space in my crowded gardens.
As a substitute for late season flowers, I really do see a lot of butterflies this time of year. I suppose the neighbors probably think I'm a bit eccentric, always running about the yard with my camera in hand. But they do give me great pleasure. I plant the things that make them happy, so they'll visit here more often. And in return, I get to enjoy their fleeting beauty by taking endless photos of them. Win-win!
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| Gray hairstreak |
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| Unknown skipper |
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| Silver spotted skipper |
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| Cabbage butterfly |
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| Black swallowtail |
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| Fritillary |
August is nearly finished, and as I sort through my photos, I see hundreds of them focused on the butterflies that have visited here this month. I often say that I garden for butterflies and hummingbirds, so this means I have been somewhat successful. There are those who might say that this is a frivolous occupation, but to that I say "not to me". I'm living a quieter lifestyle these days, after years of frantic busy-ness at a popular retail store. Perhaps it's taking me years to destress from that work. All I know is that my garden makes me happy, and my blood pressure is lower than it has even been. Wouldn't you wish for the same?
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| Viceroy, NOT a monarch |
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| Tattered Eastern swallowtail |
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| Pearl Crescent |
How satisfying to release a Monarch. Such wonderful photos. What does it take to attract such a collection of beautiful butterflies to the garden? I have many of the same plants than you have, but I think there needs to more than just one flower garden in the area. Love your series of pinks, such variety. And who cares what the neighbors. think!
ReplyDeleteWell, I think you do have to be in the monarch migration path, but otherwise, just keep doing what you're doing. Make sure you don't spray, and plant both host and nectar plants, and they should show up. One thing that helps is that my yard is very, very sunny and bright. It's a newer sub, so the trees are short. I do mostly stick with pinks, purples and yellows, but a few other colors sneak in now and then.
DeleteStunning photographs, Robin, especially the monarch ones. We have relief from the heat, too, and rain. Now watching Hermine's progress. I don't have enough late-season blooms, either. But, like you, I don't know where to put them. P. x
ReplyDeleteHermine is totally leaving us alone, sunny blue skies for us and it's also been much cooler. But it won't last, back into the 90's this week. Ugh.
DeleteI love your photos, especially the butterfly ones. So cool that you got the Monarch to sit on your finger! Nothing frivolous at all about enjoying nature and photographing it. I derive great pleasure from it, too. It's so peaceful and cathartic. Good for the heart, mind and soul.
ReplyDeleteI find that the monarchs will climb onto my finger when they are newly hatched, and it sure tickles. But what a thrill!
DeleteBeautiful flowers and butterflies !!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos !!
Greetings
Thanks for stopping by my blog Ela. I do love to photograph my garden, for sure.
DeleteYour garden looks delightful. I love all your photos of the butterflies! I had to do a double-take on the Viceroy, then go back to compare it to the monarch. I think I may have been falsely attributing some Viceroy sightings to Monarchs! Thanks for clearing that up!
ReplyDeleteI am glad your drought has ended. We continue o have high heat and humidity, but now our rain has dropped off. We have had fall droughts before, and that is a dreadful prospects. The hurricane that affected Florida, Georgia and the east coast missed us entirely. We were hoping to get some rain bands from it.
It has been the most perfect September weather, with clear blue skies, lower humidity and cooler weather. But I understand that it's going to get hot and muggy again this week. Darn it!
DeleteWhat a fun post! I loved seeing the different kinds of butterflies. I think I get gray hairstreaks and eastern tailed blues mixed up. I was sad at not seeing as many butterflies as usual this year, but there are more showing up now, still, not as many as usual, though. I am tickled to be seeing some monarchs. In the past, though, there were quite a few more to be seen by now. Thanks for your visit to my WW post. It seems I am just posting once a month these days.
ReplyDeleteI do love those eastern tailed blues, but I sure don't see them here very often. And they don't like to post for me very often either!
DeleteOh, and I had to laugh about what you said about what the neighbors must think about you running around taking photos of butterflies. I do that, too. I think it helps the neighbors know you really care about your garden and inhabitants. ;o)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the neighbors think me quite eccentric, but I don't mind...
DeleteRobin, your pictures are excellent! You caught such nice moments with those lovely creatures!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tatyana! The secret is to sneak up on them ever so slowly, snapping pictures the whole way. That way you'll at least have a long distance shot if they happen to fly away before can pose a good one.
DeleteGreat butterfly captures, Robin. I'm seeing plenty but no monarch caterpillars. Stay safe in the storms! P. x
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely seeing an uptick in monarchs over the last couple weeks! Another one today actually.
DeleteWe have had so many butterflies this year! I have only seen two monarchs though and no chrysalis. Your garden is lovely as always. I do love those caladiums. Perhaps I need to plant some next year.
ReplyDeleteCaladiums are new to me, and only because our garden club was selling bulbs. But now I wonder why I haven't been growing then for years, because I love them! Just remember to wait for warm weather to plant them, usually June is best.
DeleteLovely post, Robin. Where did summer go? Happy first day of autumn! :)
ReplyDeleteSummer always flies by so fast, but autumn is our reward!
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