Sunday Safari

We have been watching butterflies
lay eggs in their host plants.

Today the Variegated Fritillary laid eggs
 in the wild violets that share the lawn with clovers.
We keep the deck of the lawn mower high
 so the clovers and violets remain uncut.

I am researching the host plants
for all the butterflies that are in my area.
We are creating host gardens.

We watched a Giant Swallowtail lays eggs
in the Garden Rue.
 I went looking for eggs and found a caterpillar, they are called Orange Dogs.
  She must have laid eggs a week ago too.

The Zebra Swallowtail laid eggs in the Paw- paw bushes.
I just read the Sphinx Moth uses the Paw-paws for hosting too.
I will be looking for more eaten leaves.

The Zebra caterpillars feed at night.
I see evidence they are active.

We have been listening to the Pipevine Swallowtail
caterpillars munch away on Pipevine.
I counted 40 caterpillars!

Today I begin my Oak Tree days.

I am just learning this 13 moon way.

"In the myth of Phaeton, a timely thunderbolt from Jupiter
killed Phaeton and ended a world drought with a sudden rainstorm. The Dagda, a supreme father-god in Celtic mythology, is a Celtic Zeus who also protected the earth from drought by changing the weather."

We need rain once again.
Thunderstorms are in our forecast.
I am looking for the Rain Dragons to return.
It has been hot and dry.

I am deadheading in the mornings before the heat of the day.
While the bees are still sleeping.

The Day Lilies open all at once and begin calling
 to the pollinators, "Come hither little ones."

By mid-morning the bees have filled their sacks
with pollen from the cone flowers.

Under the bird feeding station the bird's spilled
sunflower seeds are blooming.

We weed and water their sunflower bed and leave as many plants that sprout for the deer that graze at night.
 These are sacrificial flowers.

Our Sunflower garden is tucked in with the Fennel, Queen Ann's Lace and Sweet Annie. These sunflowers are for August flowers
for our table and for the Gold Finches.

We are outside as much as possible.
We stop often and watch the butterflies.

We stop to play.
Happy Sunday Safari.