Hello

A Yellow Warbler
came into the garden.

Monarchs and

Tiger Swallowtails



nectar in the butterfly bushes
between rain showers.

The Cloudless Sulphurs
sip from the Hibiscus.

More rain is on the way.

Sunday Safari

It rained two inches this morning.
I was not sure we would be able to go bug hunting.
Around noon the rain stopped and we took off.

Last week the local chapter of the Sierra Club newsletter arrived.
An article about a prairie very near to our house caught our attention.
We had planned on exploring this native Prairie when we needed a close to home spot.

Today was the day!
I was so excited to see Hummingbirds on the Prairie.
No nectar feeders here!

Common Wood Nymphs flew in the undergrowth.

The Thistles are just beginning to bloom.
They are one of my favorite wild flowers.

Another set of bugs for Bug Guide to help out with.
I just call them Thistle bugs!

These are Milkweed nymphs.

The Indigo Buntings were about.
This male appears to be molting.

They will begin their Autumn Migration soon.

The Silverspots were out

as were the Goatweed Leafwings.

This is a beautiful Native Prairie.

We had so much fun hunting bugs today.

Hummingbird Clearwing

When I went to the deck to refill
the Hummingbird feeders
I saw the Hummingbird Clearwing.

With wings constantly moving this diurnal, day flying,
moth appears to be a tiny Hummingbird.

Seeing these darlings was just the
inspiration I needed
to brave the heat, humidity and the mosquitoes!

There are three Butterfly bushes in the back yard,
all needed dead heading.

I do want food for the
Hummingbird Clearwings come September!

Cards

The cards are in the racks.

This is an exciting time for my photographs.

There are 21 cards in this collection.
I am so pleased my photographs were chosen.
The card company is "The Bird Sings".
You can see the entire collection at http://www.birdsings.com/

I am one of four artists.
I am honored.
I am filled with joy!

ABC Wednesday

D is for

Ducklings

and Deer.

D is for Duskywings

and Dragonflies.

D is for the delicate Day Flower

and the dependable Day Lily.

D is for Daddy-longlegs

and Dandelions at dusk.

D is for Dickeissels

and Doves on the deck looking for dinner.

D is for Diamonds.

It is a delight to participate in ABC Wednesday.

Thank you mrsnesbitt and team.

Sunday Safari

A heat advisory kept us close to home today.
17 mph winds, with gusts up to 24 mph,
helped us put our kites up into the sky.

We are learning how to fly our kites near one other

without tangling the strings.

We are learning how to make our kites dance.

We hiked in the woods near our house.
There always are new to us bugs to be found.


This is a Delta Flower Scarab.





I once again will be asking Bug Guide to help with id.

We shared the trail with a Box Turtle

and a Tawny Emperor Butterfly.

Pearl Crescents were flying and mating.

We have hiked in these woods many times.

We have rested under this rock many times.

Today my husband told me this was a "cantilevered rock".
He explained the term.

After 37 years I am still amazed.

He is so interesting.

I was glad it stayed balanced while I was resting in its shade.

A Blue-faced Meadowhawk Dragonfly
made taking the long trail back to the car worth the effort.
There is always something to learn, even in the familiar places.
Happy Sunday Safari.

Bright Eyes

I went outside to gather seeds
from the Bright Eyes Cosmos.

It was a busy patch of flowers.

I watched the Tiger Swallowtails make their rounds.

Just as they left the Orange Sulphurs came .

I waited for them to finish.

When it was my turn the bees scooted this way and that!

Some of the bees went to the Hibiscus.

I gathered seeds.

I will continue to do so now until frost.

I will plant them next May.

The cycle continues.

Seed to seed.

Food for the bees and the butterflies.

Food for my soul.

A time to gather.