Tiger and an Ash Tree

The Green Ash Tree is in bloom.

It is a huge shade tree.
Plenty of food for the Tiger Swallowtails.

Morning Butterflies

After I fed the birds
I went backyard butterfly hunting.

The Wild Indigo Duskywing
has a white frilly skirt on her hind wings.

I never weary of the female Tiger Swallowtail.
Whenever I see her I am awed.

She has faded some.
Her disguise helps to keep her safe.

Seeing the Monarchs in the morning
is a wonderful way to start the day.

I say goodbye to July.
I have seen 31 different varieties of butterflies in my backyard this past month.
It has been a good month.

Full Buck Moon

The full Buck Moon is one night old.
The clouds began to thin.
I was pleased to spend some time under the full moon.

Dressed

My house is dressed for August.

After supper I went to the deck.
I wanted to read a bit, look for butterflies and have some bird time.

Sleeping with A Sunflower is one of my favorite garden lore books.

The male Cardinal was also looking for butterflies.

I have done all sorts of fun displays about the house and porch.

I have my August to go basket ready.
I will iron a few linens tonight.

Sunflowers

I am packing July things up today
and decorating the house for August.

Sunflowers are my theme.
Every year I have a sunflower garden.
This year I sowed my seeds late.
They will bloom in late August or early September.
I will use the bird's sunflowers until mine are ready.

My old journal is full. Today I began a new August journal.
I filled in our program of study and our daily activities. I have an event planner and a place to write the birds and butterflies that come to call. I keep track of what's in bloom each week of the month. I keep a running total of picked zucchini and tomatoes.
I write my ideas down, my hopes and my dreams, our comings and goings.
I have a place for the little poems that pop into my mind.
I am decorating, redoing and refining.
It is misting outside.

Monarch

Monarch
in the butterfly Bush.



Monarch
in the Zinnias.

Monarch
in the Marigolds.

Hope they find the Milkweed.

Full Buck Moon Day

The Moon will be full tonight,
20th hour and 48 minute EDT.
It is cloudy at my house.
I may not see her.



The cockscomb is brilliant
on this cloudy day.

We had a brief shower overnight.
The winter squash has sprouted.
I do not need to water today.

Cloudy days are good days to photograph flowers.
My favorite mum is blooming.
It is not hardy here.
I wintered it over in the living room
last year.

The Moon flower vine is doing fine.
No buds yet
but there is still plenty time.

Butterflies

A Tiger Swallowtail
with a Rose of Sharon.

A pair of Eastern Tailed-blues mating.

A Buckeye in the sedium.

A Fiery Skipper in the pink Butterfly Bush.

When I went to get bird seed the store had Butterfly Bushes, Buddleia, 50% off.
I bought two, Pink Delight. They are sitting on the deck. We will plant them later.
The butterflies and the Clearwings already have found them.

Thrive

Snowberry Clearwing

We received a little rain last night, just three tenths of an inch.
It was enough to water the freshly planted plants and the seedlings.
The bird baths and rain barrels were filled.
I can take a break from watering today.

The Snowberry Clearwing Moth looks similar to the Hummingbird Clearwing.
It is much smaller and has the distinctive yellow "bee" bands.
Often mistaken for a large Bumblebee.

They are part of the Lepidoptera Group, Butterflies and Moths.
As a backyard naturalist I am recording when I see the winged jewels of the Lepidoptera Family. I record the nectar plants they visit and the host plants I see them laying eggs on.
The Butterfly Bush will draw many to my deck area.

The rain will help the plants thrive.

The bugs will thrive.

The birds will thrive.

And so will I.

Thank you for sending rain.

Black Swallowtail

The Butterfly Bush is in bloom.

The female Black Swallowtail had just finished laying eggs
in the Queen Ann's lace when she saw the blooms.


The Bee Balm is almost finished blooming.
The Gold Finches are harvesting the seed.
I had thought I would cut the Bee Balm back for a second bloom in September.
I will wait until the Gold Finches are finished.

The Zinnias and the Marigolds are in bloom.
They are providing nectar for the Skippers and the Sulphurs.

I want to plant a few more Butterfly Bushes.
I think they will be nice for July into August nectar for the Swallowtails.

Still no rain.
I am watering, moving the sprinklers every 30 minutes.
Please to have rain.

Flashed

The male Ruby Throated Hummingbird

flashed his brilliant throat as he was coming in to feed.

He is spectacular.

Shopping

After I feed the birds and filled all the bird baths
I went shopping.



I am planning a holiday for my husband and I.
We will visit our daughter and
son-not-in-law for a few days in Portland, Oregon.
Than off on a road trip to see the Northwest.
We will land in Victoria, British Columbia,
for a week at a bed and breakfast.
It is located in a bird sanctuary.
A butterfly conservatory is near by.
This is our 35th Wedding Anniversary trip.



I bought a silk dress and a shawl and
a few other travel clothes.
I have a color scheme I am working with.
My trip clothes and accessories
are in browns and blues.
I always have a pair of black slacks!

My books have all arrived.
I will begin reading now so hopefully I will be able to identify the different, to me, birds
and butterflies.
My travel journal is filling up with dates and reservations.
We will leave in three weeks.
I still need shoes.

What I do

People ask me, "What are you doing?"



I tell them, "Birds and butterflies!"

It is what I do.

Female Tiger Swallowtail

I looked out the backdoor
and saw my favorite Swallowtail.

I never grow weary of taking her picture.
I stood in the sun and watched her in the Red Zinnias.

I stopped taking pictures and sat down in grass.
I did not have my hat or my sunglasses.
I was hot but I did not care.

If I were a butterfly I would want to be like her.
Easy going and photogenic in any light.
She is comfortable around me.

She rested in the shade.
I finally had to go inside.

Full of care, my friend.

Close encounters

of the bird kind.

We have an ozone alert today.
We need rain to wash the air.
The ground is dry.

The light is hazy not a good day for photography.

I may need to employ my emergency plan and wash the car.
It always rains within 48 hours after I wash my car.