Sunday Safari

My husband and I went
on an overnight adventure.

We drove across the state of Missouri.
We went to the Botanical Gardens in St. Louis.
We attended the Japanese Festival.



We saw lots of good bugs!

It will take me awhile to process all the pictures.
It will take me awhile to process all the beauty.
I am happy and tired.
Bug hunting is serious work!

New Caterpillar Moon

Today's New Moon
is a special New Moon.

Today we have our second
New Moon in August.

New Moons are Grandmother Moons.

Two New Moons in one month?
Great-Grandmother Moon!

Happy New Caterpillar Moon.

Nuages

Juicy Atmosphere

The afternoon was hot and humid.



Distant rumblings made me scurry
to button up the car.

The atmosphere was just right for thunderstorms.




The wind came up.

Refreshing rain came down.

I had a dream

I dreamed I was walking in a field of thistle.
Butterflies surrounded me.

This morning I went hunting for a field of thistle.

I found two.

Dreams can come true.

I will keep hunting for thistle and butterflies.
I will keep the dream alive.

Common Wood Nymph

We celebrated our
36th Wedding Anniversary yesterday.


We went bug hunting.
It is what we like to do.

We saw a Common Wood Nymph for the first time.

We both carried cameras.
We clicked together.

Monarch

The sunflower seeds I planted
are blooming.



The Monarch and the Sunflower
are end of summer motifs at my house.



I will print and frame one of these.

Monarch and Bright Eyes Cosmos
are also end of summer.

I just might need to print and frame one of these too!

Aware

The Tawny Emperors are out today.

I have been waiting for them.

A female Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly
perched by the walk.

The Damselflies and Dragonflies are fewer now.
Summertime is drawing to a close.

Sitting in the grass

I sat in the grass.
I enjoyed being near the Gray Hairstreak.



An Eastern Tailed-blue nectared near by.

It was nice to see the difference between these two tiny butterflies.



While I was enjoying the butterflies
I thought I saw a cottonwood seed
flutter in the grass.

A caterpillar made it's way across the yard and into a flowerbed.
An amazing creature.

Backyard Bugs

A tiny Gray Hairstreak shared the sunflower.

Another nectared in the white roses.

Clearwings are here on sunny days.

I have been reading about the Monarchs.
This is a male.
The black spot on the hind wing is a scent scale.
The male releases pheromones during courtship.

I have been seeing Monarchs gliding high in the sky.
Perhaps some have begun to migrate.

Sunday Safari

We walked in the woods this morning
hunting for bugs.

The thistle is in bloom.



The air was cool and few bugs were flying.




The bees were slowly waking up.

Spider webs crossed the trails.

Hello

A young Raccoon was on the porch.

He looked into my office window.

This youngster should be sleeping.

I will fix him a bit of supper.
Maybe later we will go for a drive.
I know where his relatives are.

The Mantis & The Moon

Gathering Seed

From now until frost I will be
gathering seed.

These are the seed from the Peony Bushes.
I want to winter sow them.

These are the seed from the Bright Eyes Cosmos.
I save lots for direct sowing.

They bloom from May until frost.
My seed box is beginning to fill once again.

Box Elder Bug

The Box Elder bug


was perched on the leaf of the Mexican Sunflower.




Her nymphs were emerging.
They congregated on the stem of the Butterfly Weed.



The Butterfly Weed
is setting seeds.

I shall gather some to sow next year.

Waiting for rain

A Hummingbird Clearwing moth nectered in the butterfly bush;

as did a Snowberry Clearwing moth.



A Black Swallowtail, a Giant and a Tiger were also
finding sweet nectar in the Butterfly Bush.

Monarchs, Viceroys and Sulphurs are also out feeding.
Rain is in the forecast.
The bugs tell me it is on the way.

Afternoon in the woods

I went for my walk in the woods this afternoon.
I watched as two Daddy Longlegs found each other.

The berries are starting to ripen.

The children are back in school.