Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sunday Safari

Wah Kon-Tah Prairie,
Great Spirit, Great Mystery, Sun, Moon and stars.
For the Osage Indians, Wah Kon-Tah describes
all that is sacred and unfathomable.
For me Wah Kon-Tah describes bliss.


The Regal Fritillary
have one brood in June and fly until frost.

They are common in prairie meadows
in Western Missouri.




I watched them feast in the Ironweed.


The Buckeyes

and the Hairstreaks
have a relationship with the flowers of the prairie.


Small tracts of native, virgin, prairie
are knitted together with degraded pastures.
Land stewards are working to protect and restore over 20 square miles.

I saw bright orange moths



and Lady Beetles.
I watched many different Skippers



and Pipevine Swallowtails.



Eastern Tailed-Blues were in abundance.


The butterflies and the grasses
are in relationship.

I was delighted to see a Black Swallowtail.
I have seen very few this summer.

On the way home we saw a river of wildflowers.
They glowed pink in the late afternoon light.
This is sacred land.
May we all be land stewards.
The butterflies are depending on us.







Wednesday, August 26, 2009

ABC Wednesday

F is for
a friendly fellow in the Fennel
and a Female feasting!



F is for Feathers.




I find them in the fields and forests.
I find them when I am far from home.
I find them in my own backyard.

F is for Fuchsia.


I picked one blossom for its fragrance.


F is for Fig.

Four Figs, my favorite food, festive and fantastic.

I feel full.

I take flights of fancy.

This is the fruit of Folklore.



F is for Fig Beetle.



F is for Fly

and Flycatchers.
F is for Florets,


Fritillaries

and Finches.

There are many varieties of them.



F is for Flora.


I knit her yarn.
Happy ABC Wednesday!
Have fun!



Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sunday Safari

We walked the Konza Prairie.

This is an 8600 acre tract of native tallgrass prairie

in Kansas.


We walked while the cicadas sang


and the Bluets flew.

New to us Dragonflies and butterflies flew about.

I believe this is a Sleepy Orange.




The Variegated Fritillaries were out.


There is time for one more brood before frost.

There were caterpillars.

I have identifying work to do.



The Viceroy Butterfly is a mimic of the Monarch.





Both were flying today.



There are lizards on the prairie



and Painted Ladies.


Eastern Kingbirds hunted bugs.


We walked for 5 and half hours.
I am so pleased to have walked on this beautiful Prairie.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

ABC Wednesday

E is for Egret




Elegant birds even when they give the warning cry.




E is for the Eastern Tailed-blue butterfly.



Although they are very tiny
they are equal in beauty to the large swallowtails.





We plant clover to ensure they have plenty of food.
Seeing them nectar in the yard is exciting.






E is for Echinacea, the purple coneflower.
The roots make a healing tea.

E is for ear.



When the bees whisper we listen.
I am an Entomologist at heart.
I study insects.








E is for the Ebony Jewel Wing.



These are the most exquisite of all the Damselflies.

Perhaps the most exquisite of all the insects.


For me the Ebony Jewel Wings are the essence of all that is beautiful.
I am enthusiastic about protecting the Ebony Jewel Wing's environment.
I would like to entice everyone to join in my efforts.


I love the Earth and all of her creatures.

Happy ABC Wednesday.

Thank you mrsnesbitt and team.

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