Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

Thank you.

Wild Spaces

Off the beaten path,
tucked into a neighborhood I am unfamiliar with,
my husband found a wild space.



The Daughters of the Revolution raised a marker here.
The city is planting the small park in native prairie grasses and wild flowers.
All over my city public spaces are being planted with native plants.
There is a group that is reclaiming these spaces for the butterflies and the bees.




We stopped to watch the Black Swallowtails

and the Blue Birds.

These are like minded people I would like to meet.

Concerto in G Major

Orange Lilies

The Orange Lilies have opened.

A male Tiger Swallowtail found them.

I am watching the sky

more storms are on their way.

Moonglow Coreopsis and a Bee

The female Mason Bee
is busy in the Moonglow Coreopsis.

Soon she will take her pollen to the bee box.

She will prepare another tube for eggs.

Watching the Mason bees is fun.

Time to lay some bee eggs!

Tiger Swallowtail

The female Tiger Swallowtail
in her black dress

is my favorite butterfly.

If I was to be a butterfly

I would want to be her.

I am so happy to see her.

Getting to know you

I am getting to know the male Hummingbird.

He comes to the Hummingbird feeding station
off and on all day.

I have seen the female a few times.




She is still a little skittish.
He is bold.

I hope they nest in my garden.

Pipevine Swallowtail

I was caught outside weeding with a short lens on the camera

when the Pipevine Swallowtail flew into the backyard.

I am growing one of her host plants,
Dutchman's Pipevine and Anise Hyssop for nectaring.

She also will use Virginia Snakeroot for her eggs.

I do hope she returns when I am outside with a longer lens.

For today I am pleased she has found my backyard.

Happy Birthday

In the early hours,
30 years ago,
you were ready.
Me too!
I couldn't wait to meet you.

Your inquiring mind asked,
"What's this and why is that?"



"Who are they and where is that?"

I did not always know.
You kept me on my toes.

You sought your why.
You found your when and where.

You made the how.

Life was a puzzle for you and full of delights.

You went on adventures.
You kept asking, "Why and why not."
You did not give up.

You were a brave girl stepping out into unknown territory.
You found a city where the weather matched your clothes.
Here you are putting down your roots.
Here you are carving your niche.
It is very good.

I cannot be with you today
to celebrate your day of all days.
My vitality is too low to travel the miles.
I celebrate in my heart the day you were born.

I fly you away home.

I see you in the candle light and the wishes on first stars.

You are never far from me.

Only a bird song away.

I am so very proud of you.
You are you!
You are my beloved daughter
in whom I am well pleased.

~Happy Birthday~

Summertime

Silvery Checkerspot

I went to a funeral today.
My sister's ex-Mother-in-law passed away.
My sister wanted to go to the funeral.
She called her, "Mom".
I did not want my sister to go alone.

My brother did not want my sister and I driving alone so he took us to the funeral.
We visited and had lunch at the family's home afterwards.

I took pictures of the Silvery Checkerspot that danced in the yard.

I had never seen one.

I have been thinking about family lately.
Who we call sister and brother.
Who we are nurtured by.

My brother shared his sandwich with the family's Black cat.
My brother is a fine man.
He wanted to see my bees in the bee box.
He was interested.

I can always find beauty....I sometimes find family.

Today I spent time with my family.

Today my sister and brother and I cared for each other.

It is what we do .

We are family.

Firefly!

While my husband and I were walking
at dusk,

we saw our first firefly of the season!

I enjoy summer evenings watching the fireflies
and listening to the bug's chorus.

The Silver Spots are back.

The female Common Whitetail Dragonfly was patroling her territory.
I like bugs!

Hackberry Emperor

A Hackberry Emperor was nectaring
in the Chinese Lilac Tree.

My husband saw him nestled in the blooms.

The Hackberry Emperor is a medium sized butterfly
measuring about 2 inches across.

I have only seen the Hackberry Emperor a couple of times.

I am glad I saw him today.

Lilies

The Lilies are opening.

My flower for June.

Some for you and some for me

I went back to cut the chamomile.
The Cabbage Whites had moved to other blooms.

The Hover Flies were feasting.

The Bees were filling their pollen sacks.

My little Mason Bee was getting pollen for her eggs.

I harvested the blooms that were in the path.
There is more than enough for the bees and the bugs and me.

Cabbage Whites

The last of the Camomile is ready to harvest.

The Cabbage White Butterflies were enjoying the blooms.

I decided to wait until later to snip the stems.

I have other things to do in the gardens.

The Feverfew is blooming.