ABC Wednesday

Z is for

Zebra Longwings.

These chocolate brown and cream striped butterflies
are remarkable.

They are unique because they eat pollen.
This diet is rich in proteins and amino acids
which help these butterflies live longer.

These butterflies migrate.
They find roosting spots as they travel the pollen highway.

The range map has them wintering in South America and Central America.

They have been seen as far north as eastern Missouri.

I plant for them just in case they stray into my backyard.

They are my favorite of all the butterflies!

Z is for Zebra Swallowtail.

I am on the western edge of their range.

I planted Paw-paw bushes for their caterpillars.

These butterflies are known as Kite Swallowtails.

Z is for zucchini.

I checked the blooms yesterday.
So very happy to see bees in the zukes!
Soon I will have more fruit for the table.


Z is for zinnia.
I save my seeds every year.

I am looking for the Zebra Jumping Spider.
Maybe for the next ABC Z!

Enjoy all the Zs today.
Happy ABC Wednesday!

Sunday Safari

Thunderstorms kept us home until mid-day.


We knew of a state park close by that has some prairie restoration.
We went hunting for bugs as soon as the rain stopped.
Queen of the Prairie is just now beginning to bloom.

The prairie is habitat to a huge variety of butterflies and bugs.
It is exciting to see so many different areas working on restoration.


The mantis is mature.

The wasp is new to us

as is the striped beetle.

Tomorrow I will do my research and bug id.

Tonight I am tired.

It is a good tired.

I spent five hours in the prairie.

Sunday Safari is very fun!

Happy bug hunting.

Virginia Creeper Sphinx

I saw the Sphinx on the ivy.

I did not know her name.

She is new to my gardens.

My bug book names her the Hog Sphinx.
Also known as the Virginia Creeper Sphinx.
I call her gorgeous.

I think I will go on another walk about.
I wonder who is in the lilies?

Tiger in the Mimosa

I saw the Tiger Swallowtail
high in the Mimosa Tree.

The birds planted this tree years ago.

When it is in bloom my world turns into the tropics.

It is hot and humid.

I forgot all about being hot.

For over twenty minutes

I watched this female Tiger in her yellow form.

I had plenty of time to work with my camera and the light.

I had plenty of time to be the photographer.

She rested for a minute on the Tiger Lilies.

The deer have eaten some of the buds before they have bloomed.

She had a few more sips of Mimosa nectar before

taking off.

Thank you Tiger!
You are a most lovely subject to photograph!

ABC Wednesday

Y is for yarn

yogurt

and yoga.

Y is for youngsters

and Yellow-shafted Flickers.





























Y is for Yellowstone National Park







and Yosemite.



Y is for Yucca.




























Happy ABC Wednesday.

Tiger in the hosta

About once an hour I get up from my work.
I grab my camera.
I take a walk about the yard.

While watching the bees in the hosta
an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flew in.

I was so tickled to see him crawl into the hosta bloom.

That was fun.

Snowberry Clearwing

I have been looking for the Clearwings.

While outside this afternoon checking the zucchini
I saw a Snowberry Clearwing fly into the butterfly bush.

I am so happy to see her!

It is summertime

and the Clearwings are flying.
Happy Macro Monday!

Sunday Safari

We drove southeast, about 100 miles, to visit the Paint Brush Prairie.
Only half of one percent of all the prairie is still with us.
Across the Mid-west prairie conservation is of vital interest.



This habitat is home to many endangered bugs and birds.

It was cool and cloudy.

The Common Wood Nymphs were in abundance.

The Indogo Buntings flew about.

I think they were as interested in us as we were in them.

As the day wore on the clouds began to disispate.

The sun came out for a little while.























We stopped at the Botanical Gardens on the way home.
I love watching the Bee Flies.

This one is Bombylius Major.
A lovely bug!

The Halloween Pennant

and the Great Spreadwing were flying.

I am looking for the Clearwings.

I am looking for the Hummingbird Moths.

Perhaps next week I will find them.

There is room for the Prairie and the Gardens.

Happy Sunday Safari.

ABC Wednesday

X is for
The Xerces Society.


I am a member.

This organization supports the conservation of
invertebrates and their habitat.

X is for xeriscape.

This style of gardening is wonderful for invertebrates.
Gardening with native plants means no extra watering.
Happy ABC Wednesday.

Macro Monday

The bees are in the cone flowers.

June is winding down.

July is tapping her foot.

I bought a beetle brooch while attending a weavers conference.

Happy Macro Monday!

Enjoy more macro photography here!

Sunday Safari

We went to see the Ebony Jewel Wings.

They take my breath away.

This male plucked a mosquito off my arm.

We could easily have a great relationship.

There were other wonderful bugs about in the woods.

We enjoyed the birds and the trees and the flowers too.

Watching Daddy Longlegs was fun.

It was the Ebony Jewel Wings we came to visit.

They are my favorite of all the bugs.

Happy Sunday Safari.

ABC Wednesday

W is for Wren

and Woodpecker.

W is for the wind whispering in the Weeping Willows

and for a wet wasp.

I watched a working Windmill

and a wee waterfall over the weekend.

My Weather report:

Overnight thunderstorms left two inches of rain in the gauge.

Power was lost for most of the night.

Heat advisory for the rest of the week.

Thank you mrsnesbitt for hostessing ABC Wednesday.

Too hot to play

It is too hot to be outside.
The thermometer reads 99 F.

I filled the bird baths.

I filled the butterfly and bug bowls with water.

It is so very hot.

The mantis agrees with me.

Macro Monday

An Orange Sulphur Butterfly

spent her last hours with me.

She was in my purse at the market.

I brought her home.

She was not hungry or thirsty.

I am honored to have been her friend.

Thank you Lisa for hosting

Macro Monday.

Sunday Safari

We went on Sunday Safari.

We went to Powell Gardens,
A botanical gardens near our home.

We are Friends.

We went hunting for bugs.

Eastern Amberwing Dragonflies are very small.
I was pleased to see them.

The female Widow Skimmer was waiting for a mate.

The male Familiar Bluet

kept an eye on the female.

They fly in the summer.

The Great Spangled Fritillary

nectared on cone flowers.

Gold Finches sought water.

It was very warm in the afternoon sun.

Meadow Larks sang summer songs.

We will watch the sun set.

We welcome the Summer Solstice.

ABC Wednesday

V is for Vultures.

While on vacation in the Lower Rio-Grande Valley

I saw the Black Vulture
for the first time.

Turkey Vultures are a common sight all over North America.

Crown Vetch grows by the road side.


Variegated Violets grow in my lawn.


The Viceroy butterfly mimics the Monarch.

Happy ABC Wednesday.

Macro Monday

I am over the rainbow.
I am in bug bliss.

The Ebony Jewel Wings are beautiful.
The female is exquisite.

The males are incredible.

Thank you Tammy Lee from Spirit Helpers
for encouraging me to be a part of
Macro Monday.


I am inspired.

Sunday Safari

The Ebony Jewel Wings are flying.


This is a female, displaying, to attract a mate.

The males are iridescent blue or green.

Today I sat with them.

I watched as she found her mate.

I watched them mate.

I watched them defend their territory.

I watched as this female laid her eggs while he kept watch.

I wait all year for the Ebony Jewel Wings to emerge.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Cool and Cloudy

It has been cool and cloudy all week.

The Hummingbirds have enjoyed the feeders.

I have enjoyed their company.

I hope the sun comes out soon.

ABC Wednesday

Today we celebrate the letter U.

I turn to the botanical.

I turn to Ulmus, the Elm.

I look for the umbra, the shadow.

There are flowers in my garden that form a flat flower cluster.

We know the cluster as an umbel.

The butterflies know them as easy nectar.

While visiting the Nature Center I saw an Umbrella tree in the entry.

They make excellent house plants.

Was it fantasy where Unicorns graced the woods?

Perhaps folklore kept the image of Ursa Major alive.

My husband's Ukulele waits for story time.

An umbrella for the hummingbirds

was appreciated yesterday when we received three inches of rain.

The Robins are soaked.

I was looking for umber.

Happy ABC Wednesday!

I am looking forward to seeing U!

Sunday Safari

We went to the clover meadow
with our kites.

They danced together in the wind.

We left the meadow and took a hike in the woods.

A Tiger Beetle took short hops and runs

as we walked the worn path.

They are swift hunters and benefical predators.

I watched a Lady Beetle shed her shell.

A Candy Striped Leafhooper was so brightly colored

I gasped in amazment.

The Blue Bottle Fly looks scary!

The Black Wasp is beautiful.

There are many varieties of Plant Bugs.

This one is a Tarnished Plant Bug.

The Lacewings are lovely.

I think her face is gorgeous.

A Tree Cricket greeted me on my miniature rose bush.

The fireflies are flying at dusk.

Tonight I will watch them as the Full Strawberry Moon rises.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Monarch in the Milkweed

A female Monarch butterfly
came to the Milkweed.

I know this butterfly is a female because
there is not a scent gland on her hind wing.
The males have a black spot on their hind wing
which are scent scales.


Lots of butterflies enjoy this flower.

Every year I plant a few more plants.
They are perennials but it has taken a few years for them to get
established in my gardens.

She looks as if she just emerged.
I shall go look for a male.

Lavender Harvest

I began the lavender harvest.

Each year I have a blessing ritual.

The first day of harvest is a celebration.

I always leave a few blooms for the butterflies.

A pair of Spring Azures nectered in the Chinese Lilac
while I harvested the lavender that grows underneath.
June is lavender month.

ABC Wednesday

T is for Tiger.

I was thrilled when he flew in.

T is for the Tufted Titmouse who tickles me

and Taurus the Bull.

T is for Thrasher
and thistle


and thyme.


T is for tomato.
I toured the tomato garden. The blooms tease me. The taste lays on my tongue from last year.



T is for Tornado

and Grandmother's thimble.

Thundershowers this morning, time for a cup of tea.

Thank you ABC Team.

I am already looking for U!

Sunday Safari

The Dragonflies

and Damselflies

are flying.

The butterflies and the

bees are busy.

Goodbye May.

Hello June.

Happy Sunday safari!

ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday's letter this week is S.

S is for Swallowtail.

It was serendipitous I saw her.

I sauntered about the garden

and spotted a Silver Spot sunning.

I am surrounded by s.

The Sparrows eat the seeds I serve.

Strawberries on spinach with spearmint makes a scrumptious Saturday salad.
Sprinkled with sunflower seeds it is sensational; sesame seeds are nice too but I usually save them for the stir fry.

Stevia is my secret ingredient for iced coffee or tea.

It is much sweeter than sugar.

The soapwort is in bloom.

The scent of the Chinese Lilac subdues me.

I succumb to Summer.

I am inspired by ABC Wednesday!

Rainy Tuesday

Off and on showers
are watering the gardens today.

I was able to have breakfast with the birds.

An Indigo Bunting has found my backyard.
I hope he tells his friends!

A House Finch, in orange variation,
also has found the feeders.

I walked the gardens.

The lavender is blooming.

Soon I will harvest.

The Cala lilies are blooming.

The Poppies bring light.

After the pods dry I will harvest the seeds.

A few bugs are out drying their wings.

Sunday Safari

The bees are busy.

I am so happy to see Lady Bugs mating.

Soon the next generation will hatch.

The hover flies are mating in mid-air.

The spiders are dropping on their silks.

I anticipate rain.

The potatoes are in bloom.

The Lilies are opening.

They are full of pollen.

I cut 3 dozen peonies

and a few poppies for grave arrangements.

We honor those that have gone before us.
It is Memorial Day weekend.
Happy Sunday Safari!

ABC Wednesday R

Robin

with raisin.

Rabbit in the romaine

romping!

Rose rock in the Rosemary.

Reflection of Rue.

Happy ABC Wednesday.

Meow

The Grey Catbird
meows.

He was a shy bird

until he found the grapes.

Now he comes up onto the deck without hesitation.

Sunday Safari

I sat in the chamomile
and watched the hover flies.

They are so small.

The smell of chamomile made me drowsy.

The sound of the bees in the Lupines
made me smile.

Yet it was the Hummingbirds

that took my breath away.

Peonies and Poppies

The peonies on the south side of the house
are blooming.

There are a few different varieties.

The bushes are filled with flowers.

The poppies began to open this morning.

Peonies and poppies are so pretty.