After the rain

When the rains stopped I put my walking shoes on.
I wanted to walk before the heat and humidity returned.
I walked up to the woods.

A Pearl Crescent was drying her wings.

A Eastern Tailed Blue was nectaring.

In a clearing I saw two deer.

It was dark in the woods so I used my flash.
The deer were startled.
The temperatures are to rise tomorrow.
I will be back walking at twilight.
Hope you are able to get out and walk.

A walk in the woods

My husband and I released the opossum
that was in the trap this morning.
We went on an impromptu hike in the woods.


By a stream we saw Broad-winged Damsels.
These Ebony Jewelwings are beautiful.
The males are iridescent green and
as the light sifts they turn iridescent blue.

Absolutely stunning.
They fly like butterflies.
They are exquisite!



As we hiked I took pictures of butterflies and wildflowers.

The Banded Hairstreak is small, only an inch wing tip to wing tip.

I am smitten with the Broad-winged Damsels.
My book says there are 8 species in North America.
The Ebony Jewelwings are a large damselfly, 2 inches from head to tail.
The black satiny wings and the iridescent body make this damselfly unforgettable.
I want to go back and sit with the Jewelwings.
Perhaps I could invite a pair to come home to my backyard!

Snowberry Clearwing

On the way home today I stopped at the Nature Center.
I was hoping the wild Bee Balm would be in bloom.

Some that grows in full sun was in bloom.

It was covered in Snowberry Clearwings and Bumble Bees.

I know the swallowtail butterflies also like Bee Balm.

I have a small stand of Bee Balm in my backyard.
It is in bud.
I can hardly wait for mine to bloom.