Tiger Swallowtails

I was packing up the June decorations when I looked out the back door.

As if in a dream I saw her.

The Female Tiger Swallowtail in her black form is elegant.

She is gorgeous. If I was to be a butterfly I would want to be her.

I love her tiger stripes, subtle yet apparent.

Her all black body is so pretty.

She is my first Black Tiger of the season.

While I was photographing Miss Black in came a female Yellow Tiger.

I could tell by the row of irredecent blue markings on her upper wings.

Black flew and opened her wings.

I looked about and here was a male!

No blue on his upper wings.

He is a gorgeous mate.

An older Tiger came to the Bee Balm.
 It is just begining to bloom.

I turned to go back into the house and saw a Monarch land in the back butterfly bush.

It needs to be deadheaded so it will bloom again.

I have another butterfly bush near the deck that is just beginning to bloom.

July is almost upon us.

Temperatures are to soar.

I will not mind as long as there are Tigers in the gardens.

Summer Solstice

We walked twice today.

Once in the morning to greet the day and again in the evening.

A Ground Hog is living under our deck.

I am some what concerned.

The figs are growing.
I hope he leaves them alone.

We had a mix of sun and clouds today.

I send my prayers to those who are suffering from the floods of the Missouri and Missippissi Rivers.
We have had too much rain this spring.
Perhaps the summer will be drier.

Fossils continue to find places of honor in our home.

Our son gave this gorgeous one to his Dad a few years ago.
It is now on the mantel.

Happy Birthday to all those who celebrate in the time
of Cancer the Crab.

Cancer is my moon sign.

My archetype in Cancer is my warrior, my sabatuer.

I travel the path of the Hero.

I live the way of the non-violent warrior. 

My sabatuer helps me stay peaceful. 

I celebrate the sun today.

I celebrate the summer sky.

Bright orange lilies grace the back yard.

We shall try to catch our Ground Hog friend.
He seems to like the bird seed I put out.

We will try to relocate him to a safer habitat.
Happy Summer Solstice.

North and Northwest

I am smitten with Swainson's Thrush.

Head over heels in love.

Our house sitter will feed the birds while we are gone.

Swaison's Thrush likes raisins and grape jelly.

I brought out my fossil bag.
My rock hammer and my chisels still snuggled in the pockets.
My Dad's old rock hammer was also tucked inside.

The peonies continue to delight.
I am drying some for winter tea.

I brought one of our fossils in from the front garden.
I need a cabinet for my fossils.

We are gathering our supplies.
Soon we will leave on our adventure.

Soon we will follow the Fossil Freeway.

It is the Full Flower Moon
also called
The Hare Moon.

We watched the Moon rise last night.
We took our moon bath.
Tonight we shall watch her again fill the
 back yard with Moon glow.

Relationships

The Indigo Bunting has come each morning to the bird bath.

Slowly I am building a relationship with him.

The Downy Woodpeckers have youngsters coming to the feeders.

They will be year around residents.

The Rose- breasted Grosbeaks continue to bring much joy.

They will stay a little while longer before heading north.
I hope the will return next year.

The Northern Cardinals have learned to eat grapes.

The Cat Bird

and the Orioles taught the Cardinals how tasty they are.

It was too warm today.

A fresh southernly breeze
brought humid hot air into the midwest.

Even the Blue- tailed skink took cover from the sun.

The Painted Daisies and

the Peonies are beginning to bloom.

Storms are brewing.

New Green Moon

It is the New Green Moon of May.

Our world has turned green.

I caught a quick sighting of the Wood Thrush in the vegetable
garden. Very exciting to see a new to my backyard bird.
I will make sure the bird bath in the kitchen garden stays full of water for him.

We are good companions to the plants.

We nourish them and they nourish us.

The chamomile is blooming.
 I will dry lots for winter tea.

We are good companions to all the critters that call
our backyard home.

Happy New Moon.