Monarch Days

Our gardens are full of Monarch butterflies.

Inside we watched as the Monarch caterpillar
 made her "J" and

her chrysalis.
 It will be 10 days before she emerges.

I counted one dozen Monarchs this afternoon in the gardens.

They are preparing for migration.

It is exciting to watch them.

Red Spotted Purple was also in the back Butterfly Bush

as was the female Tiger in her black form.
She takes my breath away every time I see her.

I am spending these end of summer days
 with the butterflies.

I watch the bees

and the caterpillars.

Autumn is coming.

Zebra Swallowtail

The Zebra Swallowtail does not come to the garden very often.

It is an exciting event when they do.

We stop what we are doing and watch them.

Today was a gorgeous September day.

Two Zebras graced our backyard.

One was in perfect condition

the other was Summer weary.

Such a lovely butterfly.

The Zebra over winter in the pupa stage.

I have three Paw-paw bushes, the host plant for the caterpillars.

I do hope a few pupa over winter in my backyard.

Berries and camouflage

The Pokeberries are ripening.

We have a large bush by the deck.

The birds are having a feast.

We left some of the spent Queen Anne's Lace.

The Dragonflies like perching spots. 

This Praying Mantis has grown up
 in the Queen's Anne's Lace.

She is well camouflaged.

I leave lots of the summer stalks.

They will add interest to the gardens this winter.

Thank goodness caterpillars are not Mantis food.

For the love of the bloom

I love mums.

I think they are lovely.

They are not a good nectar choice for the butterflies,

yet I still love them. I love their bloom.
Just the flower for the sake of the flower.

I have read that the blooms are used for tea.
I shall dry some.
Perhaps I can justify growing them if they make good tea.
I like herb tea.

We had a quick thundershower again this morning.

A burst of rain that lasted maybe 20 minutes

We already had high humidity and heat.

Thank goodness the wind picked up.

The butterflies continue

to come into the gardens.

The asters are beginning to bloom.

They are a good Autumn food sourse.

New sunflowers continue to open.

One of my favorite meditations is sitting with a sunflower and watching the petals open.

We welcome Virgo today.

Happy Birthday to those born under her.

I have begun working in my Virgo journal.

I am learning about my relationship with the stars.

I am made from the stuff stars are made from.

I am a daughter of the stars.

Windy Morning

It was very windy this morning.

I did not mind.

The wind felt refreshing.

We have sprouts in the Autumn vegetable garden.

I love walking the gardens and finding dragonflies

and Hummingbirds.

I will miss the Summer birds
 and Summer bugs come Winter.

She just shimmered in the light.

I think that is star dust on her wings.