Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
It has been too hot for me to want to garden but occasionally I step outside with the camera to survey the visitors.
Early this morning I spotted a skipper flying erratically among Verbena bonariensis flowers along the front drive.
Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
In the main garden in the back yard a large bush of common lantana draws many insects, as does the nearby Blue Sky salvia, both growing in the southern border. In the western border along the back fence a butterfly bush offers enticement.
Unlike last week when they merely passed through, several eastern tiger swallowtails spent the day.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
In addition to the swallowtail, this morning in quick succession I enjoyed seeing some favorites return. There was a male monarch in good condition bouncing back and forth between the lantana and salvia.
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
While photographing the monarch a Common Buckeye appeared, first one this year for me.
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Can you spot where it fled to escape my persistent camera?
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
I left the common buckeye alone once the first Hummingbird Clearwing of the season suddenly came into view. It has an easily recognizable profile.
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
The Hummingbird Clearwing didn’t stay still but it stayed around long enough for me to take portraits.
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
Within just a few minutes I was cheered to see such interesting creatures. Hope the garden is feeding your soul this August.
What a lovely selection of visitors you had! All our butterflies have been visiting while we have been having such hot sunny weather, they must like it much better than I do!
The butterflies make me smile. Glad you’re seeing plenty too. They do seem to enjoy the hottest times of day. I feel the seasonal shifts though Pauline so enjoy summer while you can.
Wicked hot here and drought conditions which have caused water restrictions so a lot of things are on their own for survival. I haven’t had near the visitors you have so I enjoyed your photos.
Sure hope you see a break in the weather soon Judy. We’ve been under water restrictions here for many years —year-round. Storm clouds passed right by us yesterday.
You do have a varied group of butterflies. I have had a few more this year. It is also too hot to garden here, but we are getting a cold front and the temps will drop to the low 90’s. A bit of a Mother Nature joke.
Sorry about the horrible temperatures. Butterflies seem to like hot days.
Beautiful shots! I’m in Texas, like Automatic Gardener, and it is hot, hot, hot. That said, I do have a decent number of pollinators. They don’t perspire, I do. 🙂
Try to stay cool Tina. Glad the pollinators are plentiful there. While I’m seeing a few butterflies now, the bees which were plentiful, are nowhere to be found.
Great photos, Susie. I saw a swallowtail butterfly here last week and thought of you – I didn’t manage to capture a photo. We had hummingbird hawk moths last year but I haven’t seen any this year. Our semi-comfortable summer weather has apparently come to an end – our temperatures have climbed into the 90s and are expected to be stuck there for at least another week. My garden activity is now limited to supplemental watering during the early morning hours.
Thanks, and thanks for associating me with the swallowtail. Saw two more fresh ones today. We don’t get the hawkmoth here I don’t think. We’re only at 89 degrees today Kris! Did we get your cooler weather?
Lovely photos of them all Susie. It has been hot here too, but I will follow your example tomorrow and venture out early with my camera and see what I can see! The Hummingbird Clearwing is so very pretty – like our Hummingbird Hawk Moths of which I have seen very few this year. Must focus on more flowers they like next year!
Thanks Cathy. Have fun photographing your Hummingbird Hawk Moths. I see pollinators at same few plants. I should diversify!
Love the photos. Just when I think I have a favorite, Swallowtails. I find another. Julias today. I have had those Clearwings and did not realize what they were. Thanks! Do you have larval hosts?
Just looked up Julias. Gorgeous.
Love the Julias, been chasing them around with a camera for at least a year.
Fantastic shots! Especially loved the Common Buckeye and Hummingbird Clearwing!
Thanks. Neither have been around since so I’m lucky I spotted them when I did.