You Don't Say...Cabbages, Giants, and Tigers;')~

This year, several of the neighbors have commented that we have just not had our usual Butterfly counts.  In fact, just on Thursday, I saw the first Monarch of the season.  That same afternoon, I could have kicked my good self;')  I was thinking about the possibilty of doing a bit of lawn cutting, as the weather had cooled down a bit.  I had taken my camera out as I always do, and had placed it on the picnic table, under the umbrella.  I like having the camera handy when I am working outside...just in case. 
As I turned to walk toward the garage, I could not believe what was about to be my good fortune of the summer, for as I had seen only once before, ever, there before me was the most gorgeous
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
The largest butterfly in North America.  I grabbed up my camera and took chase, as they are mighty fliers.  I was running so fast to keep up, I nearly fell, and then it flew amongst the heavily wooded trees.  I thought to myself, I may have even actually spoken the words...out loud..."You have got to be kidding me...right." ;'(
I could not find where it had gone, but I ran to the 2 closest neighbors gardens, hoping that it would visit, either next door, or across the lane.  I waited at both gardens for several minutes, but the butterfly never found those gardens and my camera never got a single image.  This had happened with a Zebra Swallowtail twice a couple of years ago...geesh, but hey, I got to see it and it was thrilling!

Below is one of the images that I took of one, amazingly two years ago today~

We always can find the Cabbage Whites, as well as the Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, but oh to catch another glimpse and this time get more images of the spectactular

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly.

Happy Week, Happy Mosiac Monday, be blessed and be a blessing to others, be safe and take care always~ 

I am linking up with Mary for:
"Mosaic Monday"
at:
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

 

Let Me Begin With a Hummingbird Moth~

 

 For the past two weeks,I have been feeding the cat and pond fish across the lane from my home while the neighbors are away.  

I always enjoy photographing in Mona's garden and on this particular day, I saw one of my favorite visitors...

A Sphinx Moth, and. or Hummingbird Moth.  

They are truly such lovely, delicate creatures~

 

 I think either this autumn, or next spring, I must invest in a Butterfly Bush...
for then I might get such lovely visitors my way~

Below is a Fiery Skipper center and another species of Skippers along side~

* Note...there are so many species of Skippers, and I am just not certain what these are.
 

 We have oodles of the female Common Whitetail Dragonflies, flitting around~

 

 Before Mona left on her vacation journey, she called me on the phone one afternoon to say that I just might be interested in the 3 frogs she had just seen by her pond.  
When I got there, this is what I saw...3 American Bullfrogs, all piled on top of one another~

 

 One of the smallest butterflies seen here is the Pearl Crescent taking in the nourishment of a purple  Cone Flower~

 

 

 Such a handsome adult male Bullfrog below.  I love that deep voice he drums out~

Below is a gorgeous Spot-winged Glider Dragonfly.  
I had never seen one of these before, and it was an amazing species, taken right across the lane from my home the other day~

Below are Knock-Out-Roses taken at my next door neighbor Sue's garden.  I have to take so many of my summer images elsewhere, for the vast part of my 2 acres is shade trees~

 

 

Miniature Hollyhocks~

Below is the ever present summer resident, the Cabbage White Butterfly~

 

I enjoy so much watching butterflies, the way they glide from flower to flower.  

Their beauty is amazing, such gifts every one of them.  

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail below, such elegant beauty~

 

 

 

I am linking up with Mary at:

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Please join me, and Happy Mosaic Monday~