I had a hummingbird adventure today. You can read about it in the hummingbird thread. Here's the link to the post:
http://garden.org/thread/view_...
Seriously, the things I do for you guys. I'm not kidding about the weird tan lines on my feet. If I knew I was going to be out there for two hours I would have put on sunscreen. The car said it was 81 degrees but it felt much warmer in the sun. Plus, I read this research about how people with fibromyalgia have trouble controlling their body temperature which makes a lot of sense.
I went out earlier in the day to take butterfly photos since they were showing off. Like this Monarch.
And this one that just emerged on the bottom leaf on one of my bromeliads (the milkweed is planted right below).
I still have crazy amounts of caterpillars.
And some that are in their J! This one wandered over to a Spiderwort plant.
But while I was hunting hummingbirds he made his chrysalis.
Stucco remains a popular choice for chrysalis-making. The caterpillar in the picture made his chrysalis while I was waiting, too. Mom thinks it's funny they're all over the house.
There are a ton of Gulf Fritillaries around (no surprise) including this one that doesn't care that there are no leaves on my Corkystem Passion Vine and lays eggs on it anyway!!
My Duskywings are back!
And this little skipper was on the Spanish Needles during my stakeout.
I also saw my first Zebra Longwing of the season (Mom and Dad had already seen them) but it flew over as I was watching the hummingbird so no photo. I also saw a Tiger ST, a Cloudless Sulphur, and some kind of White butterfly. Normally, I would assume Checkered White, but since I saw those Great Southern Whites in my yard last year I'm not so quick to assume. Oh, and the whole reason I saw the hummingbird in the first place was because Mom saw a butterfly she didn't recognize and yelled at me to come outside. It was gone by the time I got my sandals on (that concrete is HOT, no bare feet here) but she looked through my book and thinks it might have been a Painted Lady. I'm going to have to wander around and take a good look at the weeds and see if I can't find me some more caterpillars!
