Well, I can't find many butterflies, but this lone hummer came for a visit today. 2 pic limit!
Russell
Hummers at the trumpet vine
One more for good measure! I hope the fall brings more butterflies!
Russell
Those are great shots, Russell. I have been enjoying the hummers too.
Is there consensus about the reason(s) for lack of butterflies? I'm guessing my wet spring had to do with it here. Saw a yellow swallowtail today. Cabbage white, some sulfurs. It's always heavy in August, but "usually" we see fair amount of activity from broad variety of species. Monarchs don't show in numbers until August. I appreciate them giving me time to prepare for the onslaught. :)
It seems all parts of the country are getting too much of something...you got too much rain, in Texas, we are getting too much sun...and not enough rain. I am just trying to keep everything alive for the fall. I recently installed a soaker hose on one side of the house, and I have already seen some results on some formerly struggling plants. It sure makes life easier too. I wish I could have them running all around my yard, but a few of my beds are separated from the water source by concrete, so I will be hand watering those. My front beds are all xeriscaped, so I rarely water there. I actually saw a hummer feeding on my red yucca the other day...that was pretty cool, but it didn't stay around long enough to get my camera.
I saw a giant swallowtail and a couple of gray hairstreaks this weekend, and a funereal dusky wing this evening, but that's about it. I have so many plants in bloom it is shocking that is all I saw...
I guess I need to do some guerrilla planting at my neighbor's houses to bring them in... :)
Russell
Let me know what works for you!
I live about a mile from the arboretum in GSO. We are in a nice older neighborhood bounded by several "major" roads, and I think that connectivity is an issue as a result. My garden is the only one of its kind for blocks as far as I know. I did the MonarchWatch waystation program last year, and I only plant natives (well at least till I joined DG this year and started trading!) so we get a fair amount of traffic. Last year I hosted a honey bee colony from I don't know where, and we would pull up lawn chairs in the driveway to watch them feast at the mountain mint.
I am, and so many friends are, so far behind in their gardening duties, I am glad for the repose. Once the monarchs start laying eggs, I turn into a nervous wreck. :D
Keep me posted.
A.