A hummer was arguing with a monarch over this butterfly weed while the monarch caterpillar went about his business--- eating.
3 in 1 shot
Oh...that's an amazing photo...I really like it! Just beautiful! You should enter it in the photo contest later...now, I'm not sure which category it would be in, but I'd vote for it.
Thanks Linda. Is there really a photo contest on Dave's Garden? Here's another shot where the hummer is closer to the butterfly.
WOW! Awesome photos! Love all that milkweed in bloom too!
~ Cat
Yes, there should be a photo contest toward the end of the year, maybe November or December? I don't remember where to look for it then, but there should be enough DG people talking about it that you can find where to go.
That's such pretty milkweed--what's the name of it?
Check out the link to previous photo contests: http://davesgarden.com/contest/
I would totally vote for it, too. That is so awesome. My Mom said, "How did she capture the hummingbird? She must have a really good camera!" I love all that milkweed in bloom, as well. I just want to do a belly flop into the middle of it all and roll around like a puppy. Of course, I'd scare all the wildlife away, but I'd be happy!
Melanie
A truly awesome picture, I love your caption, too.
Which butterfly weed is that, I must get some ! Is that tuberosa? I have seeds for that one and am waiting to seed in the fall. Now that I have had a monarch cat pupate (his name is Bob) and Fred the other monarch cat and Bob are currently in my living room because of the wind from Hurricane Hannah tonight, I MUST have more Monarch Food for next year! I am turning into a Butterfly and Hummingbird MANIAC!
It is easy to get addicted to them, isn't it pyromomma? That's why I'd also like to know which milk weed that is. It's very pretty and I don't have that one. I have a whole area I want to naturalize for the butterflies and hummers. This will be in addition to my garden for them surrounding my patio.
Keeping an eye here too, waiting to see which milk weed that is. :) Very pretty - and amazing pix!
Yeah...and will it grow where I live??? lol
That shot is totally awesome!
I think that is swamp milkweed.
Thanks jmorth. I know I don't have that one and I think I have a place online where I can purchase it. I really do need more nectar flowers for all the butterflies I've attracted to my yard.
Milkweed is what I call a good double-duty butterfly plant. It's a good nectar plant and also a good host plant. I was just out on the front side of my property trying to make a little tree wild hog-proof and decided it was too hot and I could finish later. I decided to check a few little milkweeds growing wild out there before coming back to the house and sure enough, found two eggs and a tiny cat! The tiny cat was a Queen (I have a magnifying loupe for the little bitty ones) and the eggs are most likely the same kind. It's been so nice to have those back again! Those eggs and cats usually show up about the end of June here.
Sorry BF lovers, I was out of town. It took me a while to find the plant tag, but here it is: Asclepias Incarnata, "Cinderella", perennial, swamp milkweed. Full sun. Height 3-5', blooms early summer (that picture was taken August 15th, zone 5 in the upper peninsula of Michigan... late summer this year) so I guess I wouldn't pay too much attention to that bloom time for my zone. Grows well in average garden conditions but loves moist, humus rich soil. I use lots of composted cow manure and mulch. I put a couple of these plants between 3 butterfly bushes and other flowers that BF and hummers like.
Thanks for the encouragement. It's a different world when you crawl into a garden, isn't it?
Rochelle
Thanks so much for the info blossom_bum! I will try to order some to put out next spring. Hope they grow well down here.