Well it is confirmed Microscopic geekiness comes in all ages.
Hey Shelia, I think you have developed a great plan there!
Martha, I took that picture I was excited to get it. Here it is open.
I can't find a picture of the calendar. I might have to scan it for you.
Mrs Ed...You take such great pictures and have so many bfs that I have never seen! I agree it is the bronze copper, and deserves the name.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1468
Aw, thanks Shelia. I can't wait to get back out there and chase some more BFs. I wasn't into taking pix last year of the BFs until June, so it will be exciting to see what the spring holds.
There is a park not too far from here (maybe 40 miles) that has supposedly reintroduced the gorgone checkerspot. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/preserves/art1116.html I'd like to go and see what I can find.
Have fun. It is warm here today so I won't be online. I am taking the camera out today! It was warm yesterday and I saw three small sulphurs but didn't have a camera. Today it is suppose to be over 70 degrees!
No...they just said in the 80s today!!!!
This message was edited Jan 3, 2009 9:56 AM
Yay for warmth. only 28 and windy here!
Only!?
I just came inside, forgot my camera; of course I spotted the sulphur and a Red Admiral while I was outside. My allergies are running rampant today. I am sneezing my head off and evertime I bend over it's Niagra Falls. My eyes feel like they have sand and itch powder in them; not a good combo! Took some benedryl and eye drops and will give them a chance to work. I am not wasting this day!!!
Thanks for Fulvous Hairstreak ID, Gardenpom. Just love that purple/blue color.
Giggle. Sheila, you are a clever one. Now who wants to buy the Carson zPix, 26x-130x Zoom Digital Microscope? Let's swap!
Marna, you do indeed take great pictures. I'm puzzled -- that pretty little white flowered plant is blooming all the way up in Illinois right now? It must be a wildflower. I have nothing, I repeat, nothing growing in my neck of the woods.
Marna, it's a coincidence that you posted the link to the park near you. I joined the Nature Conservancy only yesterday. It does wonderful work.
Hope your bf excursion works out, Sheila. I'd like some more pics.
Martha
Oh Martha, no no no no. NOTHING alive up here! Ugly, cold and brown. That picture was from this fall. I have to dig into the archives to have something to contribute.
Congrats on the Nature conservancy.
Marna, just think, we will be reading Nature Conservancy mag at the same time. I presume you already have a membership.
Martha
no, actually I don't. but perhaps I should.
I found this place because I was just looking for local places to go bird and butterfly watching.
Looks like this American Snout, (I think?) likes the butterfly brew also. They have a face only a mother could love, LOL. As of today there are 4 admirals (all of different sizes) around the brew and on my lemon tree. I'm thrilled, but then again I am easily entertained.
Peg
Sheila, that is my favorite butterfly also. She really did a great job on the mosaic.
Peg, you are a hoot, and I agree -- only a mother could love that face!
You know, Not the first butterfly stopped by my brew this summer. My mockingbird who owns my backyard always stopped to drink. I think it got bombed and loved the feeling.
Marna, NC membership only costs $10 (or more if you wish to donate) for one yr.
Martha
I found this GF cat on one of the few remaining leaves of the Corona de Cristo (P. foetida var. gossypifolia) vines. As far as I know, it's the only cat around here...but there could be more. The GF cats can sometimes survive freezes outside, I know that from my own observations! But eventually the species will disappear here until they start showing up again in the spring.
Such a beautiful warm day today! It brought a few more butterflies out into the yard. Here's a VF. There was also some sulfurs, a GF, a snout and a Red Admiral.
Well I never saw the sulphurs or Red Admiral after bringing the camera out. But there was activity on my Passion Vine at the back fence. I found three Gulf Frit cats munching away in the sunshine and warmth today offered.
Then I spotted an adult bf in the leaves....
And another on the well eaten vines sunning itself. I spent a lot of time mulching leaves in the backyard today and my allergies flared up big time. Mold is not my friend and it was very high on the pollen count today. Drove me in for a nap. The temps were in the 80s today and fall to the 40s tomorrow....that is Texas weather.
It was plenty warm here today too. This GST showed up. I hadn't seen one in a quite a while.
I can't find my butterfly book at the moment, but I'm going to guess this visitor was a Texas Crescent.
I believe you are correct!
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/images?l=1731
Oh thank you, Sheila! BTW, your GF pics, seriously good! I just love the clarity like you can almost feel them. GFs are one of my favs.
Thanks Elphaba!
Peg... I didn't see the snout for a minute, it just faded in! Nice camo for it.
Linda.... Nice Var. Frit. I haven't gotten one in my yard for some reason, or not that I have photographed. They are in the area because Frostweed had one last year. It's chrysalis is prettier than a Monarch's.
Mellielong...where are you?? Hope you aren't sick. Did you get such a good Christmas gift that it has all your attention? Like a new camera or car?
Well I couldn't sleep, my allergies are so bad. My eyes are itching so I can't see the puter screen very well either. Took something a bit ago and will try again.
Shelia, I agree! What lens are you using on that D50. It's just stunning bokeh (background).
It is an intermediate lens Nikon 55-200. Not sure what it all means, never had classes...DH knows more about them. I just shoot a bunch and delete what doesn't work; crop what does. lol!
Just lovely.
Sheila, thanks for worrying. I actually have been sick. I'm going to see a surgeon tomorrow about getting my gallbladder out. The same surgeon took out my mom's a few years ago so at least I know he's good! I've been home from work since Christmas; mostly I sleep and try not to throw up. Mom said she knew I was seriously ill when I took my Gulf Frit cats back outside because I felt like I couldn't care for them properly. I even missed my shift volunteering at the museum. The smell of pipevine bothers me when I'm feeling well and I just couldn't imagine trying to be around the Polydamas when I was already so nauseous.
I did get an awesome necklace (from Mom) with a caterpillar pendant on it for Christmas. I'll have to take a picture and post it so you can all see how cute it is.
In butterfly news, I saw a White Peacock today and released a Gulf Frit. I had a Zebra Swallowtail come out last week. It really surprised me! Unfortunately, I had an evil wasp come out of one of my Polydamas, but I made sure he could never hurt any caterpillars again - squish!
Melanie
:( Get well soon, Mel.
Melanie, I am sorry you have been ill. I have great empathy for you. My gall bladder was taken out in May. I'm surprised you have stood the pain so long. I immediately went to the ER. Take care of yourself. We need your good expertise.
Well, Marna, I learned a new word today: "Bokeh", the aesthetic quality of blur in photography. You are a well-versed lady.
Linda, Elphaba, and Sheila, your gorgeous photos make me breathless! Seriously, I'm starved for pretty butterflies when I walk out my door. I do, however, have two chrysalises in my garage. A BST and a GF. But, I'm hoping they don't eclose til spring.
Linda, I never heard of Corona de Cristo vines. I thought GF's only ate Passion vines. I need to research to see if Corona de Cristo is hardy here.
Martha
Well Martha, that is a new term for me (about 6 months now). I learned it when friend of mine was evaluating an old lens.
So those pictures of Shelia's have really nice blur. LOL.
Martha, Corona de Cristo IS a passionflower vine! Passiflora foetida var. gossypifolia, with very fuzzy leaves, pale lavendar flowers and reddish fruits. It's mostly a passalong plant here in southcentral Texas, which has also escaped into the wild in places. Although some of the P. foetida species are more tender, this one has easily survived temps into the mid-teens here.
Linda, I'm very glad to hear Corona de Cristo passion vine has escaped into the wild. That helps the butterfly population. Not many passis survive the winter.
Marna, I have lots of pics with a nice Bokeh, mostly deleted!
Martha
LOL!! I guess only the background bokeh would be good then!! I will tell DH the new word!
Hee hee Martha. Me too!!
Hey Everybody!
Hope you get well soon Melanie!
Linda the vine is beautiful. I need to get some cuttings from you if possible.
I have been missing in action here, I know. Allow me to explain...
December 26, My Daddy went to heaven. He was a missionary in Phrae, Thailand. Phrae is aprox. 8 hours north of Bangkok. He is still there because of all the paperwork to get him back to Bangkok and on a plane. I need to be concentrating on the service we will be giving when he finally arrives here, so I may still be out for at least another week or 2.
Of course I am grieving, and it is a good and necessary thing to do. Daddy always said to celebrate when he passed on, and were doing our best not to let the sadness overwhelm us. I believe that by the time we can have the funereal we will be able to honor his wishes, (somewhat). I have to prepare for my part of preparing music and speaking to the people who come, which may be well in the hundreds.
I had already told Sheila because she noticed I hadn't been online and checked in on me last week. (Sheila is so good about that.) I love her, and all of you here in my DG family so so much, and thought you all deserved to know exactly why I haven't been here.
Hold the fort you guys! And keep on planting and tending for the butterflies. I will be checking in when I can.
Debnes
Deb...am so sorry to hear about your father...he surely has a special place in Heaven :o)
Mel...get well - hey, that rhymes :o)
No butterflies to report here...strong winds and cold temps ruins the season for me. Although it does warm up nicely during the day I've not seen much aside from Queens.
~ Cat
So sorry to hear that Deb, warmest regards your way…
I am glad you shared the news with everyoneDeb. I know you will still be grieving for a time to come, but just know we do think of you often. When spring comes I know you will be renewed in your spirit just like our gardens will. Take the time you need to honor his life and then party afterward as he wished. It takes a special person to do missionary work like he did; in a foreign land away from our American soil and his family.
((((Hugs & prayers))))) to all the family
Sheila
Deb, so sorry to hear about your Daddy. : ( Hugs and prayers for you, and your family.
Mel, hope you get to feeling better soon. : )
~Lucy
Please accept my condolences, Deb. Take some time...I lost both my parents years ago and it was hard for me. I'll try some cuttings on the Corona de Cristo. If that doesn't work, I have lots and I could dig some up. I've got two GF cats that I found on what's left of the foliage...I've noticed that some mama butterflies seem to like these vines when it's kind of cold. I figure maybe the eggs and tiny cats are a little bit warmer if they're hidden in those thick furry leaves.
