This Week's Critters

I am late to the party, but didn't want to miss this week, because I've seen some cool critters I wanted to post for Misty Dawn's Camera Critters.  The link to see more posts is in my sidebar.

Last Saturday, we met our grandson and daughter-in-law at the cemetery pond to feed the waterfowl.  I know I've posted about the place before, so I just included a few photos of that this time.

It was a beautiful morning, and the view from the bridge was so peaceful.

Here's an action shot of KJ throwing cut up corn tortillas to the birds.

When I looked to the other side of the bridge, I saw a huge frog.

Later in the day, I was amazed to see lots of doves on the wires, because the most I'd ever seen were 3.  I counted 14 at one point.  One or two would fly off, and a few more would land.  It was pretty cool.

Some of them were paying attention to what I was doing, others either didn't notice, or ignored me.

I took photos for GBBD on the 13th.  I also took some CC photos.  I'm not sure it this wasp is the same as the other black ones, because it has light colored bands on it.

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail appears to be a female.  When they look like this, I'm not sure if it means they've been nipped at by a bird, if the weather has caused it, or if they are just getting old.

I don't see dragonflies or damselflies often, so I am excited when they are in the yard.  I thought I knew the difference between them, but I'm not sure on this one.  It's eyes are not touching each other, like my book says dragonfly eyes do.  Yet, the way it's holding its wings look like a dragonfly.  I have noticed there are spread wing damselflies, so I'm not sure.  Do you know?

I see the skipper has discovered the new blooms on this liatris.

This skipper discovered the newly blooming alium.

I'm not sure what this silver spotted skipper was doing on the morning glory leaves.

The next photos were taken the 15th, while I was taking foliage photos.

The abdomen on this swallowtail looks like those of Black Swallowtails in my book, but the wings look a little different.  I was glad to get a few photos, even though they were not focused well, because these don't stay still for long, and fly off after they notice me.

I love the details of the legs and antennae.

There were lots of birds in the street, and eating insects or worms out of the yards.

The squirrels were active, too.

I love the variety of insects sharing the goldenrod.

Here's a Silver Spotted Skiper on a butterfly bush.

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail wanted to keep an eye on me, so everytime I moved, trying to get a photo of its back, it moved, too, so I'd see its underside.

It sure was a show off!

Finally, I got a photo of the spread wings from the back.

I've been seeing the White Lined Sphinx Moths a lot.

It's another mover that's hard to get photos of.

Look at how long the proboscis is!

And now, it's time for the caterpillars.  These are swallowtails of some kind.

How many do you see here?  (I see three.)

I see two in this one.

This is a different rue plant, and I see three on this one.  The one on the right is a younger one.

What a beauty!

The asters in the back yard started opening after the 15th, and this sulfur of some kind has discovered them.

The rough goldenrod is continuing to attract a number of insects.

Oh, and this skipper has also found the aster blooms.

I just spent over 2 hours doing this post.  I am so far behind in my blog reading, but need to go to sleep now.  Thanks to all those who leave comments on my posts.  I know there are some questions I haven't answered.  I still plan to.

Foliage Follow-up

I actually have more foliage than blooms right now, but am not going overboard for Pam's Foliage Follow-up, like I did with my GBBD post. 

The perennial geraniums are still looking pretty good.

I love the color of this one, but it doesn't show up from a distance as well as the green ones.

The milkweed foliage is looking better than I wish it would.  I wish it was being eaten by monarch caterpillars.  There are a few chewed leaves, though.

I've shown this perennial sweet potato vine of some kind before.  We were told it was an annual when we bought it around 10 years ago. It sure covers the front light!

At first, we had a yellow blooming non climbing clematis growing with it, but it ended up dying a few years ago.  This plant was Larry's choice, and the clematis was mine, because I liked flowers better than foliage.  It has grown on me, though.  The foliage is kind of cool, and insects don't seem to chew holes in it.

I still like the foliage on the Octopus Bellflowers, even though I pull it out at the edges so it can't take over the whole flower bed.

The

The Euphorbia, 'Bonfire' from last year is doing fine, but the one I planted in the same bed this year died.

Usually, the limonium keeps its blooms, even after they dry, but this year, they came off on their own.  The foliage is looking pretty good.  The rue next to it has some swallowtail caterpillars on it.  I'll show them in Saturday's post.

The Chocolate Joe Pye Weed will be blooming soon.

I am including a few wider shots to show all the foliage filling up spaces where flowers are not currently blooming.  Some are finished for the season, others haven't bloomed yet.

This is from the bed in front of the house.  The hellebores haven't had as much water as they'd prefer, but they are hanging on.  I'm not sure if there is hail or slug damage, but think it's probably the latter.

Here are a couple basils overpowering some chives next to ornamental sweet potato vines.

I like the foliage on the sage.  I still plan on doing a taste test on these ornamental sweet potatoes.

I got these basil plants from the farmer's market.  I told them I couldn't remember what they were, but I want to grow them again, because they are slow to start blooming.  The gal said they must be Genovese Basil plants.  I only got one batch of pistou made from them, but hope to get another one done soon.  Pistou is French.  You are supposed to hand crush basil, garlic, and olive oil, but I use a blender.  We have nut allergies, so that's why I don't make pesto much.

The mother of millions is very pregnant.

I think this is the yellow blooming kalanchoe that was in a teeny pot when I bought it.  It sure is looking good.

Larry's rabbit foot fern is doing well.  That's morning glory foliage in the background.

The variegated false sunflower is not looking so variegated right now.  Something is eating on it, too.

The colius has looked awesome all summer, and has only had a few bloom stalks to cut off.  I didn't notice when it started to get leggy.

I hope to get some cuttings and try to root and pot them to bring inside for the winter.  I've never done that before.

I'm not sure if I ever knew the name of this plant.  I may have gotten it at a garage sale.  I just noticed it is blooming.

I took longer getting this done than I planned to.  I had a goal of visiting 50 GBBD posts before I go to bed, but don't think I'm going to make that.