28 thoughts on “Pleasures – Wordless Wednesday/Backyard Butterflies 2016”
Kathy, don’t know what part of NJ you’re in but found this site for you. Hope it helps you identify your unknown visitors. If this isn’t helpful perhaps it will serve as a springboard for other butterfly groups in your region.
Hi Jane, Thanks so much. I bookmarked it right away. I’ll be able to identify the two I was not sure of…and be ready for any unique future visitors to my flowerbeds.
Aren’t they marvelous little air dancers. Watching them always brings a smile to my face. I also love dragonflies. Learned the other day some dragonfly larvae can remain under water for as long as 5 years!
I love dragonflies too. I have even been able to coax them onto my finger if I move in very slow and nudge them off of the stick they are perched upon. They are fascinating. I didn’t know they can stay under water that long. Wow!
That 5 year period underscores the need for clean lakes/ponds, etc. Interesting fact about dragonflies (from wiseGeek):
Despite having six legs like all insects, dragonflies can’t walk.
The distinctive-looking dragonfly, with its eerie eyes and four paper-thin wings, is usually found flitting around lakes, ponds, and other wetlands, feeding on bothersome insects such as mosquitoes and flies. Dragonflies have six legs, but they cannot walk. Instead, the appendages are used for catching and holding prey, or for perching on plants.
Unfortunately, we lack a garden here (small apt. building). A few days ago, I glanced out my upstairs bedroom window and saw 2 larger insects following each other. From the glint of their wings, I knew they were dragonflies. I haven’t seen many over the past few years. They made me smile.
Jane, I am in Southern New Jersey, very close to Philadelphia, PA, near Delaware, and quite near the coastline too. I love where I live. It is a bit congested because I live in a University town, but it only takes a few minutes to get out in the countryside.
Kathy, when you have a small slice of heaven, the trade off is congestion
😦 But you get the best of many worlds with regard to the regional foods (mmmm, Philly cheesesteaks) and landscape. I recall your blog regarding your purchase of the Amish piggies in a blanket. I saved this post so one of these days, I will attempt to make them.
Another great Penn. Dutch dish is scrapple. They no longer sell it in the supermarkets (Jones Farm brand) so I found a Frugal Gourmet recipe for it and it was quite tasty.
Hi Jane, yes, there is a lot of traffic here, but we get a break in the summer. I haven’t had the Amish piggies for quite a while. Your comment reminds me to give them a try again. We have two Amish markets near us and I tend to go to one over the other, and that one does not offer them. I am not a big scrapple fan, but my father enjoys it. I had it for the first time as a child, and never really developed a taste for it.
Kathy, you had mentioned you live in a University town so I assume the decrease in population during summer must be because the kids go home for summer. Yay! With regard to the scrapple, the Frugal Gourmet recipe doesn’t require some of the ingredients you see in some Penn. Dutch recipes such as pork heart, livers, buckwheat flour, et al. His is less exotic and very tasty. Perhaps you could make a small batch and surprise your dad. 🙂 BTW, the pork neck bones are very meaty.
Thanks Jane…good idea. 🙂 Yes, the population decreases by thousands of students and thousands of cars. We here near the Rowan University in Glassboro have major expansion of the town going on. It is beautiful and well done, but they haven’t addressed the traffic problems yet. I’m sure one day they will have to construct some kind of bypasses in certain areas.
Kathy, loved your zinnias and the butterflies too. In England, the government has programs to grow wildflowers that attract butterflies. Do you have any such programs in the US ?
Susie
Susie, there is usually a program for just about everything here, but for this area I’m not aware of it. I like to grow garden flowers that draw them in, and I like to grow dill because they love this herb as a caterpillar host plant. For a few years we seemed to have a decline in butterflies due to weather. This summer we have had the best year in a long time. I’ve had butterflies all over the place, and I have loved watching them and trying to take their photograph. Kathy
Do you have wildflowers in the US too ?
On my recent trip to the UK, the wild flowers I saw were so amazing that I don’t wonder the butterflies are attracted towards them.
It is so encouraging that in these times when people have just time for themselves there are some souls who actually work towards creating innovative programs towards protection of wildlife, butterflies, plants, orchids and such.
Miss your DIY projects.
Susie
Hi Susie, Yes, we have wildflowers, but I don’t think they are quite as exciting as England’s. They don’t have the extreme temperatures we have on the East Coast. We have everything from 100 degrees all the way down to zero. 🙂 I haven’t been doing as many projects lately. I hope to begin once again soon. I’ve gotten back to painting again, and I’ve been collecting pressed flowers. Take care…did you find your cross? I wonder about it at times. I’ve prayed you will find it.
The cross is still gone but in my heart, something keeps telling me, its with the Lord and will turn up in its time.
Did you find your lost stuff ?
Susie
Oh Susie, this is really sad, now I can’t even remember what the lost stuff was…oh my! So I’m guessing it either turned up or it is still missing. Now I’m going to be quite perplexed trying to figure out what was lost. God bless you my friend. Kathy
MINDING MY P'S WITH Q 
Kathy, don’t know what part of NJ you’re in but found this site for you. Hope it helps you identify your unknown visitors. If this isn’t helpful perhaps it will serve as a springboard for other butterfly groups in your region.
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabanj/images.html
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Hi Jane, Thanks so much. I bookmarked it right away. I’ll be able to identify the two I was not sure of…and be ready for any unique future visitors to my flowerbeds.
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Aren’t they marvelous little air dancers. Watching them always brings a smile to my face. I also love dragonflies. Learned the other day some dragonfly larvae can remain under water for as long as 5 years!
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I love dragonflies too. I have even been able to coax them onto my finger if I move in very slow and nudge them off of the stick they are perched upon. They are fascinating. I didn’t know they can stay under water that long. Wow!
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That 5 year period underscores the need for clean lakes/ponds, etc. Interesting fact about dragonflies (from wiseGeek):
Despite having six legs like all insects, dragonflies can’t walk.
The distinctive-looking dragonfly, with its eerie eyes and four paper-thin wings, is usually found flitting around lakes, ponds, and other wetlands, feeding on bothersome insects such as mosquitoes and flies. Dragonflies have six legs, but they cannot walk. Instead, the appendages are used for catching and holding prey, or for perching on plants.
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-are-dragonflies-different-from-other-insects.htm
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We’ve been blessed this year, and along with butterflies we’ve seen quite a few dragonflies of all sizes. Yes, we must keep our water clean.
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Unfortunately, we lack a garden here (small apt. building). A few days ago, I glanced out my upstairs bedroom window and saw 2 larger insects following each other. From the glint of their wings, I knew they were dragonflies. I haven’t seen many over the past few years. They made me smile.
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There is always a magical feel about them…maybe it is that glint you speak of…it catches the sun.
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Jane, I am in Southern New Jersey, very close to Philadelphia, PA, near Delaware, and quite near the coastline too. I love where I live. It is a bit congested because I live in a University town, but it only takes a few minutes to get out in the countryside.
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Kathy, when you have a small slice of heaven, the trade off is congestion
😦 But you get the best of many worlds with regard to the regional foods (mmmm, Philly cheesesteaks) and landscape. I recall your blog regarding your purchase of the Amish piggies in a blanket. I saved this post so one of these days, I will attempt to make them.
Another great Penn. Dutch dish is scrapple. They no longer sell it in the supermarkets (Jones Farm brand) so I found a Frugal Gourmet recipe for it and it was quite tasty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jane, yes, there is a lot of traffic here, but we get a break in the summer. I haven’t had the Amish piggies for quite a while. Your comment reminds me to give them a try again. We have two Amish markets near us and I tend to go to one over the other, and that one does not offer them. I am not a big scrapple fan, but my father enjoys it. I had it for the first time as a child, and never really developed a taste for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kathy, you had mentioned you live in a University town so I assume the decrease in population during summer must be because the kids go home for summer. Yay! With regard to the scrapple, the Frugal Gourmet recipe doesn’t require some of the ingredients you see in some Penn. Dutch recipes such as pork heart, livers, buckwheat flour, et al. His is less exotic and very tasty. Perhaps you could make a small batch and surprise your dad. 🙂 BTW, the pork neck bones are very meaty.
http://www.recipelink.com/msgbrd/board_0/2011/JUN/86886.html
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Thanks Jane…good idea. 🙂 Yes, the population decreases by thousands of students and thousands of cars. We here near the Rowan University in Glassboro have major expansion of the town going on. It is beautiful and well done, but they haven’t addressed the traffic problems yet. I’m sure one day they will have to construct some kind of bypasses in certain areas.
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Just beautiful, thank you
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Thanks Deborah, and thanks for stopping by the blog. 🙂
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Lovely. Different from ours.
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Thank you Derrick. I enjoy watching them and trying to capture the perfect photograph.
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Kathy, loved your zinnias and the butterflies too. In England, the government has programs to grow wildflowers that attract butterflies. Do you have any such programs in the US ?
Susie
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Susie, there is usually a program for just about everything here, but for this area I’m not aware of it. I like to grow garden flowers that draw them in, and I like to grow dill because they love this herb as a caterpillar host plant. For a few years we seemed to have a decline in butterflies due to weather. This summer we have had the best year in a long time. I’ve had butterflies all over the place, and I have loved watching them and trying to take their photograph. Kathy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you have wildflowers in the US too ?
On my recent trip to the UK, the wild flowers I saw were so amazing that I don’t wonder the butterflies are attracted towards them.
It is so encouraging that in these times when people have just time for themselves there are some souls who actually work towards creating innovative programs towards protection of wildlife, butterflies, plants, orchids and such.
Miss your DIY projects.
Susie
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Hi Susie, Yes, we have wildflowers, but I don’t think they are quite as exciting as England’s. They don’t have the extreme temperatures we have on the East Coast. We have everything from 100 degrees all the way down to zero. 🙂 I haven’t been doing as many projects lately. I hope to begin once again soon. I’ve gotten back to painting again, and I’ve been collecting pressed flowers. Take care…did you find your cross? I wonder about it at times. I’ve prayed you will find it.
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The cross is still gone but in my heart, something keeps telling me, its with the Lord and will turn up in its time.
Did you find your lost stuff ?
Susie
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Oh Susie, this is really sad, now I can’t even remember what the lost stuff was…oh my! So I’m guessing it either turned up or it is still missing. Now I’m going to be quite perplexed trying to figure out what was lost. God bless you my friend. Kathy
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Beautiful! 🙂
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Thanks! 🙂
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They keep me running around the yard several times a day to see who is visiting what flower.
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I love butterflies! Beautiful photo!!
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Thanks so much, and thanks for the comments today! It’s appreciated. 🙂
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