Tag: butterflies

Phlutters – Butterfly House/Red Bank Avenue

On By TimelessladyIn Phlutters4 Comments

Today, I had strange companions along for the ride as I drove to Red Bank Battlefield. Ten caterpillars, mid-sized in their cycle, rode along to become residents of the Butterfly House. The fennel plants collapsed a bit in the heat, but the caterpillars did well.

The house has many butterflies, chrysalis, and caterpillars. The interior is filled with dozens of nectar and host plants.

The volunteers (Butterfly Whisperers) were pleased to welcome and make room for the new residents. The jar holding the fennel sprigs they were feasting on was placed beside a beautiful fennel plant growing in the house.

It gives me great joy to think of all the visitors receiving a bit of pleasure as they watch the butterflies throughout their life cycle.

The Revolutionary War Battlefield, now a historic park, is located on the banks of the Delaware River. Philadelphia’s skyline is in view to the right of the park.

Phlutters & Photo Challenges – Cosmic Photo Challenge/Contrasts

On By TimelessladyIn Phlutters, photo challenges10 Comments

Yes, you are correct if you think this blog becomes inundated with butterflies at this time of year.

Today’s photographs are part of the Cosmic Photo Challenge, Contrast. The markings on the butterfly are an excellent example of contrasting colors. The butterfly contrasts nicely with the garden plants he rests upon as he finishes drying off his wings.

Another good contrast is the natural support of the butterfly chrysalis on the left compared to the one on the right. I save so many caterpillars; they sometimes bump finished chrysalises right off their mooring of spun web. I found the chrysalis in the papoose-like sling of string lying on the floor of the butterfly house. I am hoping it will develop properly and emerge perfectly.

  • When I use string to repair a chrysalis resting place, I separate garden twine into single pieces. This is as close as I can come to mimicking the web they spin. It doesn’t harm the developing butterfly. I’ve had two emerge and fly off into the wide world after being put back into place with garden string.

Phlutters – A Tragic Tale/Butterflies Part I

On By TimelessladyIn Phlutters7 Comments

I had a rude awakening to one of the perils butterflies and caterpillars face. In mid-spring, expecting the butterfly chrysalis to hatch at some point, I brought the butterfly houses out to the porch and hung them from the ceiling. One day, checking them, I saw a delicate wasp of some sort had gotten inside the house and was trapped. Being a bit of a bleeding heart, I shooed the wasp out and felt I had done my good deed for the day. Wrong.

Two more wasps, surprisingly to me, also found a way into the house. I let these out also. Afterwards, I looked at the seven chrysalis on the sides. What! There was some type of hole in the sides of a few. I knew some parasite had attacked them.

When another wasp suddenly appeared in the house, I knew that it would not appeal to my softheartedness; I squashed it.

Trogus Pennator Wasps eat the swallowtail caterpillars from the inside out and emerge from the chrysalis. I can attest to the truth of this remark. Three overwintered chrysalis have opened in the past week or two, and beautiful Black Swallowtails have taken wing after the long wait. I have seen them fluttering over the fennel plants, and sure enough, I found several of the tiny eggs on inspection.

This weekend, small caterpillars appeared. I have twelve safely in one of two, new butterfly houses. I have also kept the older one from last year. Now that I have seen one of the parasitical threats they face firsthand, I will redouble my efforts and save as many as I can manage.

I will be keeping a 2024 Butterfly Diary. The link is here: Butterfly Diary 2024. It can also be found at the top of the blog page in the bar beneath the title. I will try to create a sidebar link too. Thanks so much for following the butterflies with me.

Plant & Perspective – Milkweed Fluff & My Year of the Dandelion

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, Plants6 Comments

One of my first memories of outdoor fun is chasing fairy wishes. I associate my parents and Mom’s cousin, whom I called Aunt Norma, with my first recollection of fairy wishes. The premise behind catching one was the fulfillment of a wish. Upon capturing the wish in your hand, you whispered your hope or dream, and then, and this was important, you had to let it go again.

The beautiful fairy wishes in the photograph were captured as they unfurled from a milkweed pod in my back garden. Anyone, who has read my blog for any length of time, knows I am a bit obsessed with helping butterflies thrive in my garden. I grow common milkweed as a host plant for Monarchs, fennel, dill, parsley, and rue for Black Swallowtails.

My prayer is that God helps me ride the winds of the written word, just like a milkweed wish, to spread the Good News of Salvation and His Love far and wide.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

Pleasures – Wordless Wednesday/Backyard Butterflies 2016

On By TimelessladyIn Pleasures28 Comments

Monarch
Monarch

Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail

Pearl Crescent (?)
(?)

Yellow Swallowtail
Yellow Swallowtail

Orange Sulfur
Orange Sulfur

Skipper
Skipper

Painted Lady (?)
(?)

Plants – Zinnias

On By TimelessladyIn Plants3 Comments

Recharging…Resting…Rejuvenating… In the meantime, I’m re-blogging some of my best garden posts. Happy Spring!

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Last Saturday night my husband went to the races. In honor of Mother’s Day the racetrack, and a local garden center, provided a zinnia plant for the mothers present at the race, and for those who stayed home. I was delighted when I found this extra small flower pot on my kitchen table.

I adore zinnias. I think it is genetic. My maternal great-grandmother grew a large bed of zinnias in the summertime. I am named for her, so perhaps, a little extra of who she was lives on in me.

I recently found quite a few zinnia seed packets on sale. I had already planted the larger varieties, 36 inches and taller, throughout my garden. Still, I could not resist the smaller sizes. I bought four packets, and I am full of purpose to place a few in every bare spot I might find in my garden. I am also planning on growing a dozen or so in pots so that when I have the invariable bedding plant catastrophe, I will have a few replacement plants on hand.

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Zinnias are a favorite of mine to watercolor.

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I love the second ring of yellow flowers lying deep within the larger petals. These small yellow flowers are where the nectar hides. Hummingbirds and butterflies will visit your yard daily, more than once, to sup on this treat. Here are a few of my zinnia reference photographs with some of their visitors. All artists and crafters are welcome to use any of my reference photographs for inspiration. Happy Painting!

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Copy of Picture 133

Project – Easy Semi-homemade Christmas Ornament/Butterflies

On By TimelessladyIn Projects1 Comment

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I have a miniature Christmas tree in my living room that I am trying to keep outdoorsy in appearance. I wanted to have several butterflies adorn the branches, but didn’t want to spend a fortune buying more decorations. A good solution was this border of butterflies. I separated them by cutting with small manicure scissors. I then used some wired silk leaves I had on hand, and cut most of the leaf away leaving a nub of silk on the wire. I encased this nub within two of the butterflies, glued together back to back.

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This was very easy to do and even easier to twist onto the tree by twirling the wire around the end of the branches a few times. I like the natural look of this Christmas tree.

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