Admiral

I think the Red-spotted Purple Admirals are one of our prettiest butterflies.  When viewed from the side, they have vivid red spots on the underwing; when viewed from the top, they have rich, vibrant colors as seen here.  Nothing not to like.  This was the only butterfly on the buddliea when I popped out this morning, although there were plenty of bees and other pollinators about.  My second choice for today is a shot of a Four-toothed Mason Wasp on some beautiful New England Asters in the garden - HERE on Flickr.  (No, they don't actually have teeth!)

Rain from Florence is expected to arrive in our area tomorrow, although it will only be, at worst, an inch or two of rain.  Certainly nothing like the multiple feet of rain in the Carolinas!  

Four Monarchs left the nursery today - two boy, two girls.  One of the girls flew right up into a spider web up under our eaves and I played hell getting her down, using a very long metal pole to snag the web.  Then, I had to carefully remove strands of web from her wings.  She appears to be okay, thankfully, and is currently resting after her ordeal.  I may need to do the same.  Six more caterpillars still eating, several J'd and ready to pupate and many chrysalises ready to become butterflies.  Released so far this year - 159 monarch butterflies.  Still taking names for dedications.  Today's went for the Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut victims.  So many lives...


xo
Debbi