Thursday, July 22, 2010

Coming In For A Landing


Black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) ready to feed.... Candy Lily (Pardancanda norrisii 'Dazzler') Posted by Picasa

"The butterfly is a flying flower,
The flower a tethered butterfly."
~ Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun
What would summer be without butterflies? This year we have more than ever with the new garden. Three black swallowtail caterpillars have emerged and taken flight and we have seven currently in chrysalides, three more still growing in the butterfly house and more than twenty outside on the fennel. They are so graceful... and prolific. Next year, I will be planting at least three or four fennel plants to take care of them as two large caterpillars can decimate a large lacy cutting of fennel in two or three hours... they are eating machines! But seeing the adults return and flutter effortlessly around the deck and over the rooftop is amazing. They don't seem to mind the hot and humid weather.... 95℉ with 89% humidity ... but it really does me in. Then again, it wouldn't be a summer in the South without heat.. and humidity.

Carmi's theme this week has been "summer". His photos have been gloriously cool, I can almost feel the wonderful waters... if I don't step outside that is. Oh, if only just a bit of that cooler air from Canada or the North Pole or.. well, from somewhere... would slide down to Virginia just a bit... maybe next week.

(end of post)

5 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

What an amazingly beautiful photo, you are so talented! And I love the quote about flowers and butterflies. I did not know how much they eat, that is very surprising to me, something neat to learn.

Sandra said...

wondrous to behold! marvelous comes to mind also. when i stepped in our back yard this mornig a wet blanket fell on me and I felt like i was breathing water not air. last night at 8 PM it was still 92 so i expected it to be hot. you are so right. our butterflies seem to thrive in it. we have had more this year than any of the past 20  years in our home.

Beverly said...

Beautiful, as usual.  Yes, it is hot in the south.  I'm flying to Charlottesville next Wednesday.  I know it's going to be hot...my sacrifice to see the beautiful Ella.  Can you believe she will be 4!

kenju said...

This is the post I tried and tried to leave a comment on yesterday. My other computer is messed up! I think it just ate 36 photos I tried to upload, from the wedding today, etc. I also had some great butterfly photos and now they are all gone!! boohoo

yaffa said...

What a pretty monarch!
http://nycgardening.blogspot.com/