Monday, August 11, 2014

They're Back! (Along with a New Friend)

The swallowtails are back this season. The butterfly bush June planted when she lived here really attracts them during these hot days.

They always seem to lose one of the "tails" though. I think it's rough being a butterfly!

This Spicebush swallowtail was also missing one of its wing "tails." This one kept feeding on the butterfly bush and then flitting down to the ground to rest!

Seen for the first time by me (anywhere) and for the first time at Pink Gardens is this moth known as a Hummingbird moth. It really does resemble the variety of hummers we get here with its green neck and non-stop wings. 

It was hard to get a decent photo since they move like a hummer too, very nervously flitting from flower to flower and the wings never stop beating.

If you couldn't see the antennae you'd swear this was a baby hummingbird. That's what I thought it was at first!

Apparently these are the moths from the hornworm caterpillars that can eat every leaf on a tomato plant in two days if you don't find them first. Oddly, though we have the adult moth, I never had to pick off any caterpillars this year. For more information about these moths, click here.

4 comments:

  1. ANOTHER THING I'VE GOT A LOVE FOR ARE BUTTERFLIES. WHERE DID JUNE GO. I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LIKED HER COMPANY. FOR SOME REASON I HAD IT IN MY MIND THAT SHE OWNED THE HOUSE. I BET YOU MISS HER. THANKS FOR SHARING THE ABOVE. I'VE NEVER SEEN A MOTH LIKE THAT ON. GRANNY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Granny! June moved to another town about 15-20 miles away. She visits most weekends though, so we keep in touch. I think you'll like the morning glory post I just put up! -casey

      Delete
  2. WHEN I LIVED UP NORTH YEARS AGO I ALWAY HAD MORNING GLORY. THEY ALWAY GAVE ME A GOOD FEELING. I'M GLAD YOU AND JUNE KEEP IN TOUCH. I KNOW YOU LOVE HER FRIENDSHIP.

    GRANNY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Granny! Yup, June is a great friend. As I've gotten older I have fewer friends but they're all dependable and true now! All of the people that were just hanging on fell off, lol.

      Delete