Just enjoy the moment...

...after all, this moment is all we ever really have.

Swimming in deep, profoundly thick stuff lately. Heres hoping we find our way to shore soon. In the meantime, a butterfly from last April. Be good to yourself today.

Mexican Butterfly Weed, Asclepias Curassavica

Mexican Butterfly Weed, also known as Scarlet Milkweed. To be very specific, the Latin for it is: Asclepias Curassavica.

I grew it a few years ago, and eradicated it when it got a little out of control. Now out of nowhere this volunteer comes up, and Im in love again. Better management of spent flower heads will prevent it over populating the garden again.

Heres hoping lots of butterflys will come to enjoy it, and maybe even lay thier eggs. Fingers crossed!

Battered Butterfly

Having a breather on a shrub, this battered butterfly must be counting his lucky stars he escaped whatever claimed a piece of his wing.

The underside of the wings was a lovely pattern in oranges, but he would only show me those as he flew away. I dont know what sort of butterfly he is, and havent yet had time to try to find out - so its over to you - sing out if you know his name.

*************** This just in *********************

Thanks to Melanie of Creating Nunde I have learned that this is a female Caper White (Belenois java) Butterfly on migration - Thanks Melanie!!

New Quarry?

I am frequently teased by Australian Butterflys. They flit through the gardens so quickly that I usually miss them. Ive decided they are next on my 'must photo' list.

I dont even know the names of the Aussie butterflys, so there is much to learn. My local library has a few volumes on them, but they are all in the reference section, so I have to find a day to sit at the library and study this new quarry.

This little one was sheltering on the Salvia Farinacea during a stormy day. Its quite tiny, Id estimate it to only be about 15mm (1/2 inch) from wing tip to wing tip. On a sunny day they appear to be quite blue, while on this grey day, the colours are much more earthy. At this time of year they are abundant in the garden, flying low over the lawn, often in pairs.

I look forward to learning its name, and if possible, what its caterpillar looks like, and making the garden even more attractive to all the butterflys. Then perhaps they will stay a little longer, and let me get thier photo.