Upright Prairie Coneflowers and Common Checkered Skipper

Ratibida columnifera, commonly known as Upright Prairie Coneflower or Mexican Hat, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family.

I photographed these flowers one morning this week in a park near my house.

My city is very good about seeding native wildflowers in parks and along roads.

I was very happy to see this lone butterfly on a flower!

 I sent this photo to a butterfly expert in Dallas, Tx to  identify,  since I couldn’t identify it. He says it is a butterfly – either a Common Checkered Skipper or a White Checkered Skipper. It would have to be examined closer to know the difference that can’t be seen in a photo!

He said it is more likely to be a Common Checkered Skipper for the part of North Texas that I live in!

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Isn’t it a beauty?

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Sunshine Streaming in My Window

I’m thankful for…

Sunshine streaming in through my kitchen windows greeting me as I feed
my dog and cat and make my coffee.

A warm house on a cold winter’s day!

The ability to read an inspirational chapter of a book.

Food in my refrigerator to make all of my meals today.

Great health!

Almost 8 hours of restful sleep last night.

The freedom to chose to drive to my church and worship.

The ability to bless someone today and this week
with a meal or some other act of kindness.

Swallowtail Butterfly with Lantana in the first photo and Pink Pentas in the second photo taken by me in my flower gardens during warmer months!!

This post was Inspired by “One Thousand Gifts”

written by Ann Voskamp.

Originally posted on my Steemit blog! 

Go check out Steemit.com!

What are you thankful for today?

 

A Day In A Butterfly’s Life

Late in the summer, I spied this butterfly just hanging out on one of our swings in our backyard.
It was a male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail with a torn hindwing.
It rested on the swing for more than 20 minutes.
Eventually it flew over to the lantana and had a drink.
I love watching these butterflies when they come into our yard.
They usually aren’t in any hurry and don’t fly away when I get close to take photos!
The lifespan of most butterflies is around 2 weeks.

Lantana is one of the best plants for attracting butterflies, bees, and other insects.

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Photos by me taken on my Canon PowerShot.

I spied this garden of zinnias when I was driving by a school in my city today. The zinnias were at least 4 feet tall! Of course I had to get out of the car and take some pics, because I was sure there would also be butterflies nectaring. I wasn’t disappointed! It’s planted in memory of a lady named Pat. Well, all I can say is Pat would be happy to see these beautiful flowers and butterflies. It made my day!

I don’t know what I will do when winter comes and there are no butterflies!

All photos taken by me on my iPhone.

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Hope you have a great day!

Today’s Butterfly Visitors

Butterflies are regular visitors to both my flower gardens these days with fall-like weather.
Here are a couple for you to enjoy today!

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I just bought some of these red blanket flowers, so the butterflies and bees would have more flowers to nectar on.

Also I love flowers to cheer up my yard!

Painted Lady butterflies have been regular visitors to my yard for the last week.
Here is one on some white pentas.

Beautiful Red Dragonfly

This amazing red dragonfly visited our yard a few days ago. I’ve never seen one exactly like it. Have a wonderful Friday!

 

Swallowtail Caterpillars on Rue

I was so happy to see these caterpillars on my rue today! My son planted some rue and other herbs in our front flower bed in the spring. It’s pretty hard to focus on just the caterpillars with my camera. The quality of the photos aren’t that great, but at least the butterflies are laying eggs in my yard!

I actually had seen when a butterfly was laying some eggs on this rue plant around July 19. I’m thinking another one must have laid eggs days later. I’ve been checking for caterpillars in the last 2 weeks. With any luck these will turn into chrysalis’ and then butterflies!

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Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

I was at The Arboretum in Dallas, Texas on August 5,2017. It was a very hot, humid day, but I was in search of butterflies and flowers that were in bloom. Of course, it helps that the entrance fee is only $1 per person and parking is only $5 for the whole month of August. Anyway, here are some beautiful flowers that I need help identifying! Most of their flowers, bushes and trees are identified, but not these.

Update: These flowers are called Celosia Flamingo Celosia Spicata. It is native to the tropics, but the plant is adapted to other climates, so Celosia is grown mostly as an annual all over the world. Celosia Flamingo seeds can be started indoors, and this plant is also known as Wheat Celosia or Flamingo Feather. Celosia Spicata is a tall, upright plant with reddish purple foliage and eye-catching, dark-pink, soft-pink terminal flower spikes that turn to white as they mature.

Celosia Flamingo is a wonderful plant to grow in mixed, sunny borders and patio planters. Celosia Spicata seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks, and the established Celosia Flamingo grows best in full sun or partial shade and needs moderate, but consistent watering with a good drainage provided. Celosia Spicata is one of the most popular cut flowers for dried, everlasting floral arrangements.

The rest of the photos are of the one lone butterfly I photographed and the rest of the flowers. We only lasted 45 minutes out in the heat of the 97 degree August day! Our air conditioned car sure felt good!

Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant

 My husband and I drove from Key Largo down to Marathon in the Florida keys about a week ago and saw a lot of these beautiful trees in bloom. I’m fascinated by them. They make a large seed pod and have a beautiful flower!

Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of flowers. In many tropical parts of the world it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English it is given the name royal poinciana or flamboyant. It is also one of several trees known as “flame tree”.

In the continental United States, it grows in South Florida, Central Florida,and sporadically in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

Beach Table Decor

Florida Keys style – this seaweed has a beauty all its own! Vacation Time! I tried to get a good video and photos of some butterflies near some trees and flowering bushes, but was not able! Maybe today! Until then…here …