Today dawned chilly and wet. The thermometer on the back porch, which admittedly is in a protected spot, said 50 degrees F. Since then, the temperature has been falling. Though still in the 40s, in comparison to our previous warm days, it feels a lot colder than that. I know my friends up north will laugh out loud to read that description, but there it is!
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I haven't spent much time outside today, but I spent as much time as I could outside earlier in the week, and I did actually manage to get a few things accomplished. It's been a very depressing month because the effects of my illness have lingered and I've been too weak to do much. But finally I'm feeling a bit stronger and was able to do a bit of pruning and basic clean-up in the garden, as well as moving around some of the pots that I wanted to be in different places for the winter.
I even persuaded my hubby and sometime garden helper to assist in cleaning out the fountain and the pond and in removing a couple of dead and dying shrubs that had become eyesores in the backyard.
It certainly wasn't my most productive week, but all in all, I feel pretty good about it.
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Butterflies have been a big feature of the week in the garden. Cloudless Sulphurs have almost been a "cloud" of their own as they swarmed around the garden.
Yesterday, I saw a lone Monarch female laying eggs on one of my milkweed plants. I've had no luck at all with producing any new Monarchs this year, so I'll keep my fingers crossed to see if anything develops from her efforts.
Earlier in the week, on one of those warm, sunny days, I photographed a Common Buckeye butterfly nectaring on the almond verbena shrub.
Buckeyes are not noted for their willingness to pose and so these pictures are not the greatest, but I enjoyed observing this butterfly as it nectared on this plant for at least an hour and it was fun trying to capture its image. They are one of our typical autumn butterflies and it is always a treat to have them around.
The Buckeye butterfly is so pretty, each spot different, and kind of 3D. I'm glad you get this nice time in the fall to enjoy cooler temperatures and wow us with your butterflies. Plants in my shaded garden are covered with a frost icing that has not thawed for a couple of days. When the rain comes back it will be warmer.
ReplyDeleteWe're supposed to have a few days of chilly, rainy weather. Then it will probably be 80 degrees again for a day or two. So it goes here, as you probably remember.
DeleteActually, 40F does seem rather chilly--but especially for Texas! I hope you get some monarch caterpillars, and then butterflies. Enjoy the warm weather when it returns! I'm jealous!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly seemed chilly to me!
DeleteWonderful butterfly pictures. I have never had clouds of sulphurs, or any other butterfly - once again I am jealous.
ReplyDeleteAutumn is really butterfly season here. They're just one of the reasons that I enjoy the season so.
DeleteWe've been joking all week that my parents, currently visiting from England, must have brought this weather with them! Brrrr! It's cold! I've only seen one Buckeye this year, and only a couple of Sulphurs. Love your photos. You're right, they don't like to pose do they?
ReplyDeleteThey are very wary and won't let one get very close before taking off again.
DeleteHow great that your parents are visiting. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with them.