Butterflies in the yard

Most of my flowers this year were destroyed by the hail storm of 4/27/11, or the repairmen that came to my house. I did have a few flowers and the butterflies are still coming around. I don't have near as many zinnia as I usually do because they were just beginning to come up when the roofers came. Then about the time a few more came up the gutter replacement happened. I just keep saying next year we will have our flowers back.

I am just glad some butterflies have decided to stop for a visit. Right now my Crepe Myrtles are helping too. Don't think I have ever noticed the butterflies on the Crepe Myrtles before this year, maybe they are 2nd choice to all my other blooms. And as you can see I still preferred to photograph the butterfly on the zinnia (one of the few I have).

First Spicebush Swallowtail this year

I was beginning to wonder if the butterflies were going to come this year.
These photographs of a Spicebush Swallowtail were taken Tuesday morning, this was the first Swallowtail I have seen in my yard this summer. He did not hang around long.

I did go ahead and make one of the photgraphs into one of my greeting cards.

Your can view more of my greeting cards at www.leedrasgreetingcards.blogspot.com
Any photograph on my blogs or on my website can be selected for any card I have.

Zinnia Collages in different stages

Have so many photographs of zinnia blooms decided to make collages of them.

Now we will have to wait until 2009 for more blooms. Tomorrow I will be back to winter scenes.

They even come in 2's

The life of zinnia

The zinnia buds are so unusual. That black just looks out of place. I love it, so I just keep taking photographs of the buds. Probably have another post with just the buds. Side view with the zinnia middle trying to pop right through.
So many different colors out of one package of seeds. Although I cannot guarantee that since I plant several packages of zinnia. I want to attract the butterflies.

Attract is putting it mildly. Most of my butterfly photographs are at the zinnia blooms.

Then they begin to fade.

This is what they look like at the end, when the wind is sending seeds everywhere for next year.

I am tired of the cold, just had to remind myself what to expect when the cold is gone again.

Skipper on zinnia bloom

About the time I think they are all gone, then I see one. This skipper was in my yard on Friday afternoon.

Various Skippers on various flowers

These were also taken earlier in the year, had this post ready for quite awhile. Pushed for time, so am posting them now. Notice these were prepared before my new computer blues.

Great Spangled Fritillary

These photographs were taken early summer, don't think the Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies are still out flying around here.
Look at his tongue in the bottom photograph.

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies today

It surprises me we still have butterflies after the cool weather. I photographed these Gulf Fritillary butterflies this morning. Almost missed this one, and it is blurred, but decided to post it anyway.

At least he did land on one of the fresh zinnia blooms for me.

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies

This is a different collage look in Picasa. The top one is all with the wings closed, or up. The bottom is the same butterfly (Gulf Fritillary) in various stages of wings flat or up, but from above it. The bottom set was screaming to be put in a collage. I went back through photos to gather the top collage, so they are on different days.

Zinnia Collage

Playing with options in my new computer. Please don't be too critical of my first attempt at this.

Monarch on zinnia

Look at all those polka dots. I am sure God has everyone of them numbered and in the exact spot he wanted them to be. Are we in the exact spot God wants us to be on this Sunday morning?

Oh, by the way, Pam has this one enlarged and at her house too.

Bee on pink zinnia

In this top photograph it appears the bee is covered in pollen.But in the next 2 photographs I think it might be a pollen sack that Ecobirder mentioned several days ago.

This is the first post I prepared after getting ADSL, love it! It is sooooooo fast. I now agree with Ecobirder, don't know how I was blogging without ADSL. That was the disadvantage of where I live. We finally got it on our country road (think I had a little to do with that one). It is GREAT! Won't have to sit in front of the computer nearly as much, can get out and take those photographs to post.

If on occasion the photographs are small again, it means I prepared either the photo size or the actual post before I got ADSL. Not to worry, they will go right back to the larger size.

Thank you to everybody that has sent comments and encouragement about my hand. Prayer and the COLD water did it. Can't tell anything happened.

Sulphur on zinnia

Notice the skipper in flight. These Sulphur photos were taken mid July in my yard.

Spicebush Swallowtail on zinnia

The photographs of the Spicebush Swallowtail speak for themself.

It was fun to follow him around.