Tall Grass Prairie

I love the Tall Grass Prairie.

I worry about the future of the wildflowers.
I worry about the butterflies.

Our planet needs the biodiversity of the Tall Grass Prairie.

When the water runs out the farmers will only
 have the wind to farm.

We need the grasses.
We need the sunflowers.

My husband built a bamboo trellis for the gourds.
We have given our garlic patch over to the gourds.
The garlic is drying and will be ready to braid soon.

The gourds will cure on the vines over the winter.
We will take the trellis down next spring.

The green beans are sprouting.

A Fig Beetle was splattered with mud.
When I walk the gardens I think about the flora and fauna that live here in my backyard. I think about my relationship
to the Tall Grass Prairie I call home.
I think I will grow Bird's Foot Violets.
They are the host plant for the Regal Fritillary. I could grow them
as border plants in the gourd garden. I could grow them around the beans. There is room for the wild and the cultivated in my gardens.
There is room for food for the butterflies and the people.
Maybe I could poke in some grasses around the sunflowers.

Where the Deer and the Butterflies play

A young deer is coming for salad.

The lettuces have bolted

but she doesn't seem to mind.

We have an understanding.

I will save some sweet spinach for her

if she will leave some for me.

We will have to fence seedlings from now on.

The wind came up and she trotted off.

I turned my attention to the cone flowers.
I am grateful the deer have left them alone.

The Tiger Swallowtail looked so elegant
perched on top the seed head.

It is here in the gardens I work and play.
I am a gardener.

Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars

When I went to take my photographs of the 

Pipevine Swallowtail eggs

I saw a Pipevine caterpillar.

I looked about and saw three nice sized cats.

Than I saw a small caterpillar.

I saw more eggs too.

This is the first time I have seen 

Pipevine Swallowtail 

caterpillars.

While I was watching the caterpillars

Pipevine Swallowtail came back

to lay more eggs.

The Dutchman's Pipevine

is blooming again.

I am so excited!

Gemini's archetype for me is the messenger.
My message is, "patience pays off".
 I have waited many years for Pipevine caterpillars!

Always the student

I was backing up photographs when I looked out the window.

I saw a Banded Hairstreak in the Bishop's Weed.
I had just read about the Banded Hairstreak.
I had never seen one.

The Gray Hairstreak is common in my gardens.
I am always learning.
I celebrate a new to my gardens butterfly.

In the dirt

Spring has returned.

My nose is down and my tail is up.

I am here and there.

I am in the gardens.

So much to learn

Each time I see the female Tiger Swallowtail
in her black dress I gasp.

I love her subtle markings.
She mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail.

The male Tiger came to the Chinese Lilac.
I do hope they mate.

The male Hummingbird is becoming comfortable
with me out on the deck.
I hope the females arrive soon.

The Snout is ready to mate.

I will see a second generation 

of snouts this summer.

I cut peonies for the house.

One bloom fills a vase.

The female Northern Cardinal

was resting on the glider.

I was happy to share my spot on 

the back patio.

I wanted to relax out of the sun.

I wanted to watch the Poppies.

I sat on the glider with the camera.

The immature Baltimore Oriole

is getting a bit of orange.

A Gold Finch came to the branch 

above the glider.

I think I am accepted.

I opened my book

and began reading.

There is so much to learn.

My student is pleased to be

surrounded by butterflies and birds.

Baltimore Oriole

"Welcome back Mr. Baltimore Oriole.

I have been looking forward to your return.

You are beautiful.

Please tell your friends to stop by.
I am so happy to see you again."