Associated Wildlife

Over the past few days I've seen a number of critters hanging out in the garden. One new to me, one ID surprise, and two that I love. There are lots of bees, cabbage butterflies, and small pollenators too.

This is a black swallowtail butterfly. It kept swooping from the flowers to the post and back. The best picture is on the post, and look at its body! This is the first time I've gotten a picture where you could see the spots on the body.

Here is the one that was new to me. These two moths hung out on the sea thrift for a couple of days. Turns out they are the Toadflax Brocade Moth. It is introduced in the United States to try to control common Toadflax, often called Butter-and-Eggs which is a wildflower that I really like, but it is invasive and can be a problem in pastures when it crowds out better grazing plants.

Here is the ID surprise posing on my jeans. I thought maybe this was a different kind of ladybug instead of the horrid Asian Ladybugs (beetles) that are everywhere now. Ha! It's just an Asian one without spots on its wings. I hate those stinky things.

And another welcome visitor. This one tried to commit suicide by jumping in a bucket of water from which it could not get out. I found it floating and looking quite dead, but as soon as I fished it out, it sat up all perky! It was a tiny Gray Tree Frog. I see these around here quite often. In fact, I blogged about one just last summer at Eviction!.

It was overcast in the morning, and was an excellent temperature to work outside. I did mega yard work, including finishing the first mowing (except for some edges where I need to trim bushes to get the mower close). I do have to do something serious about the mower seat, but I may have a plan figured out.

Also did my editing and went to bell choir practice. The last performance of this season is Sunday. Oh, and I stewed a big pot of rhubarb.

Tired, but satisfied with the day.

See Black Swallowtail Butterfly