From my garden . . .

"No occupation is so delightful to me

as the culture of the earth, and no

culture comparable to that of the garden."

-Thomas Jefferson

It's been quite the busy week in my garden....

Both Monarchs and Queen butterflies emerged, in my dining room, although I think it now counts as an 

extension of my garden. This is one of the Queen's, not a Monarch, but a close relative. Their color

is much deeper and more brown in color. I was having trouble photographing this little lady on my plectranthus, so I clipped some of my pink penta and put it in a bottle. That's when I discovered something.

This little egg . . . I knew right away what kind of caterpillar this would be as when we first moved in

to our house, they completely devoured my pentas. Only then, I didn't realize what kind of caterpillar it was.

And, it hatched the next day. Just Check out that horn on his back end...it's harmless. This my friends is going to be a tersa sphinx moth. And I am going to try my best at keeping track of this little fella and hope he doesn't fall prey to something. After I noticed the egg, I went back to take a look at the plants and see if I could find more. Nope, nada, but I did find evidence that there had been some small caterpillars from the small chewed holes in the leaves. But so many lizards and assasin bugs...not sure what has a chance!

*(Update: I did this post last night, and upon checking this morning....it...is...GONE!

Can I hear a collective....AWWWWW! It was on my front porch because I read somewhere

NOT to bring it in the AC, so I left it outside against my better judgement.

I. Am. So. Disappointed!)

And then one afternoon after a good little rain fell, the sun came back out, and the butterflies were back out looking for food. This is a Grey Hairstreak Butterfly enjoying the milkweed . . . 

And let me tell you it has been an incredible week of close encounters. Not only did he let me get super close for a mug shot, but....he let me pick him up!

See....I have proof.

And then, he even let me put him back without flying away. It seems he must have more than one life, notice the little chunk out of his wings at the back? They were designed to still be able to fly with bits and pieces missing from their wings.

And as I was knelt down trying to see if there were any caterpillars under the milkweed leaves, this little guy pops out from the bush and comes over, curious they are. 

And it always delights me when my butterflies come home again!

And how excited am I that they finally found the feeder. But boy are they tricky to get on film...so fast!

This week is our monthly Photo Art Friday over at Pixel Dust Photo Art. The optional theme is sky. It's always the first of the month, and it sorta snuck up me this time and I didn't leave myself enough time to play with this theme since I remembered just last night. I used her textures Painting Maker, Muted Monet,

Van gogh Sky, and last a Kim Klassen texture I forgot to write down.

In other news:

1. I can't find fall...it's still in the 90's and humid. One should not sweat at a football game.

2. You remember my pink highlights? The hummingbirds quite fancy them...I was sitting on my front 

porch earlier in the week and with my camera to my eye focusing on the butterfly right in front of me

drying its wings, I hear a hummer come over and at first I think he is wanting a drink from the plectranthus

that the butterfly is on...then I hear the sound of his wings right in my ear and feel a hurricane of wind on the top of my head. I'm pretty sure he was attracted to my pink hair.

3. If that wasn't exciting enough...the next day when he came back he came right up to me at eye level about fifteen inches away and just hovered....we had a moment! And just this morning, he was back again doing the same thing!

4. The last of my Queen butterflies are about to emerge...I need to get off this computer!

Even though I've seen it hundreds of times, it just never get old.

5. Oh, and speaking of close encounters I almost forgot. A giant and beautiful dragonfly just came over and

landed on my big toe one morning while I was outside standing there. I kid you not, and I can't believe I didn't have my cell phone to capture it.

Have a fabulous weekend y'all

Love, Kim

linking with Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Photo Art Friday

Random Five Friday, Photo Art Journal

There's a new kid in town . . .

Yep,

While I was away in Chicago, my sweet daughter (who does not like critters of any kind...at all) tended to almost 40 caterpillars and released over 20 butterflies! And then when I got back, it wasn't long before I was releasing the ones that pupated while I was gone. Then I sat back and waited, and waited, and checked my milkweed . . . and nada. No eggs, no babies! It's been a month since I've been back and only last week did I spy come cats on my milkweed, but only 5? So unusual with a release of that many to only find a handful, but honestly, there were very few females in that whole lot!

But, we have had an influx of mosquitoes like no body's business. Seriously, it's just so bad. The worst I've seen it ever since moving here to the humidity capitol of the world. We hadn't even had much rain? So, about a week went by that I didn't check the plants. Sheesh, I couldn't even go out and water them with out getting attacked and coming back in looking like I had been in battle, and that was in  long pants, and a hoodie sweatshirt, with the drawstring pulled, lol! Did I mention our feel like temps have still been near or over 100.

{ KK violet}

So, doused with chemicals, I have been going out to check the plants more often and (look above) what I found! Do you notice anything different about that caterpillar? Sorta looks like a Monarch at first glance, but it's not. Right away I noticed that this caterpillar has three sets of tubercles (antennae) which means it's a Queen Butterfly. Their markings in the first instars are also slightly different than that of the Monarch, but probably not enough for most to notice. As of yesterday, I now have 15 queen cat babies safely tucked in my dining room.

I have to say that those darn skeeters are really cramping my morning coffee time on my front porch, and my roaming the garden with my camera. I can't spray any fog because of all my milkweed plants  . . . I know this all too well from previous experience. It is instant death to any caterpillar. I should note, that they have sprayed our neighborhood like three times in almost a week, but to no avail they just keep on keepin' on.

I was able to grin a bear it for a few minutes this morning to snap some of the dozens of bees that are loving my wild morning glory, which by the way is sooo very run a muck in my garden right now. I swear this stuff grows like 2 feet per day!

{KK peony}

And, while checking the milkweed, I found this pretty little moth hiding.

{KK Minus 43}

And then much to my surprise, this morning at the wee hour of 3 0'clock, I found this fellow in my bathroom!

I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to safely capture this little guy as they are lighting fast jumpers. He made it a little easier though jumping from the base board to the wall and that's when I won the draw and got a plastic take out bowl over him (and the lid I might add, a bit tricky too). Poked a few holes in the lid, and he waited for me on the kitchen counter til daylight. I wasn't about to let him out in the dark because hard telling what might come in through that door! haha  I was able to get the lid off and him in my hand, but as soon as I took the bowl off, he didn't wait for goodbyes, and bam a six foot jump landed him here.

He did tolerate, for about two seconds, my getting right back in his face for this mugshot though. Isn't he just the cutest? I kind of wonder how long he has been in the house. They can be loud.

{KK Kristen}

So add kermit to the list of out door that has made it inside....along with geckos, green anole lizards and a snake! Yeah, I'll share the snake story another time, haha

Have a great rest of the day,

I'll be decorating 270 football lockers tonight along with some other ladies...and bringing fabreze!

(It's homecoming week)

Love, Kim

Linking with Texture Tuesday, Tuesday Muse, Tuesdays Around the World

Foto Friday - Update from the garden



As promised an update from the garden

and I know you have all been patiently waiting . . .

well maybe not patiently, and maybe not really waiting at all

but just go along with me here - I know you're at least curious.

Right?

Okay, good!!

(you can't see me, but I'm smiling)

So the good news is they are still here - the green lynx spiders that is.

They haven't all been eaten by something - whew! I know you were worried.

I can usually find 3 or 4 of them, at least that's what I can spy with my little eye

since they are so well camouflaged amongst the garden.  Sometimes I take a

spray bottle out with me and lightly mist the flowers to see if I get any movement.

I think this is where I tell you to stop laughing . . .

Alright, I know what you're thinking - has she flipped her lid, spiders are gross!

Well, truth be told I wouldn't want one crawling on me either. In fact I'm severely allergic

to spider venom - I have ended up in the ER with anaphylaxis several times. But when

seen through the view finder of my camera, which changes all perspective, they are

suddenly quite fascinating.  

The green lynx spider gets its name because of the cat like hunters that they are. They are very well

adapted to running and pounce on their prey. I've had the privilege of watching one catch a bee

out of mid air and it was lightning fast. I think they have a bit more growing to do before they're catching

bees though.

They are a bright vivid green with their bodies being transparent but having said that they

are really hard to notice especially when on green foliage.

The female is larger than the male and wow will I have a surprise for you when I finally see one

that is gravid (pregnant in spider lingo) this season. It's a bit too early, usually around late August or

September.

And never fear if you live in a northern climate because they like tropical weather. You will find these in the southern U.S., Mexico and South America.

And although they aren't as camouflaged on this gomphrena, this is where I find them the most.

They have really long slender legs with which help them catch their prey and those are not black hairs you see on their legs, but spines probably to help them impale dinner.

These spiders do not spin webs, but actually hunt for their prey. And although they don't

spin webs they will usually trail a dragline of silk  - kinda acts like a bungee cord when you're

jumping off things to get your dinner!

So have I changed your perspective yet?

Linking this one with Favorite Photo of the week Contest

The moment one gives close attention to anything,

even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious,

awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

-Henry Miller

I can't wait to share more with you because God gave this spider something very special!

Until then, give something your close attention - you'll be glad you did.

Give someone, even a stranger your special attention - and you will be blessed!

Have a great weekend my friends!

Love, Kim

XO

For more Friday photo fun check out the hollie rogue

and

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli 
 

Foto Friday - In the Garden

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience,

everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.

Gardening is an instrument of grace."

- May Sarton

This was officially our first full week of summer break and an extremely busy one at that!

I spent 3 hours alone standing in line at the DPS with my daughter, who I remember just yesterday

was two, as it seems she is now old enough to drive - really?  I don't remember this happening!

This week I'm linking up with Love that Shot for a chance to win some stuff! They are celebrating their

first birthday with a giveaway and today's theme is in the garden.

This one is of a newly planted hosta that is already blooming.

This year I'm trying a new plant in my garden called Cleome or Spider flower. It will be quite the

test for this plant as we have only had an inch of rain since January and are now on mandatory water

restrictions....Monday's and Wednesday's . . . good luck to all my plants!

And these . . . they just seemed to mushroom overnight! Haha

I told you it's been a long week and

I think I'm getting punchy. I'm glad I took this when I did because when I went back out an hour

later, they had disappeared. 

Hey, how did this get here?

Oh wait, I remember, he was actually walking through someones garden!

He is just a babe, and was quite curious as he came right over to the car.

Wildflowers, they seem to make their own garden!

While walking around Galveston I spotted this pomegranate.

A Gulf Fritilary finding a snack . . .

And well, you know I have a fascination with the honey bee . . .

I'm looking forward to getting a macro lens someday to really get even more close-up

and personal with nature.

No, I can't place this photo anywhere near a garden unless sand dunes count?

But I just had to stop by the beach and say hi - I'm hoping this is where you will

find me this weekend.



The most noteworthy thing about a gardener is that they are always optimistic, always

enterprising and never satisfied. They always look for ways to do something

better than they have ever done before.

- Vita Sackville-West

So for this weekend I hope you find yourself in your 'garden', wherever that might be

that will slow you down and where you'll find patience. After this week it's certainly

where you will find me . . . and striving to do better than the week before.

Love, Kim

XO

P.S. Don't forget to click the link and check out more photos "In the Garden"




And another link up here: