Butterfly trees?

Lately I've found butterflies sitting in trees.  Are they laying eggs on the leaves?

Or just resting?

 

Ahhhh

There's no better place on a hot day!

 

Turtle heaven

These turtles looked pleased with their river rocks.

 

What's wrong with this picture?

Is this a test to see if people pay attention to signs?

Maybe just turn off the drinking fountain...

 

Bottle cap mural

From a distance it looked like a 3-D mural.

A closer look showed us that it was made from plastic bottle tops.

 

Killdeer

Killdeer waded in the pond.

 

Surprise art

This glittery banner suddenly appeared above the greenway.  

Perhaps it was a project of the nearby art center.

 

One more Heron

I haven't posted a heron picture in a while.  This guy was just strolling under a busy walking bridge.

 

Sky after the rain

A swarm of Canada Geese flew over Shelly lake.

 

Ghost plant

I can see how this one got its name as a ghost plant.  

(See here)

 

skipper

A little skipper followed all his big butterfly cousins.

 

First leaf to fall

The tulip poplars are the first leaves to go.   They let us know that this hot summer will end soon.

 

It's good to be king

This Eastern Kingbird (see here) looked like a ruler.  He swept down to eat flying insects and then flew back up to his throne.

 

Fritillary

I think this is a Variegated Fritillary, (see here), but they all look similar.  He matches the center of the cosmos so well he's almost camouflaged.

 

Who am I?

I thought this would be easy.  But is it a Black form of the Tiger swallowtail? (see here)

Or a Pipevine swallowtail (here)  or a Black swallowtail (here) or a Spicebush swallowtail (here)?

Or does it matter if they're all beautiful?

 

Common?

The Common Buckeye needs a new name.  There's nothing common about this beauty.

 

Flying Pumpkin

This Gulf Fritillary (see here)  looked like a flying pumpkin.  The color was intense.

 

Tigers

The Tiger Swallowtail butterflies were busy in the wildflower field.

 

Butterfly heaven

The wildflower field at the museum of art may not have looked impressive this year, but the butterflies were thick on the few flowers that bloomed.

 

Bee pollen

This bee was so loaded with pollen on its legs, I didn't think he could fly.  He matched the colors of the sunflower almost exactly.

 

Seedy weedy field

Mr. Goldfinch enjoyed the seedy wildflowers.

Mrs. Goldfinch was well fed also.

 

Sunflower Summer

The sunflower field at the museum of art was disappointing this year.  Inconsistant rains and excessive heat stunted the field.

There were a few in bloom.

 

The Gyre

The Gyre is a great place for pictures.

It's an installation in the North Carolina Museum of Art's sculpture park.  A favorite with photographers.

 

Lazy Days

A great way to spend a hot afternoon.

 

Waiting for a friend

The grandchildren's legs have grown too long to use this swing.  So it sits sadly waiting for a new playmate.

 

Worth the wait

Finally the garden is starting to give back.  

Fighting squirrels, rabbits and heat is finally paying off.

 

Progress?

A few weeks ago, this was a forested area.  The trees are gone now, making way for another high rise condominium.

 

Happy house

This looks like a cartoon house to me.  Just a little bit too stretched up to be real.  It looks like it's smiling.

 

Better days

This house has certainly seen better days.  

 

Plantation chapel

This little chapel was moved from it's original place on a plantation near Gulf, NC.  It has been moved to the Mordecai historic park.

Built in 1847 by enslaved workers, it held religious services for the plantation owners and their enslaved workers.  The enslaved people were not allowed in the pews, but stood up in the balcony.