POOR MAN'S BUTTERFLY
Need flowers to attract butterflies. Not to many around here. Had to settle for this Dragon fly.
This guy was attracted to the fast growing Prickly Pear cactus. Made it easy to get a close-up. Butterflies on the other hand will drive you mad trying to get a decent picture. They don't stay in one spot for to long.
I planted the cactus in front of the orange flowering Butterfly weed, that is just coming to bloom.
Back in the garden, which is mostly weeds I caught another one resting on a stick. Garden took a beating before trapping two Raccoons and a Woodchuck. Then there was more digging by a third Raccoon which I think later was the one that got killed on the road a few days ago.
Some kind of winged critter on my garden gate. There were a few of these around to get some snaps.
That's all I got WisN, the warm weather should bring out more bugs to try and photograph... :-)
What a beautiful dragonfly and beautiful photos of it! The one resting on a stick is my favorite photo. Glad to see that you planted butterfly weed. You won't be able to keep the butterflies away with that stuff. That "winged critter" is a Skipper butterfly. I really enjoyed your photos Mike and thanks for using #insectpub tag! : )
The butterfly weed has grown there on its own ..They have very deep extensive roots.. Impossible to transplant I think. Got to get a real small one.
Right you are, Mike - the roots can go sixteen feet deep - hence my horror and outrage when some poacher tried to dig up my mature plants and succeeded only in killing them. I planted seeds along the roadside by our mailbox to grow these; I even wheeled buckets of water to keep the alive one dry summer when even the natives were shriveling up. This is my favorite prairie flower, or one of my favorites (how can I pick just one?). The seeds have only a 20% rate of taking hold, but once they do, wow, they really hold on! Tornados, buffalo stampedes, anything but the poacher's spade. :(
The ones I have here came up from the roots after the originals where back-hoed to death putting in a trench for a cesspool line. I tried to save the originals, put them in a bucket of water but they died right away.
Nice shots! Hopefully you’ll have no more encounter with raccoons!
Hopefully or they get the garden and I buy my vegetables :-)
You got some really great shots I truffle to get good shots of dragon flies and other insects as they seem to always be on the go and often on the go away from me LOL
Some luck involved :-) Thanks Jay ...
MOst welcome Cheers
Awesome photos @manorvillemike!! I know what you mean about those butterflies that won't sit still. I always thought the "winged critter" was some type of butterfly though. Dragonflies are pretty cool and you got some great photos!! 💖
Thanks @deerjay... Stuff with wings are a challenge to get. You have been putting out awesome posts yourself. Keep it up... :-)
You are welcome @manorvillemike and thank you for that compliment..it means a lot!! 💖
Wow you’ve got a good skill on taking those photos especially the last 3 photos.
Great work!
Thanks @djynn sometimes the insects cooperate long enough to get a good picture :-)
You done well my friend i like them shots of the dragonfly :)
Thanks @hangin only got the shots cus the little bugger decided to stay awhile -)
Haha...i know what you mean they are impossible buggers most of the time :)
Well, he looks happy! I do not have any butterflies and very few bees except for tiny ones. This is one odd year. But, my milkweed is growing everywhere. lol
I have no place to grow anything to much shade and the tree are dangerous to take down because they are so high.. Busy.org still down
busy is back up Mike!
Thanks @sunscape I posted there this morning and got my .18 cents... :-)