Mothers Day.

5-13-12 SHORT HILLS: Happy Mom’s Day to all the mothers out there. On Saturday, we had a small gathering at Val’s in Brooklyn Heights, a magnificent buffet brunch, with Mimosas, followed by a tour of the new recreational piers on the waterfront. Alison, Dan, Maggie, Lily and Lucy rounded out the group.

The weekend was summery and sunny. I did nothing here but repair a broken window in the garage door.

In this yard and in the Heights, we have noticed loads of butterflies this year, which everyone thought was unusual. Here we have a dozen or more Red Admirals and a few Painted Ladys fluttering about the flowering shrubs, mostly leucothoe (lu-KO-thway). [I think it’s hard to say too.] Anyone else seen butterflies?

Red Admiral warming on flagstone.

Painted Lady upside down on leucothoe flowers.