The Day of the Butterfly.

7-1-21 VERMONT: The heat wave is over, and we have had rain every day for four days, only an inch total, but it’s a start. 

I have seen a lot of butterflies this summer, but they have all been active, flitting around and not settling down for pix. That was until today when I caught several on milkweed in bloom—fritillary, monarch, white admiral, skipper. Tiger swallowtails remain elusive as well as a few others active and unidentified. 

Most of the flowers seem to be coming out earlier than usual. Is this due to the heat waves, or does it mean an early fall, or nothing? 

The big dead pine tree on the road near the house is gone. Chippers was here and took it down in about four hours. They did a good job of not destroying the shrubs and gardens under the pine. We now have two stumps 5-6 feet high, and I thought about having them carved into bears by one of those chainsaw artists. Judy said ‘No way.’ 

New blooms: astilbe, mallow, hosta, rosebay rhododendron, filipendula, foxglove, bee balm.   

White Admiral showing the ventral surface of the wings. Milkweed flower.

White Admiral again, here showing the dorsal surfaces of the wings. Milkweed flower.

Great Spangled Fritillary with all six legs, two antennas and a long tongue all visible. Milkweed flower.

Monarch behind a milkweed leaf. His feet holding the leaf are visible.

Essex Skipper from a few days ago on vetch.