This week marks one year of Wildlife Wednesday posts hosted by Tina at "My Gardener Says..." and I've learned so much by trying to identify all the flying, flitting and crawling things I photograph. I'm joining Tina to celebrate with a survey of some of the wildlife which visited my garden in June.
In an earlier post about Clammy Weed I noted pollinators seemed to ignore it and now several years later this easy care native plant plays host to a Digger Wasp or Blue Wing Wasp.
Butterflies have been fewer in number due to cloudy days but they are no less interesting. Beautiful Black Swallowtail resting on succulents.
The Black Swallowtail on succulents would be an unusual sight except parsley is nearby. When this parsley bolted in early spring I kept it around and the Black Swallowtail caterpillars finished it off.
Gulf Fritillary
One tattered butterfly with barely visible markings making it unidentifiable.
Milkweed for the Monarchs enjoyed by their cousins the Queen butterflies.
Meanwhile the Monarchs go for Gomphrena 'Fireworks' in the same bed.
Sunflowers too
Honeybees also enjoy the Sunflowers
More tiny toads hopping out of my way almost every day in the garden.
Hummingbird at the Pride of Barbados in bloom.
Fights often break out
This month's Awesome Motion features a hummingbird working on a nest just outside the kitchen window. She later abandoned the project in favor of a higher spot.
Almost missed this tiny fawn nestled in among grapefruit seedlings inside the backyard fence.
The doe keeps an eye out from the neighbor's yard while trying to figure out how to get past the fence. They were later reunited and all is well.
And that's the survey of wildlife in my garden for June. Head on over to help Tina celebrate one year of Wildlife Wednesday.
Oh, you saw a hummingbird building a nest! That would be a joy. We have some busy hummingbirds around here lately, and I'm thinking they're now tending to babies. But I haven't been able to find the nests. They're so fun to watch, not matter what they're doing. That fawn is so precious.
ReplyDeleteI was so disappointed when she moved away from the window so I can't see as easily. Finding the nests is rare.
DeleteYour pollinator shots are fabulous! I've seen one Monarch through my garden this past month--that seemed odd to me, but you have them too. Hmmm. And the hummingbird building her nest! Wow. TexasDeb here in Austin was also fortunate enough to have a similar view of one from her kitchen window. I guess I need to get a new kitchen. Little fawn, so cute, but maybe also a bit pesky--like squirrels?? Thanks for joining in again this month.
ReplyDeleteWe've had so few Monarchs this year which could be due to the rain. I'll check out TexasDeb's post. The fawns are pesky when they rip out plants by the roots just to test them!
DeleteAww, such a cute fawn - very similar to my wildlife post this month with the baby deer getting into the backyard. I'm impressed with your monarchs! I had some monarch caterpillars on my milkweed late last summer, which I later brought inside and reared until I released them back into the wild...but have not spotted a single monarch in my garden this year, despite my growing number of milkweed plants. Hopefully they will find their way back around later this summer. Happy one year of Wildlife Wednesdays!
ReplyDeleteI saw that, your post is so cute. We've only seen a few Monarchs so far compared to previous years.
DeleteI've only seen a hummingbird nest once and that bird too changed her mind and moved elsewhere. You've got a lot of fabulous shots. I love the tiny toads.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know that's a habit since I was wondering if I scared her away. I was so looking forward to watching the little brood grow.
DeleteIt's sweet to see all these gentle creatures doing well in your garden Shirley!
ReplyDeleteI love watching them and love that Wildlife Wednesday gets me more focused on the creatures in the garden.
DeleteShirley: I know just how you feel when the nest was abandoned - the same thing happened here. Though I have to say I was a bit relieved too - I wouldn't want to worry I was disturbing baby hummingbirds every time I walked down our back sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteYou get the most stunning shots and just look at all the butterfly action you are getting! I'm really impressed by both your flora and your fauna!
It seems this is a pattern with hummers so it wasn't just me and that's good to know!
DeleteGreat post -- love your butterflies -- and what an unbelievable video of the hummingbird. You're so lucky to have this fellow right outside your window!
ReplyDeleteShe's moved to where I can't get a good look but I can still see here flying back and forth.
DeleteHow do you keep the deer from eating everything? I would love to have a hummingbird nest but don't think I ever have. Love that 'Fireworks' gomphrena. :o)
ReplyDeleteThe deer have been fenced out for several months and it's amazing what a difference with my plants blooming. Some I've never seen bloom so it's been fun.
DeleteWow, that humming bird video is awesome indeed! Your little toads are cute and the fawn is, as all babies are, adorable! Oh and those butterflies!
ReplyDeleteWe have an abundance of wildlife all year round to show that's why I'm so glad Tina started encouraging us to post more about them.
DeleteClammy weed: is that Cleome?
ReplyDeleteIt isn't but I thought that it was a type of Cleome at first too.
DeleteHere's the post highlighting this great native plant:
http://rockoakdeer.blogspot.com/2013/07/wildflower-wednesday-july-2013-clammy.html
Wow Shirley this is amazing...we are finally getting a few Swallowtails, and that hummingbird working on the nest is fabulous...our fawns are still hiding in the wild areas.
ReplyDeleteWhen pruning I found an empty nest, and tucked it in a shrub near the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteBit disconcerted to see birds flying in to investigate.
The wind has swept the empty nest down, which is safer all round.