(Updated on December 29, 2023)
Yesterday I had a visit from a bright blue butterfly.
I was sitting here in my chair as I usually am, with Charlie boy right next to me.
And suddenly out of the corner of my left eye I saw something float past the window panes in the French doors.
I got up to see what it was. I figured it was a bird because it seemed big from my vantage point. But here’s what it was…
It was the prettiest blue butterfly.
The zinnias are about 3 inches across, so you can just about guess the size of this butterfly.
I went outside and sat in one of the wicker chairs and watched it hover over the flowers.
That bright blue butterfly seemed to float in the air like something underneath was blowing it upward. It sailed about the patio garden, as graceful as could be.
It was almost like watching ballet, the movements were so dainty and impressive. I could have watched it all day.
But finally it flew over the wood fence and I didn’t see it again.
The last photo I captured of a butterfly was about a month or so ago. That butterfly was orange.
But this one was a variation of shades of blue.
Moving The Vegetable Plants:
Friday I moved/rolled the big vegetable plants, once again, over to the shaded corner where the tree branches hang over my fence. The vegetables were drooping in the bright sun.
I moved the wicker settee under the tree branches that hang over the galvanized tubs. Then I put the folding coffee table in front of the settee. And finally it seemed to sort of belong there instead of looking completely out of place.
I do love to look out the French doors and see the settee angled in that corner. It looks so pretty there softening the corner of the fence.
The cucumbers, tomatoes, and pepper plant need a bit of shade, and I only have one tree that can provide shade for them.
The pineapple sage and other herbs would wilt in the afternoon hours, so now I’ve moved them there as well.
Next year when Kendra is up to snuff I’m going to look into getting a sun sail or something to provide shade.
After her surgery a month ago she isn’t supposed to raise her arms for awhile, and this would be a two person job.
I’ll have to make do for now with what I have this year.
A Bowl Of Pinto Beans:
After I came in from taking photos of the butterfly, I fixed myself a bowl of pinto beans.
Then I picked a pepper from the plant out on the patio. I brought it in and chopped it up in the bowl along with chives and a bit of cumin.
That was my supper with the addition of sliced cucumber.
Not long after my shower I heard thunder outside. Shortly thereafter rain began to fall. I looked outside and it was coming down in torrents.
It rained for some time, and then I heard fireworks. So I turned Charlie’s purifier in the bedroom up to medium to help mute the sounds.
Then I watched a few more episodes of “Keeping Faith.”
Today it is sunny with no hint of a breeze.
I wonder if the butterfly will come back to visit my zinnias today?
Regrettably I never did manage to get a photo of the blue dragonfly that visited here a few weeks ago.
When I’m picking cucumbers I usually see lady bugs crawling on the big leaves. I’ve always loved the little black and red spotted lady bugs.
I recall playing with them when I was a child, letting them crawl up and down my arms.
The feel of their fluttering little insect feet was a bit ticklish, yet at the same time soft as angel’s wings. I would turn my arm and they would follow round and round.
Later, years later, when Kasi was playing summer T-ball, I was the assistant coach. And I came up with the “The Lady Bugs” to name their team.
It was what was written on their t-shirts that we ordered for them to wear during T-Ball games.
Oh, isn’t it gorgeous. I adore butterfly’s. My favourite is the Ulysses butterfly. I’m not sure if they are outside Australia but can be found in far north Queensland in Australia. They’re truly stunning – a bright blue.
I have nearly 30 Black Swallowtail caterpillars at this writing. I have released 25 healthy Monarchs, 1 Gulf Fritillary and near a dozen Pipevine Swallowtails.
Enjoyed reading your story; sounds like a page from my Minnie Zoo.
That butterfly is an Eastern Black Swallowtail female. I raise butterflies every summer in Michigan. Beautiful photo capture thanks for the story as well.
Beautiful Story and pictures .I just started rearing butterflies.i had one just like that the other day on the same color zinnia (soul sisters) .It’s called a spicebush swallowtail ,so beautiful and big floats around like grace ,reminds me of a small bird .love your writing jealous love
https://bugguide.net/node/view/2636
Yes, Black Swallowtail. Spicebush and Tiger quite different.
I did an image search for the butterfly – looks like a Black Swallowtail.
Your butterfly is an Eastern Black Swallowtail! I only know because I just had 3 of the larvae go into their chrysalis stage…I found them on my parsley plant last week, looked them up and set up a “nursery” 🤓 Can’t wait for the butterflies!
I looked on the chart that Lynx posted and the butterfly does look like a black swallowtail. It is a beautiful butterfly and you really captured it’s beauty! I’ve seen one on my flowers this year also !
What a very beautiful butterfly, I have only seen one like that in a book,and your zinnias.(WoWza) So big and beautiful also. I haven’t planted zinnia seeds in a long time, but I will certainly will do so, God willing next year, after seeing yours. I had forgotten just how awesome they are, and what a nice bouquet they make too. Another Hot day today in Wisconsin..88 degrees at 12:30, but feels like 94…Yikes..Summer is here for sure…Hugs, Bonnie
You captured the beauty of that blue butterfly perfectly! I love butterflies but have not seen one as gorgeous as this one! Your garden/patio looks gorgeous. Thanks for sharing Brenda
Beautiful capture of this butterfly. I love to sit and watch butterflies and dagonflies flit around, so interesting. As you said like watching a dance.
Yes, wait until next year to get a little help. It is already July so summer and hopefully the heat will be over soon.
I hope that you had a relaxing weekend.
I found this butterfly chart:
http://mgofmc.org/docs/butterflychart.pdf
It shows a couple of different swallowtails that are like your butterfly, particularly the black swallowtail. It is a lovely butterfly!
Beautiful Brenda! That is a Black Swallowtail I think.
Everything is looking good. I think your butterfly is a Spicebush Swallowtail. I love butterflies, they add so much color.
That blue butterfly is a swallowtail, but I’m not quite sure which variety. Perhaps a tiger swallowtail. I saw one for the first time last summer and I’ve never seen one again.
We have a lot of dragonflies here; I see several every day.
The fireworks here continued all through the night. Poor Monkey was absolutely terrified. He hid under our bed all night long. I wore ear plugs to bed (plus we had our fan on high to try and drown out some noise) and when I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, I figured I could take out my ear plugs. Nope, the fireworks were still going. I hate those things. The noise is so unfair to veterans with PTSD and for the outside creatures and for cats and dogs.