Monday, July 30, 2012

Summer Beauty

One of the things I love most about gardening are the winged friends who come to visit.  The summer wouldn't be complete without a few Swallowtails.


Whether they are basking, puddling, patrolling or perching I just adore watching them.


Here we have a Monarch enjoying a beautiful summer day ...


I have also seen quite a few skippers this year.  This Peck's skipper can be separated from other golden skippers by it's row of tooth-like marks on the ventral hind wing.


So small, but yet so beautiful ...


This little honey bee is exploring the cone of my Echinacea purpurea.


They also love my ornamental oregano ...


Thank you for visiting me today.  I appreciate each and every comment I receive.  This week I am joining the following blog parties:

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos 
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage
Home & Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life 
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
NF Winged on Thursday @ NatureFootstep memes 
Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Flower Art Friday @ Photos by LeAnne
Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday 
Flowers on Saturday @ Blueberry Craft & Hobby

49 comments:

Sunray Gardens said...

You caught some great shots. Love the butterflies. Your blooms are lovely.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Jan n Jer said...

Simply stunning shots...love all the colors of nature!

KarinsArtScrap said...

this looks so beautiful Donna.

greetings karin

Elizabeth Edwards said...

wow, your views are amazing. lovely & so peaceful. (:

Terry said...

Beautiful butterfly and plant shots! Well, the bee too, though I'm not as fond of that insect. lol

Hugs,

Terry

Unknown said...

Beautiful shots! The butterflies are so pretty.

sharonssunlitmemories said...

They are beautiful Donna. You are lucky to have them in your garden.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Beautiful butterflies and blossoms - so colorful! Don't you just love summer? Happy Summer to you! xx

NatureFootstep said...

love the butterflies too.

But....you did not enter on NF Winged but on NF Inspiring Photography. But butterflies are very inspiring. :)

KER said...

your photography is amazing!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Your flowers and butterflies are so pretty. After the Red Admirals left earlier, I have seen many butterflies in my gardens.

Merike said...

Very beautiful butterfly collections.

-Merike-

Anonymous said...

Donna,

You have some lovely shots of butterflies, bees and flowers. Hoping you have a good week.

Yael from Home Garden Diggers

Liz @ Sit With Me In My Garden said...

Beautiful shots you've captured!
I was tickled to see the name "skippers" on that butterfly. Someone I know on Facebook that lives in California had posted a butterfly that she wondered if anyone knew the name of. The moment I saw your picture I knew I had found what she was looking for.

Susan said...

Great shots! Butterfly photography takes such patience. Yours has certainly been rewarded!

Ella said...

Flowers, butterflys and bees belong perfectly together. Great photos.

ANNE said...

I just love butterflies. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing!

Becky said...

What beautiful photos of the flowers and winged friends. :)

Unknown said...

Just beautiful! The third shot is my favourite.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful photography of garden and garden friends ~ very creative ~

~ thanks, namaste, (A Creative Harbor) on Blogger linked w/Outdoor Wednesday

Katherines Corner said...

wow, are all these beauties in your garden? I have a real love of butterflies. They have always been present when something special has happened. These are lovely photos my friend xo

Rhonda Langley said...

Your photography skills are awesome! I love butterflies!

Ana Carolina Little said...

Donna, unbelievable blog, garden,cards...I love evrything in your blog!!!. Beautiful!!!

Ellen Whyte said...

How pretty! You can't improve on nature :-)

Katherines Corner said...

thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Hop my friend xo

Monica S Engell said...

Wow,- your butterfly collection is just wonderful!Beautiful colors!
Have a nice day:)

ormbunke said...

Alltid intressant att se andra sorters fjärilar.

andrea@townandprairie said...

What beautiful images! Insects are so difficult to catch on film... by the time I zoom in, they move and are gone! Yours are exquisite. Visiting from Fishtail and now following, andrea b.

Anonymous said...

You show beautiful photos to day.

Cheryl said...

OMGosh, those photos are gorgeous! I wish I had a green thumb. I can't even grow good weeds!

Unknown said...

Donna... these pictures are absolutely beautiful!!
Thank you so much for joining us in Thursdays Favorite Things Blog Hop! With His grace, wishing you peace and many blessings to you and yours... Carla

NatureFootstep said...

I love the Swallowtails. I wish we had them. Thank for sharing with NF Winged. :)

Jeanne said...

Love these shots of your winged friends and think you did an awesome job capturing them!!

Athena at Minervas Garden said...

Lovely pictures from your garden, Donna. I love butterflies, too. I am seeing some swallowtails now on my butterfly bushes in my garden. Take care, and have a fantastic weekend--it's supposed to be really hot here, unusual for the Pacific Northwest!

betty-NZ said...

They are so beautiful and fun to watch!

Deb said...

Hi Donna ~ love the beautiful dreamy look of all your photos! My favorite flower is pinecone, so I really loved those photos. Thanks for visiting me, too, on Bloomin' Tuesday!

joanne said...

superb photography.....now I can see the difference between a swallowtail and a monarch....I love my garden for the same reasons...

Inspired By June said...

Lovely, Donna! I have a chrysalis that's showing some yellow and black... I'm hopeful :)

Unknown said...

delightful photos! it feels like i'm walking in this garden, admiring the flowers and butterflies.

Gumamela

Beth said...

Great photos, Donna! You have created a delightful garden for the birds, bees, and butterflies.
Hugs, Beth

Garage Sales R Us said...

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Robin

Anonymous said...

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HansHB said...

Awesome post!

Bernideen said...

Yes.........beautiful!

Fashion Momma said...

Stunning photos!

My entry.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous shots! I love the butterflies.

mail4rosey said...

My daughter's been trying to get a good butterfly shot all summer long. She and I both loved these!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your great pictures!!
Great shots!!

Fishtail Cottage said...

Sorry it's taken so long to come by to see your post - been down w/the flu for a couple weeks these are amazing shot's ~ i think i need a faster shutter speed & better lense so i can capture these moments(i try, but they always come out blury)! love all of yours. xoxo, tracie