While We are Waiting (Part One)

     Okay, we are guilty. We confess. When a Monarch enters the garden, it is like the Queen has arrived at the Royal Ball. All eyes turn and her every move is scrutinized. Carrying this further, even too far, when there are royal children waiting to be born, the whole of our attention is fixated on every bit of news, every twist and turn (of which there are more in a high risk reproductive approach in wild nature). 
     To quickly update, we have lost at least two and probably four of the chrysalises to predators and parasites. This includes the one we called John, of which we showed the moment the dastardly deed was done. The others are still green and apparently healthy, which is amazing. Anthony the caterpillar had a fatal problem, maybe a failed molt, which saddened us.  But then, surprise!, a new caterpillar suddenly made himself visible. We named him Bartholomew.  Today he has just J'ed, so we have at least one from the second generation, laid August 2. 
     Even as we are spellbound by the Monarchs, the vivid and fascinating parade  of other winged visitors carries on. We take equal joy in all that come (except the robber fly that ate a skipper) and share their grace and beauty. So while we wait for the hoped for royal births for the next couple days of nail-biting, we wanted to share our photographs of some of the highlights of recent days, which have included some first time visitors, another hawk-moth seemingly out of Hannibal Lechter, and even another brood of caterpillars (although they are a brood only their mother could love).  
     So let's catch up. Here's part one. 

Joe Pye Oh My!

     Joe Pye Weed is a magnificent weed, 8-9 feet tall with a dozen or so stalks topped with huge pink round flowers made up of thousands of pollen-filled florets. When it opens for business, bugs and butterflies of every size swarm and sup. And it gives us photographers great angles for our photos, and opportunities we would not get on any other plant. Here are a few from the past ten days. First up, a pair of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, followed by a Great Spangled Fritillary. 

Below, a Silvery Checkerspot shares the Joy Pye with a small Skipper, and an Eastern Tailed Blue tries not to fall in. 

And finally, a uniquely colored Silvery Checkerspot, and the gorgeous Eastern Tiger again at sunset. 

Occasional and New Visitors

      There are many species of butterflies listed on the Tennessee State butterflies sites that have never made it to our garden. Some are woodland species, like the Pearly-Eyes that Rick sees on his hikes but not yet here. Some are elusive, the the Giant Swallowtail. Others favor different habitats or altitudes, or just have not yet found our little patch. Curiously, in even our short time we have seen variations, as with the Gulf Fritillary, a common visitor last year yet not seen so far in 2020. 
      Let's start with some of the first timers. such as the Checkered White (with injured wing),  Horace's Duskywing, and the true Painted Lady (as compared to the American Lady). 

The Checkered White prepares to land on cleome.

Horace's Duskywing on the verbena.

The Painted Lady departs the verbena.

     Returning visitors include the aforementioned Great Spangled Fritillary, not seen since May, the American Snout, a number of Skippers including the Zabulon, Fiery, and Ocola, and the yellows, Clouded and Cloudless Sulphurs,  the Little Yellow, along with their pale cousin the Cabbage White. 

Great Spangled Fritillary rests on goldenrod.

The American Snout basks on sedum.

The male Zabulon Skipper.

A Fiery Skipper flies between the vebena and the dwarf sunflowers.

The Ocola Skipper on verbena.

And now our yellow and white team. 

The Clouded Sulphur on petunias.

The Cloudless Sulphur flies over the phlox.

The Little Yellow on white lantana.

The Cabbage White on globe amaranth.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the rest of the catch-up.