Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Monarchs are still finding both our domestic and prairie flowers.

Bald-faced Hornet on Stiff Goldenrod.

Bald-faced Hornet nest.  The newly fallen leaves exposed this Bald-faced Hornet  nest.  Does not appear to be in use anymore.  This nest is about 1.5 feet long.  We find a new nest around our house almost every year.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

I think this is the same Monarch 4 hours later. (within 10 feet of previous photos and only Monarch left on our prairie today).

Monarch newly emerged from chrysalis.  Found this Monarch with its wings only partly pumped up on our prairie this morning.  Looks like it emerged from the chrysalis less that two hours ago. Had only two Monarchs on the prairie this morning.  We had over 30 just two days ago, but most pulled out for Mexico yesterday.

Same Monarch about 15 minutes later.  Its wings are pumped up farther, but still not complete.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Sow Thistle flower.  Nice flower, for a weed.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Painted Lady on Stiff Goldenrod.

Monarch and Red Admiral butterflies on Stiff Goldenrod.  Our Stiff Goldenrod seems to bloom later than most and this attracts many butterflies.  Had a late hatch of Monarchs in the last few days and counted over 30 on our 1 acre prairie this afternoon.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Orb-weaver spider in our flower garden.  This family of spiders is fairly large and look fierce, but are shy and retreat from people.  Probably a Araneus Diadematus species.

Another Honey Bee busy on our Goldenrod.  Click on this photo to get
a close up of this bee.

The Honey Bees are busy gathering pollen from the Stiff Goldenrod on our prairie.  Not the pollen sack by the back legs.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Sky blue aster??  Many of the small flowered blue asters blooming right now are very similar, and tough to ID down to the species.

Panicled aster

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Our under the deck Chipmunk.  As anyone who has had these at their place knows, this is both good, and bad.

Black Swallowtail on our prairie today.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Narrow leafed Sunflower.  They are blooming in abundance in the unmowed ditches.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Mating Ambush bugs attacking a Fritillary butterfly.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly.

Stiff Gentian

Friday, September 2, 2016

Katydid.  So named for the sound of its night-time chirp.

Soldier beetles on Stiff Goldenrod

Sunflower, probably Jerusalem Artichoke.

Six foot tall Compass Plant on our prairie.  So named because the lower leaves line up with the rising and setting sun to catch more energy.