Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Eastern Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) view 1

This butterfly is also known as the American Swallowtail or Parsnip Swallowtail.  I was pleased to see this swallowtail fluttering between wildflowers in a conservation area as I have not seen a lot of butterflies this year.

Black swallowtail view 2

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Dragons & Damsels

 White-faced Meadowhawk

This time of year when traveling through fields or woods, I'm almost certain to see dragonflies and damselflies challenging me to take their photos. And if they rest on a leaf or stem at least I have a fighting chance to get a decent photo.  I think these guys and gal wanted their portraits posted on my blog because they stayed put for more than a few seconds.

Northern Bluet damselfly

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.
I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Bee on Echinacea

Macro of nectar-loving bee

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Hollyhocks

 

 Macro of hollyhock

These are hollyhock days in my gardens. I live in a century home (older than 100 years old), so hollyhocks seem appropriate in my gardens.

Dark red

Many years ago I planted seeds for "black" hollyhocks. Truth be told, they were very dark red, not black.

Dark pink

Hollyhocks are biennials. But hollyhocks keep coming because they produce  many, many seeds.

Red hollyhock

Most of my plants this year are either red or pink.

I am linking to Today's Flowers HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Ever since I was a kid on a trip with my grandparents, I've felt excited when I see a patch of this orange milkweed. Probably not as excited as a monarch butterfly who needs milkweeed (any kind) to lay her eggs on, as it's the only plant her caterpillars can eat. But...

 Bee on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

maybe as excited as this bee who loves the plant's nectar.

Growing in the wild

The first Butterfly Weed I ever saw was growing in the wild. Now I love it so much that I do have it growing a my side yard garden.

I am linking to Today's Flowers HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Marsh Life

 

Orange bluet (Enallagma signatum) I believe

 A damselfly for sure and I'm pretty sure it's an orange bluet. Since the damselfly is  between 1 and 1.5 inches long, this is definitely a macro - the photo is more than the size the insect is in reality.  Orange bluets are said to hang around ponds or slow moving streams, which is exactly where I found this one. It was hanging onto a stem waiting for a nutritious insect to pass by.

 Painted turtle and reflection

Turtles are true sun worshipers.  On a recent visit to McKenzie Marsh (Aurora), turtles were sunning themselves on logs.

 Another turtle

But turtles  (and birds, of course) were not the only animals we saw on or in the water.

Muskrat

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Fringed Poppy

 Center of fringed poppy

These poppies are annuals that reseed themselves every year in my gardens. They bloom every year in July.

 Fringed poppy

Fringed poppy

I am linking to Today's Flowers HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Green Bee on Tradescancia

Tradescancia (aka spiderwort)

Tradescancia like the soil and light in my gardens, and bees like my Tradescancia!
I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Shrub Rose

Rosa Glauca shrub rose

I am a BIG fan of this rose and wish it bloomed much longer in my garden than it does.  Although it's a cultivated shrub, I love its simple, wild look. The leaves are a lovely grey-green, the stems reddish brown and the flowers just a bit more than an inch (perhaps an inch and a half) across. In a few weeks the bush will bear orangy red hips.

I am linking to Sunday Stills  HERE

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Tulips Alive and Well

 Tulip in my garden today

Yes, tulips are still blooming in my gardens. I know we in central Canada are WAY behind most of the rest of you garden-wise,  but I still have these (just barely) blooming in my gardens.  What would spring be like without tulips? The idea boggles my mind.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Then and Now

 Remains of last year's blossom

A well-established climbing hydrangea climbs the wall of the patio outside Southlake Hospital's (Newmarket) cafeteria. It holds memories of last year as well as hope for the year to come.

Buds of this year's blossoms

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Pasque Flowers

 Purple  pasque flower  (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

The weather has warmed up enough for my pasque flowers to bloom.

Pink Pasque flower

 I look forward to these beauties every spring.

Growing in a clump

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Blooms at last!

 Chiononodoxa, aka "Glory-of-the-snow"

Finally, something blooming in my gardens!
I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Colourful Glass Beads

Tiny glass beads

I like the various colours and the wonky shape of the hole in the green bead.  I also like that we can see bubbles in the red bead.

Tree buds

Buds of Red Maple, I think

Out for a walk today I spotted these tree buds anxiously awaiting spring.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Milkweed

Milkweed pod

The seeds and dried pods of this plant are needed by monarch butterflies. They lay their eggs on this plant - the sole food of monarch caterpillars.  The monarch population has declined from between 80 and 90% since 1996,  one reason being  the herbicide that kills milkweed. In this photo, the seeds are ready to be released to fly away on silky parachutes.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Exact Edge

 Weird-shaped icicles

Around Ontario, this has been a winter for icicles, that's for sure!   Not Macros, I agree, but they are closeups.

Even weirder when you read the sign

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Wild Turkey

 Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Handsome he's NOT! Wild turkeys are hungry this year and, in some areas, acting quite bold looking for food, which means it was EASY for me to get close enough to take photos.

 Feathers on back of neck in sunlight

While his face is quite homely, his feathers are gorgeous when they shine in the sun.

The whole bird

Several people mentioned Thanksgiving, but the turkey was in no hurry to move on.

I am linking with Saturday Critters HERE.
and
I am linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'  HERE.

and
I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Refrozen

Snow atop red-osier dogwood turned into solid ice

Although the air temperature was  below freezing on Tuesday, the sun was warm enough to slowly melt the snow on the trees and shrubs.

Snow melting on spruce transformed into an icicle

The iclicles looked a bit like Christmas decorations.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Ant Out For a Walk

Ant on trumpet creeper

I took this photo last August while I was waiting for a hummingbird to come by.  The hummingbird turned out to be a no-show so the ant became a hero.

I am linking with Saturday Critters HERE.
and
I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.