The past few days have been miserably hot. Ninety-degree weather on this eastern section of the Maine Coast is a rarity typically saved for a few days in August. To have three days in the 90s in June is unheard of. For years we had no air conditioning – we managed the windows and suffered through the couple of days a year that we might wish for it. Last year was a different story. I broke down and ordered an air conditioner. After the last few days of heat, I ordered another for the bedroom. The weather patterns are changing.
Needless to say, the last few days I have not been porching. So today, when I arrived home from work with the temp and humidity tolerable, I took my camera out to the garden. The lilacs are already starting to fade, but the scent still delightful. There were the clearwing moths – an annual treat I only spot at lilac time.
They remind me of little fairies sipping from tiny cups.
A flutter of Yellow Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies entertained me.
Then among the dancing yellow, I spotted orange.
The first Monarch of the season!
It’s weeks early for these little gems to appear.
And just in time for the milkweed, I planted four years ago. This is the first year it’s really taken hold strong. Last year my monarchs arrived so late that they didn’t emerge as butterflies until October.
Here’s hoping for a better year with the Monarch visitors.
You take the best pictures! Love the clearwing moth! We’ve had those, or at least I believe they are the same, we call them hummingbird moths. We had that same heat wave, ugh. The older I get the more I hate the heat. Love your milkweed. I have lots of it in the field but none up close to the house. Wonder if I can transplant some? Well, enjoy the cooler weather. Hope it’s the end of that heat for a while. Jan in MA
Jan, I tried to transplant some milkweed. What I learned is that it has a long taproot, and unless you get that, it won’t take. I tried. I grew this from seed purchased online. I know your purchase different varieties from nurseries.