A Gift Along The Garden Path

   As I age, I find that my perspective on a lot of things has changed.  Some of that perspective has changed for the better and...well...some just has changed.  A lot of folks would be quick to say that those particular changes are not to "their" liking.  Does that bother me?  Not one iota as these last years on this old world are mine to be filled however I choose.  My perspective on life in general is no one else's business so I shall go about my day as I please.  One of the things that brings a wee bit of joy is to wander the garden paths just as the morning sun is peeking over the pines on the far side of the Bayou.  As that light filters through the broad oaks with their dense leaves, tiny parts of my world are spotlighted.  Perhaps without those pinpoints of light, my poor, old eyes would never see the miniscule features along the way.  In my way of thinking, those morning "dots" are gifts for me alone.  

  This morning's special gift was a common Gulf Fritillary Butterfly.  Masses of these come each fall for a visit so I have seen thousands upon thousands of the same type.  This is not some rare butterfly nor is it the most interesting but, early this morning, it was incredibly special.  I had just climbed the tiered steps up from the pier into the Small Gardens, when a single beam of light highlighted the butterfly.  The insect was still wet from the overnight rains.  It obviously had been caught off-guard of the coming storm as it chose a roosting spot with poor protection.  As I neared, the butterfly never twitched but sat perfectly motionless in hopes that I would not notice it.  This is a defense mechanism since most predators hunt by motion.  

  Not wanting to disturb the lovely creature, I photographed it then slowly backed away...leaving it in peace.  Later as I was picking lemon balm, the butterfly flitted around the nearby zinnias and brought more delight.  In my point of view, this interaction between human and critter was far more meaningful that most of the conversations that I have had with "people" recently.  I felt blessed in more ways than one.

Just as Lovely

  The purple mist plants (wild ageratum) have, once again, taken over the flower gardens.  What was once filled with daylilies, zinnias, petunias and nasturtiums is now a sea of purple.  Well, purple and orange, if you wish to be technical.  (I was informed of that by Son..his words.)  Anyway, the ageratum blooms are thick in spite of the drought and those blooms have attracted the loveliest abundance of orange butterflies!

  For years, the blooms would draw many, many monarch butterflies and I so enjoyed those but, lately, the orangeness has been brought by fritillary butterflies.  These come in huge swarms to flit about the purple mist and I am equally happy with them.  To my way of thinking these are just as lovely as the monarchs...much the same as the ageratums are just as lovely as any exquisite orchid.  I guess it is all in the way you look at things and how much you can appreciate what is set before you.  It is a grand feeling to get to the point that you can find satisfaction in the simple things of life.

Never Trust A Frog!

  One of the pathways in the Small Gardens winds through the zinnia beds and opens right up to Puddle Pond.  From there, you have the option of heading back around to the veggie plot or cross the small bridge that spans Pebble Creek.  The zinnia beds are one of my favorite spots as they have been in full bloom for the past few months.  Not only are the flowers beautiful, they attract hundreds of bees and butterflies each day.  These critters also have the nearby water supply so they are happy campers.  Well, all except one.  One did not fare so well this morning.

  A Gulf Fritillary Butterfly decided to forgo the zinnias and head for one of the water hyacinths in Puddle Pond.  Those blooms are rarely visited by butterflies so I was a bit confused as to why it chose it as a resting spot.  True, it has nectar but most butterflies seem to prefer the reds and oranges of the zinnias over the lavender hyacinth.  The small butterfly alit on the flower and was immediately the catch of a predator.  One of the Bronze Frogs in the pond took advantage of the ready meal.  Bloop!  The butterfly was gone in a second!  Obviously, the butterfly needed to make better choices in life and paid dearly for his rash decision!  No more butterfly!  Sneaky fat frog!  

Warning! I am Toxic!

   Yesterday during a break in the drizzly rain, a lovely Monarch Butterfly visited the zinnia patch.  This was the first Monarch of the season to visit the Bayou so it was a thrill to watch it.  Monarchs are known to travel far in their migrations and it is always nice to have a "pitstop" to refuel and rest a bit.  The butterfly was making good use of the "Zinnia Top Diner"!  It flitted from flower to flower sipping the sweet nectar as it went.  

  A Gulf Fritillary was also visiting the zinnias and the two were often on the same bloom.  The Fritillary is a faker, however!  That butterfly has evolved a lot to look like the Monarch with good reason.  Monarch Butterflies are toxic to predators.  The toxins are present from the time the critters are caterpillars and are obtained from eating from the host plant.  Monarchs prefer to munch on milkweed leaves which contain a toxin that can cause cardiac arrest in predators of the caterpillar or even the butterfly.  Predators know to leave the Monarch and go after safer prey.  The Gulf Fritillary uses that to its benefit!  The orange, black and white coloring confuses predators so they just avoid anything that looks like the Monarch.  Another butterfly, the Viceroy, is often confused even by humans!  They look almost identical to Monarchs so they are pretty much safe, as well.  

  I was pondering the fact of mimicry in nature and find that Mother Nature sure has a lot of tricks up her leafy sleeve.  A lot of critters take this to their advantage but it is also noticeable in the plant world.  Sometimes, things are just not what they seem!