We had a little bit of a cool spell over the last weekend – for us. Listen, wherever you live, when the low is 82º one night and 55º the next, it feels a heck of a lot colder than the temperatures alone, sound!

Sly, discovering MJ’s bathrobe, or as we like to call it, the “mobile blankie.”
And no, we didn’t put him there – he crawled in there all by himself!

I looked out the window, Sunday morning, and saw this:

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

This must be an old, slow Swallowtail, because I have never had one hold still for its close-up before. I think that maybe the sudden temperature drop must have taken it by surprise, too, because it seemed all too happy to hang out, take in a little South Florida sunshine, and maybe have a snack.

Pavonia Bahamensis

This shrub is a relative of the Hibiscus, and is actually native to the Bahamas, but is naturalized here. It’s a great favorite of the bees and hummingbirds (when we get them… but I haven’t spotted any yet – insert frowny face here).

Northern Mockingbird

While I stood there, waiting to see if the Swallowtail would hold still, this young mockingbird popped out of the Pavonia, not three feet away from me, decided that I was no threat, and unconcernedly began snacking on the Beautyberry.

Even though the temperatures will be back up to 90º by the weekend (just in time for my niece’s outdoor wedding – pray for rain!), the signs of fall are beginning to make themselves known.

Please feel free to click on the photos – I’ve resized them larger than usual, so you can really get into the details!

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Michelle at Rambling Woods is hosting Nature Notes: Signs of the Season, a weekly meme dedicated to challenging us to take a moment out of our hectic lives and notice the seasonal changes – large and small – taking place in nature all around each of us, in our own little corners of the world. Please visit Michelle and all the other participants, and maybe take some of your own Nature Notes!

Just a quickie, this morning…

I finally captured a Zebra Longwings butterfly! While not nearly as cooperative as the White Peacock I showed you a couple of weeks ago – from the modeling standpoint (sorry, I’ve got America’s Next Top Model on the brain…) – it at least stayed still long enough for this. The Zebras have been really hanging out in the back corner of the yard by the Firebushes, and if you can brave the mosquitoes long enough, to squish back there, it can be quite stunning.

One friend said to me awhile back, “I live a block away, but you always have butterflies in your yard. Why is that?” “Plant for ‘em, babe, plant for ‘em.”

I got another butterfly picture! Yay! It’s the little things, you know?

Michelle at Rambling Woods is hosting Nature Notes, a weekly meme dedicated to challenging us to take a moment out of our hectic lives and notice the seasonal changes – large and small – taking place in nature all around each of us, in our own little corners of the world. Please visit Michelle and all the other participants, and maybe take some of your own Nature Notes!

I know, right? Weren’t you getting tired of hearing me (okay, reading me) oooo and ahhhh over your butterfly pictures and then bitch about never getting one to hold still long enough for me to get a shot? Well, I was.

I think this White Peacock butterfly must have just recently emerged from its cocoon, because it actually waited in the same spot for me to run back into the house and get my camera! And then it pretty much stayed in place for a long while, stretching its wings back and forth in the sun, as if to dry them out and exercise them.

The underside

From the front

Topside, displayed in all its glory

Please feel free to click on the images for the best views. Yes, I was thrilled, thankyouverymuch!

The Zebra Longwings have become pretty active in the back corner of the yard, too, coinciding with the Firebush (Hamelia Patens) going into bloom. MJ said that one nearly landed on him when he went back to the shed in that corner to get the lawnmower, a couple of days ago. But, again, they rarely stay still long enough to get a photo. I’ll keep trying, though! The Firebush is also a favorite of hummingbirds, so of course, it will be out of bloom when our annual hummingbird (or two) arrive. Ah, well…

Michelle at Rambling Woods is hosting Nature Notes, a weekly meme dedicated to challenging us to take a moment out of our hectic lives and notice the seasonal changes – large and small – taking place in nature all around each of us, in our own little corners of the world. Please visit Michelle and all the other participants, and maybe take some of your own Nature Notes!