It's Too Darn Hot,

It's Too Darn Hot...

Ugh, it's 9 pm and it's still a heat index of 93 degrees outside.

No fun at all.

But still I brave the heat and go out to seek out nature's visitors.*

Go figure.

*Obviously, not all seeking was done at this moment in time.

Some was done a few days earlier,

when it was only slightly cooler.

Can anyone tell me what this fine fellow is?

My guess is that it is a moth, as it was supine during the day.

At first glance, it appeared to be leathery.

My reference books yielded no clues as to this beauty's identity.

Edit:

Zzzadig wrote in a comment that it appears to be

a newly hatched Sphinx moth.

The exact variety is unknown,

but these moths, commonly known as

hawk moths, are among the fastest flying moths.

Hummingbird moths are members of this family.

Thank you, Zzzadig, for taking the time to find

the information for me!

A monarch butterfly graced us with its presence.

A Black Swallowtail.







A Tiger Swallowtail.




Note that there are differences between butterflies

of the same species.





Is that fog?



No,

that's just my camera fogging over because of the

high humidity outside.



The same thing happens to my glasses each time I go outside.

A male goldfinch visits the butterfly bushes now that

they are going to seed.

Goldfinches only eat seeds.

The deer have been remiss this year.

They have let many plants bloom this year that haven't in years.

Another Black Swallowtail.

These butterflies are more difficult to photograph

as they don't like to remain still for long.

Beautiful.

Black Swallowtail.

Black Swallowtail.

Butterfly bushes.

Queen Anne's Lace.

This may be considered a weed in this country,

but in England it is often purposely planted in the garden.

I didn't plant it, but it's blooming,

so I guess I'll live with it...

for now.