No, not the last of the summer wine although sometimes I think I could well be a cast member of that show. In this case it's the last of the dahlias. I know each year when this white dahlia flowers that summer has gone. It's the last hurrah in the garden when it comes to flowers.
But there are still a few vegies. The cherry tomato plant has been a real performer. It grows beside my front steps, so handy to pluck one off and pop in my mouth for a burst of sweetness as I come and go. I don't have front and back yard rules. The dahlia is around the back, tomatoes are in the front. Works for me.
When I downloaded these photos I discovered a few more I took a couple of weeks ago at my friend, Chris' home. She had a real monarch butterfly nursery at her place this year although when I saw them the caterpillars had chomped their way through all her swan plants and were a bit on the hungry side. This fellow was just like the original very hungry caterpillar setting off across the concrete looking for something to eat.
Monarch
eggs are laid on milkweed such as the swan plant. In the two weeks that
follow the Monarch caterpillar (or larva) will grow almost 3000 times
in size. As you can imagine you are going to need lots of host plant! -
See more at: http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/#sthash.FWCYXz5Z.dpuf
Monarch
eggs are laid on milkweed such as the swan plant. In the two weeks that
follow the Monarch caterpillar (or larva) will grow almost 3000 times
in size. As you can imagine you are going to need lots of host plant! -
See more at: http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/#sthash.FWCYXz5Z.dpuf
Monarch
eggs are laid on milkweed such as the swan plant. In the two weeks that
follow the Monarch caterpillar (or larva) will grow almost 3000 times
in size. As you can imagine you are going to need lots of host plant! -
See more at: http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/#sthash.FWCYXz5Z.dpuf
This is brilliant. You ought to get a Monarch nursery or whatever. The photographs are just great.
ReplyDeleteYour Dahlia is just beautiful and your tomatoes look very appetizing :))
ReplyDeleteI never saw pictures like these of butterflies before, go back there and shoot some more :) That must have been fun to look at!
Have a beautiful day
【ツ】Knipsa
It's always nice to see the efforts of someone who has a way with plants. (They commit suicide if they know i'm going to own them!)
ReplyDeleteThe white dahlia is so lovely. I'm so sorry it means the last of your summer, though I am happy it means my spring should be here soon. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to plant some cherry tomatoes at my back door. It would be handy.
ReplyDeletePhotographing the Monarchs in their various incarnations was one of my favourite photography pastimes in NZ. In fact I seem to recall that quite a few came from Chris's.
ReplyDeleteFabulous post Pauline!
ReplyDeleteI love your Dahlias and those Monarchs are lovely.