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| fritillary on butterfly weed |
The butterflies are out now that the rains have passed.
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| on the phlox |
The vetch that is swallowing up the back garden is abuzz with bumble bees.
The boys refuse to pull it.
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| A pretty hairstreak suns on a potato leaf |
Red-spotted purples and red admirals are fluttering through.
The brown-eyed susans are full of little bees, flies and wasps.
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| Is this tiny fly fooling anyone with his hymenopteran disguise? |
There are thousands of flies in North America -
hundreds of species of green long-legged flies, little metallic predators.
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| A bronze colored long-legged fly |
Members of two distinct species are patrolling adjacent milkweed plants.
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| A long-legged fly munching on a midge |
For a hundred million years
(according to the amber)
they have been plying their hunting grounds.
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Great blog!
ReplyDeleteHere in Western Washington, I have problems with vetch, too. Trying to yank it out before it goes to seed. But, my major nemesis is blackberries. It's a constant battle. But, no fear. There's still enough around the place that I put 12 gallons in the freezer, last year. So far, in the 2 1/2 years I've been here, I haven't had any problem with bees. And, they are around. In variety. I guess we just have a detente. I don't bother them and let them get about their business. They don't bother me. Which is probably hubris. Watch. I'll get stung, tomorrow. :-)
I read your posts on your trip around America. I don't travel much. Heck, I'm lucky if I make it to town, once a week. But, anytime I run across anyone who has traveled, I always ask "What's it like "out there?" What's going on?" I also read any recent American travel writing I can get from the library.
Well, the light is fading and it's time to put the chicken in. Lew
I also enjoy watching the life and death struggles among the smaller creatures in my garden. I wish I had more time to sit and observe.
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