I am now spending part of the night in my kitchen recliner. After about 3-5 hours, I wake up and feel stiff and sore and change to the chair and it goes away. Strange, but it works. Usually I go back to sleep very quickly but often read a while first. It may not be the deep sleep the doctor says I must have but it is working for me. His muscle relaxants were useless.
For some reason yesterday I saw three varieties of butterflies on the zinnias. I tried my best to get some shots but they were almost too fast for me.
This is a Spicebush Swallowtail:
and this is only the second Monarch I have seen, missed getting the open wings,
and a Tiger Swallowtail:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JYnRwf9apNgMtiF6LmlXvbJFGSvU_qAPWuMcT0pdLHRX3nNc7rHprQIvUMNnISbfmvFo876f1eBaQZ-F5D7KLCHaHXGC9CyRzMB0Ai0Lfs0IT8ZuV6f5jlXk1GseXuQkbJPbjx3jlQINuF65hP0OuzX4raulKtIw9Dj-Q9YL2u8-VsRdD5gXSyb5xigvp06agquh-ji-482Oii7J1AAAFgDpACaJwMmrcgTRzwN4LUxLfdhKvBNdrYwO-9ucHBhKOm3bcJXjuLSj9sdl1d-FxnS5Z7g2Dl1uxNBqUMo3zzVlzjvtgmkqW5M8zCdrkkZmKJtYg6hVvZySWAxV7S-F6u9ohAvmXkv-BJnTWaogNabqZ_iMqNKxR4cfK0wkVSxbHXyYuDho1-J3i-EacY8SySsPMZR9fQ8kNVCSFfXmc7YmYnwroa5Qbn2umJz_yiTKfSnn8w7i52sznrAgOUcPvV-GlIbwn74L3tHn2J5HFh2hjfOd4MZ-0q-YNeKupyUAx2b0MTTDxQNZYnADRsyChsywtC6HQ1VlbsODGgYXRt0Wt8-5TmuHWLj9mh3ACmc-TH-vIX4yDA3qYwdKfjHwmrzHRqkT7sHX=w840-h944-no)
and this morning was the real stunner. I saw dozens of them. I did my best but it was none too good. I haven't mastered this new little Canon.
They made my day!
I managed about an hour of outside work this morning. I think I have finally finished the front ditch on both sides of the drive. They are not photo worthy. I have just trimmed/mowed/sprayed all weeds but some perennial and ground covers. The goal is to have all good plants so that I can just let it go and do its thing! I have enough plants that should do well in that environment (I hope).
I see out the window my poor Long Island Cheese plant is wilting in the hot sun and that is with a l inch rain two days ago.
The beetles seem to be fewer.....but I still find them on the roses and rose of sharon. I am at the squishing and drowning stage with them.
For some reason yesterday I saw three varieties of butterflies on the zinnias. I tried my best to get some shots but they were almost too fast for me.
This is a Spicebush Swallowtail:
and this is only the second Monarch I have seen, missed getting the open wings,
and this morning was the real stunner. I saw dozens of them. I did my best but it was none too good. I haven't mastered this new little Canon.
They made my day!
I managed about an hour of outside work this morning. I think I have finally finished the front ditch on both sides of the drive. They are not photo worthy. I have just trimmed/mowed/sprayed all weeds but some perennial and ground covers. The goal is to have all good plants so that I can just let it go and do its thing! I have enough plants that should do well in that environment (I hope).
I see out the window my poor Long Island Cheese plant is wilting in the hot sun and that is with a l inch rain two days ago.
The beetles seem to be fewer.....but I still find them on the roses and rose of sharon. I am at the squishing and drowning stage with them.