Butterflies

I've really been making myself get some things done outside because I go back to school in only two weeks!
I am happy to see I still have butterflies as the neighbors sprayed for something that killed many grasshoppers. But there are still hundreds out back and in the pasture grass. :-(
This monarch was quite happy in the veronica.
I just couldn't get it with its wings open!
Sarah took a great picture several years ago that she framed for me and hers is so clear. The white dots on the body are just cute.
I've also seen the usual painted ladies, the sulfur butterflies, and some tiny black ones that I've never seen before. Plus my favorite~the black swallowtail. I have lots of parsley that I plant just for it to lay eggs on.

Arts Picnic and Stainless Flower Art

I'm joining in the fun with two blogs today, again. The Tablescaper, for all kinds of summer fun and Today's Flowers, for world wide floral beauty.

The Greeley Arts Picnic is this weekend. Sarah and I went early on Saturday morning to get there before too many people headed downtown to Lincoln Park.
This park is two blocks long by one block wide so there is room for many talented people to display their work. There are also several stages set up so people can enjoy performances from bands and others.
The parking lot I favor is in the middle of another block and on the way back to the car I had to take a photo of this cute balcony above a shop of some kind.
I brought home this stainless steel "flower". Even the leaves are stainless and were cut with a plasma saw. The artist had so many choices, all different. Some were made from spoons and reminded me of sunflowers.
Other pieces were put together from gold flatware ~ all rustproof!
I'm thinking it may stay with this asparagus fern in one of the window boxes for now.
Join the fun and visit more places today!

Petunias, pests, and Veronica

It's a good thing everything is doing well all by itself. I've gotten nothing done around here because I was reading a trilogy. Each one about 360+ pages~I could not do anything until I finished! I have no self control in the summer!! There was an Irish cottage in the books with a garden of flowers. I doubt there were any petunias there.
The petunias have been extremely happy. I have been feeding them regularly this summer.
They must like Miracle Grow!
I think this is veronica and it tends to come up where ever the seed drops. Now this is a flower I'd like to think could be in a cottage garden in Ireland or anywhere else for that matter! It made me think of dancing fairies this morning.
These pests are EVERYWHERE! Getting bigger and bigger, no matter what.
I just know they are the reason my crabapple died last summer. =( They ate all the leaves and now want to take care of my catalpa, too. Trees are precious out here on the plains. So, it is WAR with the grasshoppers and I'd sure like to win.