Sunflowers and Swallowtails

I've been away and then ill on my return. . . so all the plants and pets have had a lot of neglect this week. . . still. . . they manage to put on quite the show. Above and below a Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) feeds on the zinnia.



The sunflower are still blooming though many of them are sporting much shorter petals and are not reaching great height due to the continued extreme heat and dry. We have been getting a little water on them but its not like if it were to rain.



BELOW: Look closely, you'll see a green grasshopper on the face of that sunflower.



BELOW; Another tall sunflower. The ladder is 6' tall so we can guess the plant is about 12' tall or more. These guys that are reaching such tremendous heights are planted in my special soil formula.





ABOVE: Shorter petals growing in sand.

BELOW: Longer petals in my special soil formula.



BELOW: A black-faced variety. I'm curious to see what he looks like when he opens.





ABOVE and BELOW: More of my artistic photography. Above. . . a nice shot. Below. . . look at the reflection in the window. That'd be me in my full jungle suit (long sleeves, jeans, hat, etc.).



To see our frogs and other pets go to PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD. . . the other photos.

To see our Red-Shouldered Hawk go to PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD III.