Drizzle and Butterflies

Above: The past three drizzly days have been enough to make the grasses grow and the butterflies come back in large numbers. . . but our rain gauges remain virtually dry. This is a Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) in some Fountain Grass (Pennisetum spp.).

There are at least 6 species of Fountain Grass that occur in Florida, most are considered noxious weeds. This is most likely Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. also known as Pearl Millet.



Above: A little hummingbird on a Lion's Ear or Dagga flower (Leonotus leonurus). Lion's ear is a shrubby, semi-woody, perennial or a semi-evergreen shrub that grows to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall with a spread of 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m). Lion's ear is native to South Africa, where it grows in grassy areas, scrublands, and along road sides. Because of its origins this is a very drought tolerant species that has gained favor with gardeners but is also considered invasive when allowed to spread.



Above: Two Varigated Fritillaries (Euptoieta claudia) on some of the remaining zinnia.



Above: Three Florida Whites (Appias drusilla).



Above: A Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus).



Above & Below: The Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus). Above on the Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), below on Mist Flower (Conoclinium coelestinum).



Below: A Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)



Despite the lack of rain there have been some clouds to cool things off a bit. Great debris clouds have streamed over the peninsula from storms to our west but barely a drizzle of precipitation has fallen upon us. We're forecast to enter a very dry period now, much like last October when we received no rainfall. At least it is also forecast to be considerably cooler (in the 80°s F.).

Below: An artsy look at the relentless sun through some barbed wire.