Atala!!!

I finally saw an atala butterfly in our yard last week. Of course I didn't have my camera on me but this morning she was sitting on the coontie and kindly waited until I ran inside and got my camera.

To learn about the atala check out these sites .....

Butterfly comes back from near extinction

How to Make the Rare Atala Butterfly a Regular Visitor

Dainty Sulphur

I spotted several of these little guys (and girls) when taking Cleo for a walk yesterday. I went back to get my camera to grab a few photos so I could identify them. A year ago I would have thought they were just little moths flying about in the grass. (Thank you David Suzuki!)

 I think they are dainty sulphurs, being Florida's smallest yellow butterfly, about 3/4 to 1 .25 inches (wing span). This is the female with the black markings. Interesting that the colorings very depending on the season. They are more heavily pigmented in winter. 

Here is a male....(I think!)...with less black markings.

We also found this white peacock  in the grass...

The beebalm is showing its color......

I have a load of pots waiting to be photographed but it's so much more fun to be out in the garden!