We stopped at the Big Sandy Unit Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge to see if we could see any hummingbirds at the feeders. We weren’t disappointed by the hummingbirds …
or by the beautiful butterfly garden and grounds which overlooked the lake.
I couldn’t decide which I enjoyed more, the flowers …
the birds …
or the butterflies and other insects.
“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” ~Ruth Stout
“No garden truly blooms until butterflies have danced upon it.” ~K. D’Angelo
Buttonbush is a wetland shrub whose creamy, ball-shaped blossoms attract many pollinators, including this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
“Tremendous beauty can be found in the tiniest of things… for who has ever thought to rival that of a butterfly’s wing.” ~Kristen D’Angelo
In autumn, the temperatures gradually begin to cool. Plants dry up and scatter their seeds, berries ripen, and leaves turn into mosaic wonders. Insects soak up the sun’s warm rays. With all the colors and textures of autumn, it continues to be one of the most magical times of the year to me.
“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour.” ~Victoria Erickson
Mistflower, with its bluish-purple heads, brighten up the autumn landscape and attract a variety of insects which feed on nectar and pollen.
“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.” ~Lee Maynard
The ditches running beside the country roads are sprinkled with a variety of seasonal flowers. Though often overlooked, they add beauty, color and texture to the landscape for all to enjoy.
Fiery red Cardinal flowers …
… growing together with showy pink clusters of milkweed.
Ironweed’s deep purple blooms …
… surrounded by a variety of other late summer beauties.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” ~Frances Hodgson Burnett
Hiking on the boardwalk around the edge of Reelfoot Lake is a good way to see native plant and animal life, with each season offering up its own variety of treasures.
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery … I thought ‘this is what it is to be happy.'” ~Sylvia Plath
The white aster is in full bloom and attracting many insects including honey bees, wasp and butterflies. These are some of the butterflies that we saw while out enjoying the autumn flowers and sunshine.
“The aster has not wasted spring and summer because it has not blossomed. It has been all the time preparing for what is to follow, and in autumn it is the glory of the field …” ~Henry Ward Beecher
Everywhere you look, nature is aglow with autumn’s golden hues. These are some of the beautiful golden treasures that I have seen and appreciated over recent weeks.
… Life on earth is truly a gift
every moment we must treasure,
it’s the simple things we take for granted
that become our ultimate pleasures.
~Kathy J Parenteau
On a recent hike, we were able to see some beautiful Question Mark butterflies along the trail.
The first one was peacefully sitting on a long stem, soaking up the sun. As I took a few photos from different angles, I began to notice a spider web located directly behind the butterfly.
I took a few steps back to get a better look and realized how incredibly near this butterfly was to a spider web which reached from where the spider was sitting a couple of feet high, all the way down to the ground. I couldn’t help but wonder if it had any idea just how close it was to becoming a meal for a stealthy spider.
Later, we came upon two other Question Mark butterflies along the path. They were sitting in much safer places than the first, and were doing a good job of blending in with the scenery.
“Isn’t it funny how obvious and oblivious are so close?” ~Unknown
walking on a country road 