Fort Worth Botanical Gardens

Wednesday was a beautiful day at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.  Unfortunately, the butterfly exhibit is over this Sunday, so I'm downloading pictures for your viewing pleasure.
These are all Asian butterflies and moths.  Very different from our Texan cousins.
This exhibit only comes every two years, so plan to look for it in 2016.
If you want to attract butterflies to your yard, look at SeedSource.com for plants that will lure them to you.
Select a sunny area.  Pollinators favorites include Black Eyed Susans, Coneflowers, Lemon Mint, Winecup, Butterfly Weed and the Maximilian Sunflower.  

 Today is Wangari Maathai Day.  Here is my tribute to a heroic woman that I really wish I had been able to meet.  Her legacy is remarkable.  

"This transition must be accelerated to stay ahead of the many challenges, from climate change to land degradation, that the continent is increasingly facing," he added. "Professor Maathai showed the kind of visionary leadership that will be required to win this crucial race. I hope that, on this day commemorating her work, other leaders will be inspired to pick up the baton and ensure that Africa's rich natural resources can be conserved, and thus serve as the foundation for a sustainable future and food security for all on the continent." - See more at: http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2764&ArticleID=10728&l=en#sthash.bS4tZPrG.dpuf

"This transition must be accelerated to stay ahead of the many challenges, from climate change to land degradation, that the continent is increasingly facing," he added. "Professor Maathai showed the kind of visionary leadership that will be required to win this crucial race. I hope that, on this day commemorating her work, other leaders will be inspired to pick up the baton and ensure that Africa's rich natural resources can be conserved, and thus serve as the foundation for a sustainable future and food security for all on the continent." - See more at: http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2764&ArticleID=10728&l=en#sthash.bS4tZPrG.dpuf

"This transition must be accelerated to stay ahead of the many challenges, from climate change to land degradation, that the continent is increasingly facing," he added. "Professor Maathai showed the kind of visionary leadership that will be required to win this crucial race. I hope that, on this day commemorating her work, other leaders will be inspired to pick up the baton and ensure that Africa's rich natural resources can be conserved, and thus serve as the foundation for a sustainable future and food security for all on the continent." - See more at: http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2764&ArticleID=10728&l=en#sthash.bS4tZPrG.dpuf

"This transition must be accelerated to stay ahead of the many challenges, from climate change to land degradation, that the continent is increasingly facing," he added. "Professor Maathai showed the kind of visionary leadership that will be required to win this crucial race. I hope that, on this day commemorating her work, other leaders will be inspired to pick up the baton and ensure that Africa's rich natural resources can be conserved, and thus serve as the foundation for a sustainable future and food security for all on the continent." - See more at: http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2764&ArticleID=10728&l=en#sthash.bS4tZPrG.dpuf

Please look at this link to see how incredible her efforts really were.

Wangari Maathai Day

"This transition must be accelerated to stay ahead of the many challenges, from climate change to land degradation, that the continent is increasingly facing," he added. "Professor Maathai showed the kind of visionary leadership that will be required to win this crucial race. I hope that, on this day commemorating her work, other leaders will be inspired to pick up the baton and ensure that Africa's rich natural resources can be conserved, and thus serve as the foundation for a sustainable future and food security for all on the continent." - See more at: http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2764&ArticleID=10728&l=en#sthash.bS4tZPrG.dpuf

Looking Back to Last Summer

Okra bloom

Rose of Sharon

I just remembered I had a Blogger account.  I have had over 400 views in the last 4 years.  Not great in social media circles, but not bad for forgetting I even started this project.  
  
Since 49 states have snow

Ice Plant

Crepe Myrtle

on the ground today, I    thought I would post some summer pics from my yard for your viewing pleasure.  Think about warmer days!

I am going to give this blogging thing another go.  Watch for more regular posting from me, The Environmentalist!  And, Like me on facebook at Health Revolution Fan Page.

Butterflies, Anoles, Beetle

Today's been a good day in the garden. I found three butterflies, two anoles and a pretty beetle that I've submitted to the bugguide.net for identification. Does anyone know what that beetle is? The butterfly is harder to I.D. because she never kept her upper view in sight for long.  I got a little gardening in today, but it was 90 degrees by 9:30 this morning.  Not even a hint of a breeze either.

It's a Jungle Out There!

Watch this poor Sphinx Moth fight off this housefly.  Yes, this is the same moth eating the same tomato plant from last month.  I'm still hoping to witness the morph from caterpillar to moth.  I let him have the whole tomato plant, practically.

Gulf Fritillary

This is the butterfly that alluded me for three days. Finally caught a picture in the mint.  Look at the difference in the topside and underside colors.  So very vibrant.
Scientific info is Agraulis vanillae
Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Subfamily:Longwings (Heliconiinae)

Oakworm Moths

Oakworm Moths in the genus Anisota 
This picture is from April, but I just got an I.D. from the website "Whats That Bug".  They are a great resource with tons of pictures and e mail help.  
I'm having a blast documenting my yard.  Please let me know if you stop by.  Leave a comment and give me some feedback.