Dark Swallowtail in the Garden

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Bergamot

Female, Dark Morph (Papilio glaucus)

The commoner yellow form of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a frequent visitor to the garden at this time of the year. I always enjoy seeing them, but the appearance of this dark morph female in the bergamot a few days ago was something to crow about. 

All dark morphs of the species are female. They are examples of Batesian mimicry, a phenomenon in which members of a harmless species evolve to resemble another species which is toxic or unpalatable. The lady mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, thus gaining a measure of protection from predators. 

Sequestered, Week 299 (CCXCIX)

Painted Lady in the Garden

 (Vanessa cardui)

Royalty in the Garden

One would have to go a long way to top the brilliant colors of the palette on display this morning. Red, purple, orange and gold go perfectly together at any time of the year, but especially in shaggy, flowering July.

When a newborn Monarch alighted on the crown of a purple coneflower around the corner a few days ago, it was cause for celebration, for singing, cavorting in the greenery and general silliness. Come to think of it, the "Susies" in the background are sometimes called coneflowers too (although they are another species altogether).

How on earth can one describe something so vibrant, so breathtakingly perfect? Butterfly, blooms and summer garden say it all, and no words are needed from this old hen. Such images will linger in memory long after northern days grow very short indeed, and the south corner of the garden is buried in snow.

I heard the first cicada yesterday morning. Just one, but hallelujah, my favorite bugs are back and tuning their tymbals for some fine summer singing.