Butterflies adore mistflower
Monarch on Gregg’s mistflower (Conoclinium greggii )
October is monarch migration season in central Texas, and I’ve noticed a few stopping over in my garden recently. The blue mistflower especially tempts them, as does the (not long for this world) vitex tree. Though I enjoy them and entice them with certain plants, my butterfly identification skills are sorely lacking, so if you notice that I’ve mis-identified any of these, please correct me.
Backlit, this monarch’s wings glow like stained-glass windows.
The queen butterflies were more numerous on this day, practically mobbing the mistflower.
Another one
I don’t know what this little one’s called. It stayed on the fringes of the mistflower feeding frenzy.
Anole lizards stalked nearby, but I don’t know whether they’d take on a big butterfly. They seem to have voracious appetites for bugs, however, and I’m always happy to see them in the garden.
This one seems to be playing the guitar, doesn’t he? Like chameleons, anoles can change color to camouflage themselves. You can tell this anole has just climbed onto my classy yard art ; otherwise his skin color would have changed to brown.
A few water lilies still bloom in the container pond—vestiges of summer.
Incredible photos!
Thanks, IG. —Pam
I love those little lizards. How do you pronounce anole? Of course we don’t have them here so they are curious little creatures to me. Beautiful butterflies!
You pronounce it “uh-noll-ay,” stressing the second syllable. Aren’t they cute? —Pam
I love watching butterflies flutering about in the garden; they look like flying exotic flowers themselves. Great pics Pam, did it take you long to snap them?
Cute little lizard, such a beautiful green too.
They are kind of like flying flowers—good description. I don’t think it took long to snap these photos, but then I tend to lose track of time when I’m taking photos, so I’m not sure. However long it took, it was all fun. —Pam
The Queens were all over my Gregg’s Mistflower on Saturday, too. You captured them well in your photos, Pam! In Illinois each fall the Monarchs covered the Northern variety of blue mistflower[used to be called Eupatorium coelestinium but that name may be outdated].
I wonder if the little anoles are still sold as pets? My kids had them in terrariums, sold as “American Chameleons”. When they run around my garden now I think of them as my pets ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
My daughter thinks of our anoles as pets too. She’s good at catching them and “accidentally” releasing them in our house. The other day one got away in the kitchen. We couldn’t find it. The next day, when I returned from the grocery store and was putting things away, I reached for a cabinet door and was startled by the anole looking right back at me. After a moment of staring at each other, I managed to capture the little guy and put him back in the garden, where he belongs. —Pam
I have lizard envy. 🙂 I only have a Metal Lizard and a Mexican Ceramic lizard lurking in my garden. My Dearly Beloved and I have been to TX many times to bird. The past couple of times we have also sought out butterflies. TX is as good as FL for butterflies maybe even better due to being able to find Mexican rarities there often. Your pictures are fantastic. I bet the anole would eat a butterfly. I watched a lizard of some sort eat a butterfly while viewing butterflies at one of those huge butterfly conservatories. The lizard grabbed the butterfly and ate the body right off the wings. I was agast that someone working there wouldn’t try to eject the lizard from the conservatory. I guess they just figure it is part of nature and the lizard would probably be able to get back inside anyway.
I have heard about the great birding in South Texas. I’d love to do that one day. I have not heard of butterflying (is that what it’s called?), but I’d think the migration route in Texas would be a good place to do it.
I also think an anole could eat a butterfly, certainly the smaller ones but maybe even a monarch. Thanks for the comments, Lisa. —Pam
How large is your container pond? I would love some water lilies or lotus flowers but I thought you needed something rather deep to grow them in. Either way I have a balcony only so no room for that. Beautiful butterflies they are everywhere lately. Cute little lizard and guitar guy.
My container pond is a round stock tank, two feet tall and three feet in diameter. It holds 100 gallons of water, plus a horsetail, a star grass sedge, and a ‘Helvola’ dwarf water lily. In garden magazines, I’ve seen dwarf water lilies growing in even smaller (in diameter) containers. I’m certain you could have a miniature water garden on your balcony. You just need a pretty glazed pot, and you’ll be in business. —Pam
I’m not 100% sure, but I think the small butterfly might be a Texan Crescent. There’s a photo here:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1731
We’re nearing the end of the butterfly season here 🙁
That does look like a Texan Crescent. Thanks, Entangled! —Pam
I can’t recall ever seeing a Queen butterfly before. What lovely markings.
They are pretty, aren’t they? Queens look somewhat like monarchs when they’re flying, and I like how their name reflects the similarity but also their smaller size. —Pam
I’m another lizard fan! I’m used to Florida chameleons, & the anole is cute too! I wonder if that last butterfly is a Painted Lady?
Ooh, Florida chameleons? They sound interesting. Have you posted any photos? —Pam
Pam – those swifty lizards never hold still long enough for me to snap a pic – I’ve tried too many times!