Beth's Patch ~ Amazing Common Buckeye Butterfly's

Back in September 2010, I saw the largest migration of butterflies I have ever seen with Monarch's, American and Painted Ladies and Common Buckeyes passing through Cape May Point State Park.  It was a magical sight.

Then on May 2nd, 2012, there was large migration of primarily Red Admirals, American and  Painted Ladies coming from the south and flying north to NW.  It followed a smaller migration the preceding day.  A local naturalist, Don Frieday estimated that close to a million butterflies flew through Cape May County that day.

Today, I had well over 65 Common Buckeyes in the yard.  It was magical.  That is the highest number of any butterfly in the yard other than Monarchs, of which I have good numbers of each fall.  I have some hyssop and mountain mint on the back bank in a 2' by 5' area and there were over 20 CB's just in that small area.  The pictures didn't do the area justice.  The butterfly species count for the day was 23.  There were also several species of caterpillars.

Beth's Patch ~ Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Dark form

Jewel Box Quilt

I need to get some more pictures of this quilt now that it's finished.  Helen did all of the quilting on it for me.

Latticed Charm Squares ~ A Rainbow Quilt

photo by Helen

Helen has given me this glimpse of the quilt I made while it's on the frame and being quilted.  I love how Helen quilts my quilts and I appreciate her work.  It's funny in some ways as I was Helen's original quilting teacher years and years ago when I taught in the adult education classes in our county.  The class was set-up to make several wallhanging over the course of 10 weeks.  you could pick and chose want you wanted to make.  Helen was the student that made them all and more.  Now fast forward 25 years and she has been longarm quilting for at least 5 years and does an excellent job.  Now she could teach me how to longarm.  All of the squares used in the quilt were either dyed by me or part of a swap among my friends who dye fabrics.  I just love, love, love this quilt!

Hand dyed fabrics and piecing by Beth, quilted by Helen

Stone Harbor beach - Approaching Storm

And it's decided to pass us by...

Fabric Postcard Swaps Catch-up Triangles Swap

Samples from a prior triangles swap

Cynthia to me

Rachelle to me

Jeanette to me 

Fabric Postcards Swaps Catch-up

Sherri to Beth July No Theme Postcard

Beth to Sherri ~ Things with Wings: Bees Postcard Swap

Rachelle to Beth ~ Things with Wings: Bees Postcard Swap

Sherri to Beth ~ Shapes:Hexagons Swap

Beth to Sherri ~ Shapes: Hexagons Swap

Cynthia to Beth ~ June No Theme Swap

Beth's Patch ~ Cloudless Sulphur's

This male Cloudless Sulphur has been busy mating with the 2 female CS's in my yard.

This Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar is just a day or two old...

here's one a few days older...

And this Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar looks about ready to go into a chrysalis.

And another...

And found a chrysalis though on all of the Partridge Pea I have they are really hard to find.

Beth's Patch - Summer Butterflies

Broad-winged Skipper with curled proboscis

Broad-winged Skipper showing more curled proboscis

Fiery Skipper

Fiery Skipper

Fiery Skipper

Summer Azure butterfly - Working on DOF and getting good focus on the butterflies with the butterfly's proboscis still curled. Upper butterfly wing a little soft but acceptable for now. This 
butterfly is less than dime-sized.

Tawny Emperor Chrysalis

I noticed that one of the Tawny Emperor's had eaten lots of hackberry and looked like it might go into a chrysalis.  This morning when I checked it I found this on the leaf.  Now, I wonder, there are 2 broods per year and one brood does hatch in the summertime.  Will it be this one?  Only time will tell.

Beth's Patch ~ Gray Catbird's

Gray Catbirds come by for the fruit I put out to feed their babies.  Usually 2 broods per year and so fun to have them nearby.

Young catbird in the gardens.

Here's Mom or Dad collecting bugs and caterpillars for the young as they get older.

Beth's Patch ~ Delaware Skipper

New yard butterfly today ~ Delaware Skipper ~ Species #53

Female Delaware Skipper

Cape May County, NJ ~ Butterflies

Zabulon Skipper with lots of pollen on him.

Tawny-edged Skipper at a friend's house

Eastern-tailed Blue on Mountain Mint

Hayhurst's Scallopwing on Cup flower

Hayhurst's Scallopwing on Cup flower