Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Since this Friday the forecast high was 103 (whew!), I decided to get up extra early and go to Reynolda Gardens before work.  It was totally worth it and here is why:

 Cute little skipper (possibly a Sachem).

 Is it a moth?  Is is a hummingbird?  No, it's a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth!

My first turtle sighting at Reynolda Gardens!!

Tiger

Sorry no 'Fridays at Reynolda Gardens' post this week.  It was too hot to go at lunch, so I decided to go after work again, but did not take into account that it might actually rain on me!  Of course I went anyway, but no butterflies were to be found.  There's always next week!

It's been pretty hot and humid this whole week-end, but today I decided to go to the Tanglewood Butterfly Garden, and it was worth it.  I got my first Eastern Tiger Swallowtail of the season!

 Looks like she has been nipped at.  This is a female, they have more blue near the bottom of their wings.

Then on my way to the car, I saw this Pearl Crescent flitting around the clover.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Well I had to work a whole 5-day week this week, it was tough after all the long week-ends I have had.  But it did end on a good note, as I went to Reynolda Gardens after work was over Friday!

 Pearl Crescent

Hey, scooch over!!

My Butterfly Garden

Finally had a butterfly in my own butterfly garden!  Usually they fly right over my little bitty hodge-podge of a garden to get to my neighbor's (which puts mine and everyone else's in the neighborhood to shame).  But today one stopped and had a drink.  Hopefully not the last.

Variegated Fritillary

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Another Friday off from work. :)  I need to stop doing this or I will run out of days!  But I went to see Jimmy Buffett Thursday night and did NOT want to have to drag myself out of bed Friday morning and go to work.  That was my first Jimmy Buffett concert by the way and I had so much fun!!  So anyway, here are a few butterflies from my trip to Reynolda Gardens.  Starting to see some new species.

Gray Hairstreak

I got a new butterfly book and I believe this is a Fiery Skipper.  The book is Butterflies of the Carolinas Field Guide by Jaret C. Daniels.  I like it because it groups the butterflies by main color, very easy to use.

Hanging Rock

Went to Hanging Rock on Saturday.  It's so beautiful there.  I usually go once or twice a year, but I haven't hiked the Hanging Rock trail in quite a while.  And guess what I saw at the top?  Butterflies, of course!  I bet they had an easier time getting there than I did.

View from the trail

Whew - made it!

Not such a good idea to chase butterflies when on a cliff. Luckily this American Painted Lady landed near me.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Had to work this Friday.  Oh well. Very thankful that such a beautiful place is so near my office though!

Another Cabbage White flitting about.  Mostly all I saw were Cabbage Whites and Silver-Spotted Skippers, but no complaints here.  Any day with a butterfly is a good day!