A Second Look--July 10, 2013

We've had hot, humid days with afternoon thunderstorms. Makes feel like I'm back in New Orleans where we lived for several years. Despite that heat, there are new colors of day lilies continuing to bloom along with the first blooms from the African Daisies. I think the baby bluebirds are still in the nesting box, but I haven't been able to look for several days to know for sure. If I even approach the box, the parents start swooping down over me. It's very unnerving, so I'd say they parents are doing a good job. Also, I have seen my first two swallowtail butterflies. I thought one of them had injured its wings, but upon closer examination, I think they just haven't unfolded all the way yet after hatching from the chrysalis.

Here's what I saw this week during a Second Look.

Various day lilies that are bloom right now

This is one of the few coneflowers the Japanese Beetles haven't been heavily feasting on.

Swallowtail butterfly with folded wings on milkweed blossom.

Hydrangea

Kaleidoscope Abelia

Daisies--Gerber and African

Pictures don't come out very well from a small dark nesting box. However, here are four babyblue birds over a three week span.