Back In The Yard

Here's a view of our backyard from the front walkway. Yes, that is a monarch butterfly flying in the background. #nativeplants #wildflowers #garden #Illinois #nature #photography

Here's some more monarch magic from last weekend! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

I'm still seeing monarchs! I saw four yesterday that were feasting on New England asters and Mexican sunflowers. #monarch #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's the second shadow darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa) that I was able to photograph this weekend! #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

Here's a beautiful common buckeye (Junonia coenia) that I saw today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

I saw another shadow darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa) today! #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

We're still seeing an occasional monarch on our Mexican sunflowers. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's a skyward shot of a striped saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea darwini) in our front yard garden! #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers

Today I released another male monarch that I raised. After spending a couple of hours in the neighbor's tree, he flew down and landed on our tomato plant to bask in the sun. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's another male monarch butterfly on a New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) this afternoon. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's a late-season sighting of a red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) in the backyard. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

This is the last shot of the male carpenter bee before he flew off to feed on African blue basil flowers. #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

I found this poor ole cold, wet male carpenter bee in the shade, so I warmed him up on my warm finger in the sun, and he was soon buzzing around our flowers again. #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

Here's a male autumn meadowhawk dragonfly perched on a garden stake in the backyard. #dragonflies #Odonata #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #fall

Here's a skyward shot of a striped saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea darwini) in our front yard garden! #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers

Today I released another male monarch that I raised. After spending a couple of hours in the neighbor's tree, he flew down and landed on our tomato plant to bask in the sun. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's another male monarch butterfly on a New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) this afternoon. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's a late-season sighting of a red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) in the backyard. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

This is the last shot of the male carpenter bee before he flew off to feed on African blue basil flowers. #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

I found this poor ole cold, wet male carpenter bee in the shade, so I warmed him up on my warm finger in the sun, and he was soon buzzing around our flowers again. #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

Here's a male autumn meadowhawk dragonfly perched on a garden stake in the backyard. #dragonflies #Odonata #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #fall

Today I saw one of my favorites, a shadow darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa)! #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

Here's a male monarch butterfly on a New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) this afternoon. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Today I saw one of my favorites, a shadow darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa)! #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

Here's a male monarch butterfly on a New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) this afternoon. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's a male monarch that stopped by our smooth asters today. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

A painted lady butterfly welcomed the warmth of my hand on this chilly September morning. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography

Here's a hummingbird visiting our Mexican sunflower on a rainy day. #hummingbirds #birds #sunflowers #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

We had a beautiful painted lady butterfly visit our Mexican sunflower in the front yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography

This yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) first appeared 3 weeks ago. I hadn't seen her in 2 weeks, and now I've found her nice and plump next to the house. #spiders #arachnid #Illinois #nature #photography

Here's a skyward shot of a male monarch on our Mexican sunflower in the front yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's a red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) in our black raspberry patch today! #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

The sawtooth sunflowers (Helianthus grosseserratus) are looking spectacular in the backyard! #nativeplants #wildflowers #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography

A male monarch on our 8-foot-tall sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) in the backyard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #sunflowers #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

It's aster season. #nativeplants #wildflowers #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

Here's a juvenile male common green darner dragonfly (Anax junius) that landed nearby when I was walking in the backyard. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography

For a third day in a row this male monarch has been visiting our Mexican sunflowers in the front yard! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch

A closeup of the head of a common green darner dragonfly (Anax junius). I've always loved the marking that looks like an extra eye spot. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

Here's a male monarch that stopped by our smooth asters today. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

A painted lady butterfly welcomed the warmth of my hand on this chilly September morning. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography

Here's a hummingbird visiting our Mexican sunflower on a rainy day. #hummingbirds #birds #sunflowers #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

We had a beautiful painted lady butterfly visit our Mexican sunflower in the front yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography

This yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) first appeared 3 weeks ago. I hadn't seen her in 2 weeks, and now I've found her nice and plump next to the house. #spiders #arachnid #Illinois #nature #photography

Here's a skyward shot of a male monarch on our Mexican sunflower in the front yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch

Here's a red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) in our black raspberry patch today! #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

The sawtooth sunflowers (Helianthus grosseserratus) are looking spectacular in the backyard! #nativeplants #wildflowers #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography

A male monarch on our 8-foot-tall sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) in the backyard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #sunflowers #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #SaveTheMonarch

It's aster season. #nativeplants #wildflowers #Illinois #nature #macro #photography

Here's a juvenile male common green darner dragonfly (Anax junius) that landed nearby when I was walking in the backyard. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography

For a third day in a row this male monarch has been visiting our Mexican sunflowers in the front yard! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #sunflower #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch

A closeup of the head of a common green darner dragonfly (Anax junius). I've always loved the marking that looks like an extra eye spot. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography