Butterflies, Birds, and Flowers

July 29, 2025

On July 28 (Monday), Bruce and I headed outside to see the results of the woodchipping Bruce did the day before.

As we stepped out of the sliding door, I noticed a Variegated Fritillary on the red clover growing in a pepper bucket.

Bruce had parked the cart full of woodchips next to the new garden bed.

Here is the reduced pile of branches from the chipping operation.

As we headed back to the house, we stopped at the miniature peach and nectarine. Yesterday, Bruce piled the woodchips on the cardboard but didn’t spread them out. I was spreading the woodchips over the cardboard around the peach when I noticed a cicada under the leaves. It came out, then backed up underneath the leaves again.

I saw several butterflies on a Hairycluster Vine aka Small Flower Morning Glory. I was trying to get a picture of the Clouded Skipper when this Variegated Fritillary photo bombed my picture.

I was able to get a picture of the Clouded Skipper.

I took some more pictures of the Variegated Fritillary.

In the yard, I spotted a Checkered Skipper in the grass and clover.

I enjoyed seeing the Naked Ladies blooming with the Praying Mantis clinging to one of the flowers.

I heard an Olive-sided Flycatcher above me on the wire. I was getting my phone out to take a picture when he drove down in front of me. He was about five feet away from me! He flew back onto the wire.

Bruce moved the cart full of woodchips to the figs. After he dropped the cart off, Bruce started mowing the backyard. While Bruce mowed, I trimmed the grass around the figs with a garden shears. Once the grass was trimmed, I put cardboard down around the figs. I shoveled out the woodchips and spread them over the cardboard.

I noticed this cicada larva shell on one of the fig tree branches.

I put cardboard around one of the little pecan trees. I walked down to the mailbox to check to see if we got any mail. We hadn’t gotten any mail and the heat and humidity had me dripping in sweat, I had to go inside to cool off.

I did stop on the way to the house long enough to take an up close picture of the work we did to drainpipe.

From the sidewalk, I noticed a purple magnolia bloom.

After mowing for a while, Bruce moved the cart next to one of the little pecan trees. He also came inside to cool off. He mowed some more and put the mower away.

Around 5:00 pm, it started pouring rain.

It poured rain for about an hour. The new drainpipe worked great. The rain cleared up enough for a beautiful golden sunset. There were some lightning flashes in the sunset clouds.