Day 431

Today, we went to Busch Gardens. The butterflies and flowers were abundant.

Day 419

Today, we went to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to see the plants, and the new butterfly house.

Marigolds

Camellia

Hydrangea

Hydrangea

Devil's Tongue

These flowers have grown between an emergency exit gate. They were covered in ants.

Water Lily

Hydrangea

Monarch butterfly

Monarch butterflies

Day 331

Today, we headed to the Philadelphia Zoo. We've been to Philadelphia many times, but never to the zoo.

While waiting for the trolley to pick us up, I saw this monarch butterfly in Logan Square.

While at the zoo, I found this butterfly and some plants in bloom. I took photos of the zoo animals too, but of course those don't fit the "natural resident" rule I created when I started this project.

Day 330

Today, my husband drove our daughter and me to Philadelphia, PA for the weekend. After checking in early and a nap, we walked around the city. We eventually took a trip across the river to Camden, NJ. They have a great aquarium there. However, you won't see any photos of aquarium creatures, because that would be cheating.

Along our walk, we went to Rittenhouse square. We watched the pigeons walk around and a guy balance things on his chin.

We stopped in another park along the way. There were many of these little birds on the ground, eating.

While walking, John choose the aquarium as our destination and found out we could take a ferry from Philly to the aquarium in Camden. The aquarium is along the water, so the ferry ride is straight across from Penn's Landing.

Along the bridge to Penn's landing, there are beautiful flowers.

The bridge goes over the interstate.

Penn's Landing holds concerts during the summer. This area had two pergolas. Resting on top of them, were many pigeons.

After the aquarium, I spotted this monarch butterfly flying from flower to flower. 

Day 279

Today, I watched for interesting things out of my living room window.

Seeing a butterfly is a rare treat. This Yellow Swallowtail stayed on the crape myrtle branch for a few minutes.

Later in the evening, I noticed two large spiders descend from my roof. There are lots of spider webs around the windows and on them. These two are definitely responsible for some large ones.

The bright dip in the clouds was actually pink.

Day 248

Today, we went to the nature preserve on Chincoteague Island. Instead of the beach part, we walked on one of the nature trails through the marsh.

Wild hibiscus

There were many butterflies fluttering around on the flowers and across the path.

If you look closely, you can see a resident.

This crane was hiding in the tall grass along a marsh water.

Female tiger swallowtail on a wild hibiscus

This deer was alone on the marsh eating grass and flowers.

Grasshopper

The marsh was teeming with them.

I love the spots on the back of this butterfly. Reminds me of a monster drawing.

Cattails

The white ones are about to drop their seeds. The brown ones are what most of them look like.

Day 243

Today Alex and I went to Colonial Williamsburg, VA to test out a history game they put together for families. It's a beautiful place, so while wondering around the grounds I took some photos.

Moss growing on a stone wall

Mushroom growing in one of the backyard gardens.

Crape myrtle

Ivy growing through a grate of a house

Yellow Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on a marigold

This is male, because it's yellow. The females are almost black, but have the same details.

The sun was high above us all day with a heat index of about 108.

Day 234

Today John and I went to a river overlook that is famous for the origins of naming Richmond.

Female Tiger Swallowtail butterfly

Cicada

If you look carefully on the left flower, you can see a light colored bee.

Gerber daisy bud

Overlook

Crape Myrtle

Sign explaining how the city was named.