“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV
I was out before sunrise on Wednesday and it occurred to me that the sun had traversed one third of its southward trek heading toward the winter solstice. Of course, the sun hasn’t done the moving, we have! It is quite noticeable now as the spot on the horizon where the big orange ball rises over the pasture is changing ever so slightly with everyday living!
After a summer of few butterflies on any given day, last week saw an invasion. Swallowtails, sulphurs, gulf fritillaries, buckeyes, and others were in the garden in large numbers. I decided to hang out with the butterflies for a few minutes since they chose to visit!
I mentioned the gulf fritillary, and I must say these became the top visitors last week as far as overall numbers. Their primary host plant is the passion flower which is a vine that began blooming earlier in the season. The bloom is magnificent and we usually feature the passion flower when it is around. They should still be blooming so I need to do a bit of searching!
The sulphur butterfly prefers members of the pea family for hosting. However, they also are known to utilize Sunshine Ligustrum…which is maybe one reason they like our garden. We have a few of those privets which are probably inviting. At this moment, marigolds seemed very satisfying.
All eyes were on me, at least it seemed that way. A very common visitor even when others shy away is the buckeye. Found all across the country, the eye spots possibly deter predators. Here’s looking at you kid.
While on the subject of buckeyes…Football season is upon us. I’m not one to get all carried away with college football these days. But for those that enjoy such, I wanted to show these 3 buckeyes that I spotted by the trail last week. I was thinking that Ohio State fans might be fine with seeing some young buckeyes. Then I thought, “it seems to me the OSU Buckeyes were National Champions last season”. I researched and discovered I remembered correctly! That called for a celebration (celebrating me remembering)! BTW, Pam, as an Alabama fan, was not excited about me bringing this up!
A brief shower was nice for the garden and produced an opportunity for rainbows, which are always a joy to see and a reminder of His promises! Our meteorologist called this a summer of rainbows, and there have been many. The fields aren’t typically this green in late August!
Do the leaves of this plant remind you of raw meat? Some sources say such a characteristic is where the common name of beefsteak plant comes from. I didn’t imagine uncooked meat when I first looked at these plants years ago, but it is widely used in Asian cooking and known for essential oils. Around the farm where we live, it is known as a menacing, aggravating weed (just my opinion).
After wading though the sea of ‘steaks’, a small opening contained this single, very delicate looking mushroom. It is a member of a family called brittlestems and most species are very fragile. Not that I was considering collecting this one to add to a salad, but I did read that these can cause stomach discomfort!
A few things along the trails and roadsides are indicators of change. Partridge pea is one of those yellow beauties that stands out by late August. Predictions are for unseasonably cool temperatures this week here, but especially cool in other parts of the country. I saw where some spots will have record low highs, if that makes sense. Maybe some of us will feel like it is October!
We are getting teases of change, like this sumac showing a bit of color already. There are several plants that begin to bloom in late August that I am always on the watch for…
…like what I choose to call wild Turkeytown Clematis. The white blooms on this vine are everywhere now, especially in moist areas near water or low places. But wait! What’s this, a rogue crepe myrtle growing in the middle of the Virgin’s Bower (the real common name)! The crepe myrtle added a lot to the photo. I’m glad I discovered this. The clematis (it is truly a clematis) is native to our region, but usually found all alone displaying a sea of white!
One forecaster that stirs our autumn senses and prompts us to dream of pleasant low humidity, clear days, and cool nights is my favorite…goldenrod. I always seek to find August goldenrod and usually locate small groups quite easily, but this surprised me. I was able to ride next door yesterday through a very overgrown field where Richardson Landworks has begun some brush cutting to reclaim a pasture. A really nice glimpse into what’s around the corner!
Taking us back 2 years for a throwback along the Danube River…The Schonbuhel Castle is understandably one of the most photographed castles along the river in the Wachau Valley, Lower Austria.
We don’t have the high peaks here in the foothills like those of the Smoky Mountains, but low clouds still tend to hover along the mountaintops. Our Thursday was off to a nice start! By late August the difference in the angle of the sun’s rays become noticeable and the light and shadows begin to give hints of fall.
Another colorful August evening after a hot humid day. However, we are getting a little break in the heat this week as Labor Day weekend approaches. Labor Day comes as early as possible this year which gives us one more Sunday to enjoy this month. We pray you have a wonderful final week of August!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Richardson Landworks, hehe. Love all the latest summer observations, very close to what we’re seeing, including more butterflies, this past week. I love the smell of autumn clematis. We’re going to experience those cooler temps this week, and I can’t wait!
Have a great new week.
Thank you Rita. I hear the clematis called “fragrant clematis” so that common name is deserving. The cooler temps did not show up today but we are still hopeful for later. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Can’t wait for the promised cooler temperatures this coming week. So thankful for green pastures throughout this summer. Love all the butterfly pictures. We’ve seen very few this summer.
Thank you Rachel. We hope those promised predictions turn out to be reality although I function better in the heat than extreme cold. Still hot here today. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Finding the lovely in the ordinary is a gift. – And thinking it’s only ordinary is a waste! I’ll be speaking to a large church group of ladies later this evening and will carry that message with me. – Thanks for the natural inspiration!
Thank you Leslie Anne. We hope your evening with the group goes well and that you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Such gorgeous captures of the incredible butterflies! The castle in Austria is amazing! Beautiful photos of the sunrise and sunset. I have noticed the days are slowly growing shorter… enjoy the last week of August!
Thank you Jenna. I am not fond of shorter daylight time but it’s definitely noticeable. I do get more rest though so Pam likes the short days. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Richardsons! Your photos of all the butterflies are exquisite. We are definitely see more butterfly activity here and the hummingbirds are going crazy. I stepped outside at sunrise and oh my goodness, the temperature and humidity were magnificent! Heading up to Highlands/Cashiers for the designer showhouse later this week, and the high is supposed to be 68! Sure wish Pam could go along with us! I agree with Leslie Anne’s comments totally…there is nothing “ordinary” about any of the beauty God has created.
Thank you Roxanne. Sounds like a nice trip coming up and I’m sure Pam would love that. Leslie Anne was right on with her comment. It’s still quite warm and humid here today but tomorrow is supposed to be better. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Good Morning Butch and Pam. Pictures and story superb as always. I enjoy my Sunday mornings with you. We are having 70’s all week up here in the Midwest. It is such a welcome relief. Have a beautiful week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. We saw those cool predictions for that part of the world, and while it is a little early, we will enjoy a fall tease. Enjoy the pleasant week ahead!
Butch and Pam
Butch and Pam, we enjoyed seeing butterflies in our yard last week after noticing not many during the summer, so thanks for touching on this. A beautiful sight I might add. Love the end of summer pics of your “neck of the woods” since we don’t see a lot of change here in town. Looking forward to the cooler temp forecast for the coming week. Thanks for your always inspirational post. Happy week……….
Thank you Emily. We figure the butterflies decided to get a move on realizing summer is fading a bit. They are everywhere out back today. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Gorgeous flora and flying beauties this post! And I live in Columbus, Ohio so yes to the Buckeyes! Whoo hoo!! Have a blessed Sunday!
Thank you Michele. We have a sister-in-law who is from Ohio an OSU graduate. She will not convert to a Bama fan. Have a splendid week!
Butch and Pam
Dear ones…love the butterflies…so pretty as well as sunrise and sunset and of course the rainbow….it is always so special. I wish I had your energy and daring to wade through the brambles and bush to photograph sites that we can only imagine are there. The sporting season is beginning so we will of course be “knee deep” in football and basketball as the boys of October finish up their season. Hugs to both of you.
Thank you Kari. Our son owns Richardson Landworks and has a lot of equipment. He is working on an area next door that has a lot to see but has grown up so much that I can hardly get through so I’m taking advantage as he works. I do ramble in the brambles sometimes. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday Butch and Pam! I’m all aflutter over your butterfly visitors. We’ve noticed an uptick in butterflies too, especially the Gulf fritillaries. We have an abundance of Passionflower vine that runs rampant in the field next the Potting Shed. Love all your rainbow captures! Happy Sunday ♥
Thank you Mary. Some of the nearby places that have passionflower vine have been mowed and cleaned so I must roam this week around here and find more. Everyone seems to be seeing more butterflies after a slow start. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I like all your captures of the butterflies. I know how hard it is to get a good photo as they flitter around.
Thank you Karen. The butterflies and hummingbirds do stay on the move. It takes two dozen photos to get a decent one sometimes. Have a splendid week!
Butch and Pam
We’re going to have more mild temps this week as well! We’re ready for them and wish they would stay! You can really tell in your pics that it’s later in the year. Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. Probably will get hot again but we can enjoy the days until that happens. The angle of the light is a noticeable difference. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I always enjoy your Sunday observations. This o was excellent, reminding us how swiftly time passes and fall is just around the corner. Here in Piedmont NC we are expecting cooler temps with lows in the 50s. Quite a change from the normal heat up August. Butch and Pam, thanks for inspiring us .
Thank you Darlene. Yes, the temps are very rare for August. But, we will enjoy each day and try not to complain too much if it gets hot again soon. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Gorgeous photos of the butterflies. Love seeing your spectacular gardens. We have an abundance of passion vine and trumpet vine. Your trip looks lovely, always fun to look back and reflect. Happy new week ahead.
Thank you Linda. A lot of the passion vine was mown down recently but we do have a lot of trumpet vine. I’m looking for more passion flower nearby. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Oh how I loved my walk with you today! It was so nice to see all the different butterfly species. I was especially enamored with the Buckeye one and the small buckeyes as OSU is my Alma Mater. I have a whole jar of buckeyes that my dear dad collected years ago.
Thank you for sharing all the beauty.
P. S. I have two Sunshine Ligustrum shrubs but haven’t seen any beautiful butterflies.
Thank you Kitty. I didn’t expect so many buckeye folks today but glad to find this out. Our sister-in-law is an OSU grad so we hear a lot of OSU stories. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I got a giggle out of two things today. Richardson’s Landworks and YOU have Buckeyes! I am glad you thought about the OSU Buckeyes. I believe Pam knows I am a card-carrying Ohio State Buckeye Fan! 🙂
That castle was gorgeous, and so were all your butterflies. Oh, and another Rainbow? Wow! How fabulous! Thank you once again for a beautiful post about Everyday Life. Enjoy your week, folks.
Thank you Nancy. I struck a golden cord with the Buckeye folks today and had no idea. The buckeyes I walk by often are bottlebrush buckeyes but we have others too I think. Pam did know and told me you would probably appreciate that part of the post but there’s a bunch of y’all out there! Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful butterflies! Have a lovely week ahead dear friends! Best wishes.
Thank you, Maristella! Wishing you a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Very special pictures of the heavens. They are never static. Always changing. Haven’t seen a single butterfly this year and therefore I so appreciate yours. Fall has arrived here. It’s really cool and the leaves or what’s left of them from the hail storm, are falling. And in 4 months today will be Christmas Day! Yikes!
Thank you Alice. Wow, Christmas Day 4 months away, that hadn’t dawned on me but it should have. All the stores have decorations and Christmas stuff on the shelves. It just seemingly comes on us much too soon. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
I absolutely love your Simple Southern Sunday posts!
I’m especially happy to see that you included the clematis as one of your pictures today.
I taught in a rural high school and loved seeing the clematis covering fences as we started back to school each fall. I asked the biology teacher what it was. (I’m originally from anther state and wasn’t familiar with this wildflower.)
He said it is called “Virgin’s Bower” because, back in the day, bridesmaids would collect this beautiful flowering vine to make a flower crown for the bride.
The next morning, following the wedding, the bride had a red rash around her forehead. The cause- wearing this clematis all day. It causes contact dermatitis! Such an interesting story as to how it got its common name!
I’m in Tennessee and it is everywhere from August to September!
Thank you Kay. I have read the story behind the clematis name but not recently. Thanks for sharing that. It has a nice fragrance but to me it’s only when I’m fairly close to it. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
To me there is nothing happier than a butterfly on a flower or in a field of flowers! And yes, to the wonders of European travels!
Thank you Mary. Those butterflies do appear so excited they can’t decide which to land on or stay on. And, we don’t have a travel plan, but sure would love to venture somewhere back across the pond. Have a great week.
Butch and Pam
Welcome cooler temps and the prelude to Autumnal hues and visions. That favorite season will
brush off the Summer incentive kill and spark all the interests that the next three months of activity
and holiday planning promise. Ready? There is a Danube cruise being contemplated and your
tempting photo could seal it……. dream on……A blessed Sabbath.
Thank you Mary. The change in the air today is a definite prelude and it stirs up the autumn senses in spite of the calendar showing August. We have had conversations concerning future travel but for now dreaming of it is quite alright. Can’t believe it is time for holiday planning but here we are already. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I always love the sky shots but I must say that the butterfly photos are absolutely magnificent! The castle is pretty amazing too. It’s funny about the shortening daylight hours… we’ve been losing daylight since the day after summer solstice, but like you, I really noticed how early it gets dark now just this week. We are under a heat dome here so I feel your pain, and I hope your cooler weather materializes. Wishing you both a wonderful rest of the week.
Thank you Kim. Today was very nice and unseasonably cool. We’ve just begun to talk about how it gets dark a lot earlier. It kinda slips up on you I suppose since it’s a little each day. We hope you have a great week and maybe cool off some too!
Butch and Pam
A lovely post Butch & Pam, such a variety of Butterflies!
Blessings to you both, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. Hoping for no more tumbles. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
I, too, am surely looking forward to seeing another autumn and am so deeply grateful to the Lord for sparing my and my loved ones’ lives to enjoy it together. He is faithful and good and has blessed me far beyond what I will ever deserve. I so enjoy your posts and all the discoveries you find in nature!
I just love your beautiful observations about nature, Butch. I am thankful for the time you take to photograph and share the beauty of everyday living and the things you have learned about God’s creation. May God continue to bless and keep you and Pam in His tender loving care.
Thank you Cindie for your thoughtful comments. This entire week has been so nice here. We hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Butch and Pam