Seasons Archives - Page 20 of 21 - Betty Hall Photography

Jack-in-the-pulpit

How’s this for some bright autumn color?

I look forward to Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) in my shade garden in the spring. I also enjoy it in autumn. Its brilliant red seeds add a splash of color and catch my attention whenever I walk by.

Royal catchfly

I am thoroughly enjoying the striking color and form of Royal catchfly (Silene regia). It’s a Kentucky native perennial that grows 2-4 ft. tall.

The blossoms are a brilliant red and stand out from a distance. They are also well deserving of a closer look. I want more of them in my garden next summer.

Monarch book

I recently created a small picture book. As the subject of half of my previous blogs, you can see how enthused I am about butterflies. The book is a way to share my enjoyment with others. You can preview it on Blurb and order a copy if you like.

This paperback book follows a monarch butterfly from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally to adult butterfly. I’ve used simple words and photographs, and hope the book will appeal to young children as well as adults.

I wouldn’t have had this experience without common milkweed in our backyard. It’s yet another reason I’m glad we landscaped with native plants.

Passion flower

This intricate blossom reminds me of a dancer with a beautifully woven skirt. It’s a passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), a native Kentucky vine now blooming in the backyard. I find it to be quite exotic and another example of the amazing designs found in nature.

Pipevine swallowtail butterfly

I found butterfly eggs on my native pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) and brought them inside. I’ve enjoyed watching the caterpillars hatch, grow, and make chrysalises. This past weekend, six weeks later, the butterflies emerged and are now flying in and out of the backyard.

Beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) on native purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) – what a delight!

Here’s a different view of the the same butterfly on native Lady Fern (Athrium felix-femina). In the right light the iridescent blue is breathtaking.