Carmi Levy, at Written.Inc, has suggested Rubbery as this week's theme for TP 325
I live near the town which boasts this country's only open-cast mine, so I went to visit two of the giant decommissioned mine vehicles which are on display near the pit.
Both the dump truck and digger have enormous amounts of rubber in their tyres!
When I got home found that two monarchs had emerged from their
chrysalises (there are about 30 still to hatch).
chrysalises (there are about 30 still to hatch).
One was under the window-ledge:
And one in a lavender plant:
The first one gradually dried out -
then crawled down into the sunshine -
onto the grass -
and eventually flew away.
Meanwhile, this bumblebee was enjoying the marigolds:
Manu wasn't terribly excited about the whole business -
I am always amazed at the size of these. I guess I think they should be Tonka Toy size.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by. The camos were the best boots. The rubber ones are for playing in the creek, snow, mud. The pink ones are worn often in case I fall into something head first the family can spot me.
Hi Gail
DeleteThanks for your comment - and I hope you have fun with TP!
You have Monarchs! So pretty.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Manu, of course he is above it all.
Yes, the rubber tires are awesome...but you know me, critters first!
~
Critters rule, thunder. I wish we had the range of birds visiting that you do!
DeleteYou have Monarchs? Wonderful! And those tyres are what you might call extra huge!
ReplyDeleteWe get them every year, Gilly - I always plant heaps of swan plants for them, but they chomp them bare very quickly, and then any little caterpillars miss out :(
DeleteThose are some impressive vehicles. How lovely to have Monarchs in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting, Nicola. Yes, it is!
DeleteI would never tire of admiring tyres like those but it's the monarchs that would keep me coming back.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep them coming back, Bob. Sadly there are always too many caterpillars for the swan plants I have.
Deletewow, those are some HUGE rubber tires! at first i thought it was a toy...until i kept scrolling!
ReplyDeletei LOVE the monarchs...beautiful colorful flowers...and pensive Manu!
You take great butterfly photos. The trucks are good too.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for our Monarch beauties to return, and spring as well. I don't know how I missed your BIG FOOT incredible shots, I'll have to show these to my one little grandson that can't get enough of these big trucks!
ReplyDeleteLaura: they seem even bigger when you stand beside them!
ReplyDeleteBadger: Thanks. I was pleased with the butterfly ones, I admit.
Karen: It's been a great summer for Monarchs. Five hatched yesterday alone!
Things are slower in Wellington. 10 chrysalids hanging from various window ledges and leaves. A second generation of caterpillars are moving up and down the swan plants like small stripy locomotives. When they get bigger I will spend a lot of time moving them from stripped plants to emergency back-up plants, on caterpillar shepherd duty.
ReplyDeleteTurns out that in the final moult or two, if the supply of leaves is running low, you can feed them on pumpkin.
I've tried the pumpkin thing, Smut C, but it doesn't work for me... My 2nd generation are hard at it too, but I fear that most won't make it to chrysalis stage.
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