Before we sailed yesterday, I spent several hours in the garden, sitting under the dogwood tree, reading butterfly books, and photographing all the butterflies that came to visit the zinnia patch six feet from my chair. There were moments when the zinnias hosted monarchs, swallowtails, painted ladies, skippers and a hummingbird all at the same time.

The day was dry, the sky cerulean, a breeze blew the butterflies and flower heads, and the temperature was a comfortable 77° F. The zinnias were most hopping at about 2pm.

View from under my dogwood tree

Bumbleebee

Silver-spotted skipper

Sulphur — clouded?

Monarch and swallowtail

Hummingbird

Flower box and blue sky

Painted lady

Painted Lady

I went out at the same time today. The sky is cloudier, it’s warmer, and I mowed the grass. The large butterflies are just not here today. I wonder why.

Catalog of butterflies from August 5 & 6:

• Monarchs
• Black swallowtail
• Palamedes swallowtail
• Grey hairstreak
• Silver-spotted skipper
• Clouded sulphur
• Cabbage white
• Painted lady