I didn't expect to participate in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day this month. But believe it or not, there are a few flowers still blooming here.
In fact, today I saw beautiful blooms, foliage, moss, berries, and even a black swallowtail butterfly! It's Nov. 15 ... in Wisconsin! We've already had temperatures in the teens (-8C) ... and measurable snow!
Seeing a swallowtail is very uncommon this late in the season. And because I wasn't speedy enough to photograph it and positively ID it, I can't be sure. But I did, indeed, see a black butterfly with yellow and blue markings! My neighbor saw it, too. We were both out raking and talking, so I couldn't run off and say, "Excuse me while I chase that butterfly so I can get a picture for my blog ..."
Anyway, I had my iPhone in my pocket while I was raking, and I captured a few shots. The quality is a little grainy, but here are the blooms:
Mums, Alyssum, and even a bright yellow Pansy!
Saturday is Foliage Follow-Up. Does Moss count as foliage? Notice how this Moss is sending out new growth? Is that strange for November?
Common for November, around here, are berries aplenty, including on the Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) and the Yew bushes (Taxus spp.).
Back to raking tomorrow. But I still can't believe I saw a butterfly on Nov. 15!
Oh, and lady beetles, too.
