Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly

The Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly is common here in south Mississippi.  I've seen several this summer and occasionally photographed them from June through September.  Here's my photo collection of this beautiful butterfly species:

The Red-Spotted Purple is a species of the North American brush-footed butterfly and is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail. Both sexes of this species are identical except that the females are slightly larger than the males. The males aggressively defend territories and readily dart out from their overhanging perches to chase passing objects. The butterfly occasionally visits flowers, but like many of its relatives in the brush-footed family, is more strongly attracted to rotting fruit, animal dung and moist earth.

"Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine"  

~ Jeffrey Glassberg

A Fence & A Whole Lot of Flowers

Around the bend from our place, about 1/2 mile or so, is a piece of country property for sale. It was probably a cow pasture at one time, or maybe someone's hunting area.  

My son and I walked around the property to check out the wildflowers and have a look around. Goldenrods are everywhere, beginning from the fence and continuing across the open field, yielding only to the dense forest on the west side.  

What a pretty meadow of wildflowers!  Pretty patches of purple-pink grasses stood tall above the goldenrod and added a striking color contrast.

Narrow-Leafed Sunflowers are also abundant and look so pretty when paired with the Blue Mistflowers.

Small patches of these pretty pink flowers and tall purple flowers are scattered throughout the meadow.  If you can identify their species, please let me know.  

The autumn wildflowers have been exceptionally abundant and beautiful this year.  Have any of you noticed any difference from previous years?  I just wonder if I've actually paid more attention to them this year.  

Linked with Theresa at Good Fences
Thank you for hosting, Theresa!

Feeder Frenzy

This group of photos were taken in late September at our previous residence, when there were literally dozens of hummers in our front yard.  

The day after we moved to our new place, I spotted a hummer darting around my potted flowers so I filled a couple of feeders and put them out.  Most days there are about 4 little hummers hanging out at the feeders.  There will be a few late migrants passing through so I'll leave the feeders up for a few more weeks.  

These tiny creatures aren't as innocent as they appear.  They can be really brutal with each other when fighting for their spot on the feeder.  If you've ever had the chance to observe them, then you know what I'm talking about.  

I think this one with the orange plumage is a female Rufous Hummingbird. This is the first I've ever seen. It's not uncommon for them to migrate from the west to Florida for winter. Perhaps this one was just passing through...

Thank you for dropping in...

I appreciate your visits to my blog and your comments :)

Red-Shouldered Hawk

I captured shots of this Red-Shouldered Hawk at quite a distance

as it perched atop one of the tallest pine trees in our yard, back in March.

He (or She) stayed there a while, watching and waiting,

scanning the fields below for a possible catch.

No such luck.  Not that day.

With those beautiful wings spread, 

off he flew until he was out of sight...

Linked with Stewart at

Wild Bird Wednesday

Cut Wildflower Bouquet

A few chosen wildflowers were cut and brought home,
where they were arranged in a clear vase...

and placed in my kitchen

to add a splash of autumn color and cheers

I must enjoy their temporary beauty,
for it ends all too soon.

Autumn Wildflowers

First, I'd like to say Thank You for the comments wishing me well during our recent move.  Your thoughtful comments were greatly appreciated :)   Moving is tremendously exhausting and I'm so glad it's over and done.  Now it's just a matter of unpacking everything and deciding where to put it all.  I'm still wondering when so much "stuff" was accumulated.  Much of it will go to storage or Salvation Army.  

Now on to the topic of this blog post...

Located across the road from our new place is a large cut-over field which is now filled with a wonderful variety of autumn wildflowers.  I just had to snoop around and see the wildflowers up close.  It was early morning and dew blanketed the entire field.

Narrow-Leafed Sunflowers...

 Eupatorium serotinum- 

aka Late-Flowering Boneset or Late-Flowering Thoroughwort...

Goldenrod...

a favorite among Lovebugs

Tiny white asters...

Blue Mistflower...

And some unknowns-

I would appreciate your help in identifying them...

Thank you for stopping by...

I wish you a wonderful week ahead!

Good Fences #28: Autumn in Cades Cove

Cooler temperatures are on their way- by Saturday our outdoor daytime temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 70's with cooler nights in the mid 50's.  I can hardly wait!  How I love the feel of Autumn!

What better time to post beautiful images of colorful Autumn foliage than the month of October? These good fences, although aged and dilapidated, border some of the scenic pastures of Cades Cove, one of the most popular areas in the eastern United States.    

My husband and I have been frequent visitors of Cades Cove during several autumn seasons, usually in October.  These photos were taken during our trip there last October.  The fall foliage was spectacular- never had I seen it more beautiful.  I was in awe at the amazing colors all flowing together, like an autumn quilt. 

In just one week, we witnessed the transformation of foliage color from summer greens and early autumn yellows into a mosaic of gold, crimson, orange, red and scarlet.  Words and images do little to define the magic of autumn's prime show in the Smoky Mountains.  

Linked with our great hostess,

 Theresa at Good Fences