Framingham Butterflies

Taking advantage of another brief break in the clouds, I went over to the pick-your-own flower farm in Framingham to see if any butterflies might be out there.  It seemed a good strategy for these heavy showers that pop up with little notice.  I could stay close to the car but still be in good butterfly habitat.

The dahlias are just beautiful.  While I waited for the rain to stop, a Viceroy flew around my car and right across my windshield, giving me a good look at it.  Although rain eventually drove me away, I did have a nice time while I was there in spite of no real sunshine.

Cabbage White

Gray Catbird

Gray Hairstreak

Cosmos

I had fun watching the birds that were hanging around the garden:  American Goldfinches and a Carolina Wren, Gray Catbirds, Song Sparrows, House Sparrows, and a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.  The hummingbird was very cautious and nervous from the noise of my camera, so I wasn't able to get a good photo of it.

I tried to improve the odds of having an interesting afternoon by visiting Tower Hill Botanic Garden between rain showers.  The American Goldfinches were the main attraction.  There were no butterflies there besides the omnipresent (and dare I say boring) Cabbage Whites.

Here's a 30-second video of an American Goldfinch enjoying his own personal supply of sunflower seeds.

American Goldfinch

Quite possibly the only sun of the day!!

Indigo Rose Tomato

Mimosa Tree bloom

 Eggplant

 Passion flower

Meanwhile, as I settled in to look over my photos, something flew by the window, and I found the first butterfly of the year nectaring on my butterfly bush.

 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

White-striped Black Moth

While I was in the yard, I also spotted my resident male white-tailed deer foraging in the wetlands.  He was shy and ran off before I could get a crisp photo, but he's still hanging around!