A Visit to Tower Hill Botanic Garden

The weather report was not good for today.  When we were in central Mass during the morning, and it was partly sunny and quite lovely.  As we headed home, the clouds filled in and it looked dismal again.  I had to head west, back to the sunshine, in order to get a good walk in, so I decided on Tower Hill as my destination.  I saw lots of beautiful birds and butterflies and flowers!

Great Spangled Fritillary

American Lady

Gray Hairstreak

Great Spangled Fritillary

American Goldfinch

No need for a feeder!

Great Spangled Fritillary

Hibiscus

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

A swarm of bees was hanging in a tree, so I avoided this particular trail!

closeup

American Goldfinch

another

Black-Shouldered Spinyleg

Northern Cardinal (female)

Larch

Purple Poppy Mallow

Great Spangled Fritillary

another Black-Shouldered Spinyleg (I think!)

the view!

I spotted two small bird nests during my walk.  I wish I knew what kind of birds they belonged to, but I don't.  

Common Yellowthroat

Great Spangled Fritillary

Joe Pye Weed along the path

Elderberries

Ruby Meadowhawk (female)

I had paused and kneeled down to photograph the elderberries, when the branches crackled, and this Gray Catbird popped out to let me know that those berries belonged to it!

Gray Catbird

Cardinal Flower (native)

Turtlehead (native)

Signs of the impending seasonal change

American Goldfinch (female)