"THE FROG!!!!"

www.butterfliesandmoths.org

Sphynx moth (I forgot which one!)

Flutter bys

I've been pondering the "me" part of this blog and although I'm hopeful to promote and share my love for antiquing and junking, the "au naturelle" side of me cries out. My friends know that I'm a butterfly lover. My dear friend Kay has been an unwitting passenger when I nearly drove off the road when spotting a huge tiger swallowtail, and also waited patiently while I snapped a million photos of the vast array of butterflies at her hedge of blue whatchamacallits (it just came to me...blue plumbago). I am aware that there are lots of butterfly lovers, but have you ever noticed the night flying "moths" at your flower beds at dusk? The warm and sultry summer nights are ideal times to catch glimpses of these intriguing creatures. They fly nearly as fast as hummingbirds and I dare say, I have had arguments with others over the fact that they are moths. I've been able to identify a few different species after waiting patiently in the dark in my garden. (I've also gotten a few quirky looks from neighbors and passerbys while lurking in the bushes. Once, when I was just about to take a great shot of a sphynx moth, a huge frog jumped out and grabbed it just as the shutter snapped. The frog inadvertently landed on my chest. I squealed and danced around trying to get the frog off! He finally landed on the ground in front of me....tips of the moths wings protruding from its mouth. I lunged at the frog to try and save the moth...but, alas, the huge ghostly looking pale green frog ate my beautiful sphynx moth. I had seen the frog perched atop the door jam of my house, (along with a smaller friend), so next night I went looking for him. There he was, eyes glaring down at me. I grabbed him (slime and all) and banished him to the trees across the street next to the creek. Moth hunting was back to normal for a few days, but, as might be expected, he returned, with friends. I'm posting a few pics and if I can figure it out, a link where I identify my moths. Hope you enjoyed the story and will check out the moth population in your neck of the woods.

Chici's Cottage Style

Ah, Robin Redbreast, harbinger of spring and a lovely bird, but,

whatever you do,

don't park your car under a tree when they're visiting.

"All that it's cracked up to be"

Luv 'em crusty & dusty

Renninger's Antiques Extravaganza

Mt. Dora, FL

"Muffin and Biscuit" Shop Kitties

at "Chici's Cottage Style"

800 S. Bay Street

Eustis, FL