...Not Over by a Long Shot!

For the past three days I've been out taking photos inspired by the fall...but especially inspired by the activity that the asters are attracting.  Yesterday, I got a huge surprise:  brand new monarch butterfly!  She was absolutely pristine!

Wing detail:

I was thrilled to see her, but she flew off after I took some pictures, I hate to think I scared her off...I was really hoping to see her the next day, but no luck...perhaps she had to go; she has a LONG journey ahead of her!

Today, I saw more pollinators and another species or two of butterfly.  ~smile~  As hard as I tried to show the amazing activity busying themselves all over the asters, the photos don't do it justice.

It *isn't* Over!

Despite the fact that we've dipped below freezing and most things are done blooming, the activity of pollinators is still going strong.  For the most part only the white asters are still blooming--at least one species is commonly called "frost aster" (I think), but I'm seeing the bumblebees, fly mimics, and other pollinators that I've been missing most of summer and fall.

The high biodiversity I'm seeing again makes me smile.

Swallow Nest, Wasp Nest

Now that I realize that the tree swallows were still building their nest and not raising their young already, I decided to take a look in the box. They didn't dive bomb me as they have in past years--never actually making contact as I'd read prior to experiencing the scare tactic. Perhaps because there are only eggs at the moment and no hatchlings.

I spotted a wasp nest (I believe it is a species from Europe similar to our yellow jackets--but, luckily, minus the temper). Perhaps they could have lived in harmony with the tree swallow family, but I wasn't taking any chances, so, after taking a picture, I grabbed a stick and knocked the nest onto the ground.

Shortly after I walked away, one of the parents (I can't tell them apart) went over to check that everything was okay. :)

Perhaps this pair of tree swallows will learn to trust me, but I'm guessing after the young have hatched, they won't take as kindly to my monitoring the box.