pollinators

Hummingbird has been visiting my yard regularly. It even has a habitual perching spot where one of the tree branches above the tithonia patch is bare of leaves. It's so quick I nearly miss seeing it most days, and haven't any photos to show.

I swear the other day I saw the hummingbird chasing a butterfly away from the tithonia flowers! My tithonia aren't as numerous or tall as last year, but certainly just as glorious in color. They host lots of skippers, I think I saw a painted lady, and at least one monarch is here daily.

Its wings are already a bit dingy and worn- an old butterfly? or has traveled far.

I told my youngest this is the kind of butterfly that flies all the way to Mexico, and she didn't believe me.