Catching a Fire-rim Tortoiseshell sucking nectar from orange Chrysanthemums

When the Tortoise Cat and I strolled the block this afternoon, we were surprised to see Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterflies (Aglais milberti) a.k.a. Fire-rim Tortoiseshells -- they looked like to me -- were lingering in the church garden, refreshing themselves upon bright orange Chrysanthemums with golden-yellow centers. The sight refreshed me, weary from finishing 99 percent of the packing for our westward move next week. Transporting the northeastern-aligned indoor rock gardens I kept here to the outdoor southwest-facing place that awaits seems like an odd endeavor. But someone has commissioned a new meditation nook there, and I am imagining the rocks are ready to roll. Today we moseyed around the corner of East Knapp and North Marshall Streets and visited all the church's gardens. Crows began to caw at us -- or maybe at the Tortoise Cat -- and circled around, showing off with aerial antics. So far, I have failed to capture a pretty picture of any of the neighborhood crows.

Elizabeth Cunningham Perkins

Neighborhood crows were circling the block -- perhaps waiting for the flock to form up for the raucous daily afternoon flyover.

image:97823:1::0