We just came back from the Florida keys. Having never gone before I was transfixed. How I loved the peaceful ocean breezes and views, the snorkeling and the sunsets. The tropical air was just so soothing and I haven’t slept that well in a long while. Windows were open, and warm breezes soothed us to sleep every night. One evening we kayaked out around the Key, a tranquil place focused more on preserving the natural fauna and flora. What a wonderful little place. We were inches away from fish being hunted by hungry pelicans who did not care that we were invading their dining area. Several times we were splashed by these and many seagulls diving into the water to catch dinner.

We stayed at Deer Run Bed & Breakfast, which is a wonderful place with breathtaking ocean views and a peaceful atmosphere. The owners Jen and Harry are committed to sustainable living, protecting the endangered Key deer and turtles on the Key and providing a relaxing and rejuvenating stay. They have truly created a little sanctuary. The pictures above are taken at the Inn.

The Key deer are very tame, having been protected. This is a full grown doe and so much smaller than our White-tailed deer here in the Hill country. (In the picture below, Dick was not feeding her, but she sure was sniffing hopefully for a treat.)Big Pine Key is completely opposite from the energetic party and shopping atmosphere on Key West. And after a heavy day of shopping and late night partying, Big Pine Key is the prefect resting spot for weary travelers and exhausted livers. 😀

Low tide at the Key. The Bed and Breakfast is on the right hand side of the picture behind all those lovely palm trees. The owners do not clean up the seaweed from the beach as it provides a much needed habitat for sea critters to live in. This in turn feeds the many ocean birds that depend on them.

More shots of the view from the porch from our room. Sigh….

We are soooooo going back!!! 🙂

Butterflies weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the nectar harvest. The action in the garden has been intense. Spiders, lizards and birds have been enjoying the bounty of nectar too, stalking and preying on the insects lured to the flowers. Here’s a crab spider hard at work.This skipper was lucky – it actually escaped. But I am sure the spider found something else to snack on soon enough.

This is the last posting on butterflies for the year – I promise!! . It is probably a little tedious seeing post after post on these guys, but I just couldn’t help myself.  I blame them though. The butterflies were in such huge profusion for the last couple of weeks, and every morning when I went out to check on the gardens, they tantalizingly tempted me to take more shots. But since we are scheduled for a hard freeze tonight at 27 degrees I know that it is the last of them for the year. So here goes:

A Monarch still hanging around:Below a Common or White Checkered-Skipper on the most loved butterfly and bee plant in the entire garden: The Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens). If you’re in the Hill Country, this plant is so easy to grow. It virtually resents water, doing so much better when not watered, loves full hot blazing sun, even in the afternoons, blooms profusely into late fall, and needs very good drainage. I have never seen so many insects adore the same plant as this one.

The Gromphena as seen below, grown as an annual here, has been blooming for most of summer. It wasn’t really attractive to any butterflies until all the more tasty blooms faded away, and now it is just covered in them. Also an easy plant to grow, does not need much water, can handle all kinds of sun and stays pretty till the first days of frost. And of course at dusk its covered by various moths as well.

Still one of my favorite butterflies, the commom buckeye has been seen hanging out in grass seed heads that I did not mow this year and the Indigo Spires Sage, which by the way is also a beloved bee and butterfly/moth plant.

The Copper Canyon Daisy is an excellent fall bloomer too. What a true show off it is! Needing just a little more water but still able to handle the hot sun well. It blooms well into late fall and is blanketed by butterflies and moths when all other flowers have tuckered out.

A Checkered White is shown here loading up on nectar.

A Commom skipper and a Dainty Sulphur greedily guzzling up the nectar of  Black Dalea blooms.

I have been nothing but impressed with the Woolly Butterfly bush. Blooming off and on for the entire year, providing nectar for all hungry guests and not needing any tender loving care or extra water. A true xeric plant.

I am not sure what type of butterfly this is. Possibly a skipper of some sort. What a beauty though, hanging out on the ever reliable bloomer – Salvia Greggii

A variegated Fritillary, what a beauty!

Ok that’s it! I promise. No more butterflies! I must say I am sad to see them go. What joy, intrigue and frenetic activity they added to the garden. But it is early December and all things must come to an end so they can begin again later. It is the cycle of life. Thanks for all the lively beauty guys!