On Friday the weather forecast warned us of a strong cold front threatening to spread freezing temperatures over central Texas. I was dismayed! All the Sunflowers, Salvias, Lantanas have been in full bloom. They’re taking advantage of the inch of rain and the much cooler temperatures.

Butterflies are in the height of their migration season on their way to South Texas and Mexico, stopping by our gardens to refuel and rest. Bees are filling their hives with honey and wasps are feeding on the many moth butterflies that are still devouring my kale.

Everything was in jeopardy of being bitten back by the cold, so it was with sadness that I took some quick photos of the blooming beauty that is around and bid adieu to the flowers and bugs. I told the Monarchs to “Hurry up and go south already! The cold is coming.”

But it was with delight that I woke up on Sunday morning to find my tomato plants intact and undamaged, the flowers still blooming and tons of bugs, butterflies and monster-sized horn-worm caterpillars still enjoying the bounty even after a 30 degree night. Continue to stroll through my garden below to see what other treasures await, and give your eyes a much needed little beauty rest:

Swallowtail butterfly on Turkscap bloom.

Toothleaf Goldeneye with a Grey Hairstreak butterfly

Skipper butterfly enjoying Plumbago blooms

Ermine moth on White Mistflower

Dark Night Bluebeard plant humming the Bumblebees

Passionflower or Alien – still not quite sure

Zinnia in the veggie garden

Monarch on a sea of Mexican Bush Sage

See? Don’t your eyes feel rested and cheered?