Butterfly Season

It's the season again for butterflies and now that it's Easter, we see the miracle of rebirth most apparent with the Emperor Moth (Platysamia cecropia), a marvelous metamorphosis from a leaf-chewing caterpillar into this glorious creation. They're unusally big and have transluscent spots on their wings (more apparent on the photo below). They're somewhat a nuisance at the onset since some ornamentals have damaged leaves but their incredible beauty justifies whatever garden casualty they may bring. 

Honeybees

These last weeks, a colony of honeybees have been buzzing around the gardens; another live science class happening literally on my front yard! Admittedly, I don't know anything about them except that they make honey on a honeycomb. Apparently, this colony is making its honeycomb on an upside-down terra-cotta pot amidst some bromeliads.


Where did they come from? Why do they show up now? Where are they the rest of the year? Still so many things to learn...