Back In The Yard
@backintheyard.bsky.social
A photographer gardening for pollinators with native plants in a suburban neighborhood. Plant it and they will come!
When I came home from work this evening, I found this poor fellow perched on a meadow blazing star. Who knows how far he's traveled, but his journey is almost over. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #SaveTheMonarch
October 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM
When I came home from work this evening, I found this poor fellow perched on a meadow blazing star. Who knows how far he's traveled, but his journey is almost over. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #SaveTheMonarch
Grasshoppers aren't the most attractive insects and can cause quite a bit of plant damage, but they really do have some cool textures. #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
October 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Grasshoppers aren't the most attractive insects and can cause quite a bit of plant damage, but they really do have some cool textures. #insects #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
Most of the pollinators have packed it in for the year. However, the autumn meadowhawk dragonflies have been putting on a show. I even coaxed a female to land on my hand! #dragonfly #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
October 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Most of the pollinators have packed it in for the year. However, the autumn meadowhawk dragonflies have been putting on a show. I even coaxed a female to land on my hand! #dragonfly #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
A beautiful female monarch on tall boneset during my morning walk. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
October 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A beautiful female monarch on tall boneset during my morning walk. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
A gorgeous common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) on another summer-like day. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
October 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A gorgeous common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) on another summer-like day. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
The first monarch this October is another female on the Mexican sunflowers. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
October 3, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The first monarch this October is another female on the Mexican sunflowers. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
A male silver-spotted skipper butterfly (Epargyreus clarus) in the front yard garden this morning. I know it's a male by its behavior: they will chase dragonflies, birds, and even humans to defend their territory. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #photography #wildlifephotography
September 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A male silver-spotted skipper butterfly (Epargyreus clarus) in the front yard garden this morning. I know it's a male by its behavior: they will chase dragonflies, birds, and even humans to defend their territory. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #photography #wildlifephotography
A black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata) in the front yard garden this morning. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
September 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
A black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata) in the front yard garden this morning. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
Another gorgeous female monarch on the Mexican sunflowers today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 27, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Another gorgeous female monarch on the Mexican sunflowers today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
I had this pretty girl show up in the yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I had this pretty girl show up in the yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
One of the most gorgeous butterflies—the red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis)—stopped by in our backyard this morning! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
One of the most gorgeous butterflies—the red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis)—stopped by in our backyard this morning! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
The monarchs were feasting on goldenrod this evening. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 23, 2025 at 12:16 AM
The monarchs were feasting on goldenrod this evening. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
Four monarchs this morning! They were sampling a little bit of everything in the yard. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Four monarchs this morning! They were sampling a little bit of everything in the yard. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
I went to a local park today to see what the monarch activity was like—and wow! A lot of monarchs were feeding on tall boneset and goldenrod. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 20, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I went to a local park today to see what the monarch activity was like—and wow! A lot of monarchs were feeding on tall boneset and goldenrod. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
The hummingbirds have been loving our Mexican sunflowers. #hummingbird #birds #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The hummingbirds have been loving our Mexican sunflowers. #hummingbird #birds #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
We had a 2-foot-tall meadow blazing star start blooming recently, and of course the monarchs found it this morning. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We had a 2-foot-tall meadow blazing star start blooming recently, and of course the monarchs found it this morning. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
It's been a steady stream of individual monarchs coming through the yard lately. Here's a male monarch visiting our Mexican sunflowers this morning. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
September 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
It's been a steady stream of individual monarchs coming through the yard lately. Here's a male monarch visiting our Mexican sunflowers this morning. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
This wise old monarch has been a steadfast presence in our yard for days. I think he's resigned to the fact that he won't be making the journey to Mexico. He has done his duty beautifully, making way for the next generation. It will be an honor to spend his final days with him in the yard.
August 31, 2025 at 10:21 PM
This wise old monarch has been a steadfast presence in our yard for days. I think he's resigned to the fact that he won't be making the journey to Mexico. He has done his duty beautifully, making way for the next generation. It will be an honor to spend his final days with him in the yard.
This Mexican sunflower is reflecting off the black swallowtail like a neon light.😆#butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #flower #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
August 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
This Mexican sunflower is reflecting off the black swallowtail like a neon light.😆#butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #flower #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
A mating pair of viceroy butterflies (Limenitis archippus) today! #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
August 31, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A mating pair of viceroy butterflies (Limenitis archippus) today! #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
I had the rare occurrence of seeing a red saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea onusta) today. It's only the third time I've photographed one. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
August 31, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I had the rare occurrence of seeing a red saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea onusta) today. It's only the third time I've photographed one. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers
This gorgeous beauty was laying eggs on our milkweed today! It's getting kind of late. It will almost be October before these eggs become butterflies. #butterfly #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
August 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This gorgeous beauty was laying eggs on our milkweed today! It's getting kind of late. It will almost be October before these eggs become butterflies. #butterfly #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
Besides monarchs and bumblebees, 2025 has also been a great year for seeing skipper butterflies, like this Peck's skipper (Polites peckius). #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
August 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Besides monarchs and bumblebees, 2025 has also been a great year for seeing skipper butterflies, like this Peck's skipper (Polites peckius). #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
Five more monarchs in the yard today. Here's a male monarch and a bumblebee sharing a drink on a meadow blazing star. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
August 24, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Five more monarchs in the yard today. Here's a male monarch and a bumblebee sharing a drink on a meadow blazing star. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
The monarch activity has slowed down a bit. Only four monarchs today. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography
August 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The monarch activity has slowed down a bit. Only four monarchs today. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography