The picture that I entered first was a waterfall taken with my old Nikon Coolpix. I was still debating what else to enter, I thought waterfalls would be a pretty common entry so I was thinking the dragonfly had a little better chance. I also liked this head shot of the blue dasher. I must say though that the damselflies are my favorite odonata. I had fun this summer photographing them - I had hoped to get out to some of the lakes to find more but never made it past my own pond and the creek. They are a bit more of a challenge than the dragonflies due to their small size but if you are patient you can get pretty close to them. Here are some of my favorites from this summer ... This is an american rubyspot, their coloring looks more like it's been drawn on ... Here is a blue-fronted dancer ... An eastern forktail that was just developing it's color - I have a whole series showing the color development but haven't had time to process them.... An ebony jewelwing ... they look like butterflies when they fly across the water ... And a mating pair of double-striped bluets ....

Hi, Anna, so glad you "tuned in" to the Butterfly Gardening Forum, and you've already gotten so many replies to your questions, all of which are excellent BTW. I wish you were closer to me and I would give you some plants to start with. But at summer's end, I will definitely have lots of seeds to share. Button bushes will probably make a good windbreak, and they are native, and I would bet you have some around your property that you can maybe transplant. Not only do they provide nectar sources, but Sandy found and raised Cecropia silk moths - a beautiful moth - on their foliage. I would also venture, tho not a windbreak but rather a tree, you have some Sasafrass trees. These are host plants for the beautiful Spicebush Swallowtail, and they are also native to Oklahoma. You've already located milkweed on your property, and others you might find include those mentioned already, plus Partridge Pea (host for Cloudless Sulphur and Sleepy Orange butterflies), Black Willows (Viceroy, Red Spotted Purple, Mourning Cloaks), Wafer Ash or Ptelea trifoliata (Giant Swallowtail), Pipevines (Aristolochias; Pipevine Swallowtail), Wild Cherry and Tulip Trees (Tiger Swallowtails). I grow Fennel and Rue for Black Swallowtails. The best way to attract butterflies is, you may have guessed already, with native plants. There is a book called "Butterflies of Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Texas" by John M. Dole, Walter B. Gerard, and John M. Nelson, that will aid you with identification of our local butterflies, with recommended host plants and nectar sources and much more information. An Internet source that will provide you with info on Oklahoma's butterflies, and for your particular location in SE Oklahoma, are: www.butterfliesandmoths.org (click on map search and then click on Oklahoma within the map). www.dallasbutterflies.org. (click on Butterfly Gardening on the left hand side of the screen; then click on "Butterflies by Host Plants". I love this site, and you will have many of the butterflies listed for Dallas. They have such an extensive list of host plants, more than most sites or books, that I use it frequently. Welcome to the forum! Susan

Silvia - thanks, I'll post pictures as things develop. Are those the same Mexican Sunflower seeds you sent me? Michael - oh boy, now I have to Google/Wiki chaya and learn everything I can about it...you know I'll have to have some :-) Julie - I'm working at least half-days that weekend but I think I'll make the trip Saturday afternoon. I've always wanted to check them out since everyone gives them such high praise...thanks for the info. John - I agree. Cathy will be 2-3 years behind me before she retires so it also looks like I'll be doing the laundry and cooking, but the weekly house-cleaning service is NEVER going away :-) I received your seeds yesterday, thanks! Tom

Friends of the Garden 2nd Annual Butterfly Festival Saturday, July 24, 10 am - 4 pm Sunday July 25, 11 am - 4 pm Close Memorial Gardens at Nathanael Greene Park In the Butterfly House The expanded Bill Roston Butterfly House lets you get an up-close look at native butterflies as they lay eggs and transform from egg to caterpillar, from caterpillar to chrysalis, and finally from chrysalis to butterfly! Our guides will help answer your butterfly questions. In the Butterfly Garden Explore a garden of host plants for caterpillars and butterflies. This garden showcases plants to attract an amazing variety of butterflies to the home landscape. Chase a butterfly or two and pick up some ideas to try at home! In the Park Take a tour of the botanical gardens! Get friendly with live animals at the Caterpillar Petting Zoo! Make your own Butterfly & Caterpillar Crafts! Learn about Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening! Shop for Butterfly Host Plants, Art, and Garden Accents! Free Tram Service Tram stops pick up from the main parking lot at the Rose Garden and the Dr. Bill Roston Butterfly House. The tram makes a loop around the northern edge of Lake Drummond, then east toward the Dr. Bill Roston Butterfly House. It continues along the northern edge of Close Park near the site of the new 4.3 million dollar Botanical Center, which will open in October 2010, and back toward the parking lot. Saturday, July 24 Festival Activities and Butterfly House Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class Offerings 10:00 Butterfly Photography Pick up expert tips and tricks for your own butterfly photos. 11:00 Butterfly Identification Get to know your backyard visitors. 1:00 Gardening for Butterflies Learn to attract butterflies to your home landscape. 2:00 Butterfly Photography Pick up expert tips and tricks for your own butterfly photos. Sunday, July 25 Festival Activities and Butterfly House Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class Offerings 1:00 Butterfly Identification Get to know your backyard visitors. 1:00 Butterfly Photography Pick up expert tips and tricks for your own butterfly photos. 2:30 Gardening for Butterflies Learn to attract butterflies to your home landscape. For more information visit: www.friendsofthegarden.org Location (see map below) Nathanael Greene Park & Close Memorial Gardens 2400 S. Scenic Ave Admission Butterfly Festival admission and all activities are free of charge. Directions Nathanael Greene and Close Memorial Parks are located at 2400 S. Scenic Avenue in Springfield, Missouri. Parking Parking is accessible from Scenic Avenue and is located on the west and north sides of the park. Follow signs and guides for festival parking. Tram service to the Butterfly House is available. Also in the Park The Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is open FREE during the Butterfly Festival from 9:00 am-7:30 pm Participating Vendors: Design Specialties, LLC Earthworks Design and Creations  Gladewinds  Global Fayre Hand Painted Garden Accents by Debbie Cushing  Inspirations by Claudia  Naturally Photography  O'Quinn's Water Gardens  Peggy's Flowers  Springfield Hot Glass Studio  Wickman's Garden Village  The Botany Shop Special Thanks to: Missouri Department of Conservation  Springfield Public Works  Discovery Center of Springfield  Southwest Missouri Camera Club  Cherry Court Garden Club  Master Gardeners of Greene County  The Botanical Society of Southwest Missouri  Springfield Greene County Parks and Recreation  Gray-Campbell Farmstead  Theta Steinert and Steinert's Inc. Greenhouse and Gardens  Our Dedicated Volunteers Friends of the Garden is dedicated to establishing and facilitating the Botanical Center & Gardens at Close Memorial/Nathanael Greene Park to inspire the discovery, understanding, and appreciation of nature. Become a Friend of the Garden at friendsofthegarden.org