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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 10d

A beautiful female monarch on tall boneset during my morning walk. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 11d

A gorgeous common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) on another summer-like day. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 13d

The first monarch this October is another female on the Mexican sunflowers. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 17d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 17d

A black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata) in the front yard garden this morning. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 18d

Another gorgeous female monarch on the Mexican sunflowers today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 20d

I had this pretty girl show up in the yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 21d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 23d

The monarchs were feasting on goldenrod this evening. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 23d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 25d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 25d

The hummingbirds have been loving our Mexican sunflowers. #hummingbird #birds #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 27d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · Sep 9

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 20d

I had this pretty girl show up in the yard today! #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 21d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 23d

The monarchs were feasting on goldenrod this evening. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 23d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 25d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 25d

The hummingbirds have been loving our Mexican sunflowers. #hummingbird #birds #flowers #Illinois #nature #photography #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 27d

It always gives me a thrill when that happens.

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · 27d

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · Sep 9

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

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · Sep 1

Thank you!

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Back In The Yard @backintheyard.bsky.social · Aug 31

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.

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