Aquatic creatures now call our pond home — yesterday I added four little goldfish, which cost me a total of 82 cents. They seemed a bit stunned at first about the new pond, but within moments they rediscovered each other and checked out the pond. Today they are quite active, so I have high hopes that they will thrive and grow. Supposedly they will grow fast when not cramped in a tank with a thousand other fish.

I was distracted from the fish by movement in my peripherals…

Two queen butterflies were busily dancing around each other and visiting our newly blooming Gregg’s mistflower (Conoclinium greggii). I tried to linger long enough to get a close-up, but it was noon, and the Texas sun was beating down on me. Would that I had a zoom lens for my camera (hubby, read this)!

Still, it gave me a chance to show how our butterfly garden is growing. It’s come a long way since the first fall digging of earth and the first little plants of spring. The colors are a garden in and of themselves.