Backyard Ecology @backyardecology@photog.social

A female monarch butterfly that I raised from an egg, on release day last summer. #butterflies #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

First butterfly photo of the year! A Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) sunning itself on our front sidewalk, even though there is snow in the grass. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

Happy Holidays everyone! #cats #cat #photography #photo

Catnap buddy.

Snow covered Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) towering in the November prairie garden. #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

A eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus) on prairie blazing star last July. #butterflies #lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

Another butterfly today! An eastern comma (Polygonia comma) sunning on a tree in the backyard. #butterflies #lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

A monarch butterfly on sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) in the prairie garden last July. #butterflies #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo #SaveTheMonarch

A female monarch butterfly on butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) in the prairie garden last August. #butterflies #lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo #SaveTheMonarch

A #bumblebee on New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in the autumn prairie garden. #bees #bombus #pollinators #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

Dreaming of summer on this cold, gloomy day. A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) in the prairie garden last August. #butterflies #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo #SaveTheMonarch

A monarch butterfly on fennel in the vegetable garden this past July. #butterflies #Illinois #nature #photography #photo #SaveTheMonarch

A male fiery skipper butterfly (Hylephila phyleus) on smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) in the prairie garden. #butterflies #lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

A cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) on New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in the prairie garden. #butterflies #lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

There's still dragonflies to be seen in October. Here's a blue dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) in the prairie garden today. #dragonflies #odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

A close-up of a black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata) in the prairie garden today. #dragonflies #odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

A male monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on a New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in the backyard. #butterflies #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo #SaveTheMonarch

This male monarch butterfly let me get so close that I was able to get this detailed shot of his wing. Their wings look like they're woven. So amazing! #butterflies #lepidoptera #photography #photo #nature

This male monarch butterfly spent over 45 minutes on our 7-foot tall New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in the backyard today! #butterflies #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #photo #SaveTheMonarch

A common green darner dragonfly (Anax junius) in the backyard prairie garden today! #dragonflies #odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #photo

A viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) in front of our house this morning. #butterflies #lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #photo