Ephemeral

Ephemeral is the chosen word for Word for Wednesday at Garden Walk Garden Talk.
It means lasting for a short time.

Hibiscus flowers only last for one day but the plant itself is hardy, where I live.

Sneak peek of a yellow cosmos above.

The cosmos flowers are in abundance now but these plants shall only last a few more weeks.

Flowers whisper "Beauty!" to the world even as they fade, wilt , fall. - Dr SunWolf

When the cosmos plants have finally hit the compost pile, I shall come to this blog to see the buds and blooms and the many variety of critters that have been brought about.

I accidentally bumped into a chameleon above the cosmos plants and screamed.
Obviously, I frightened the poor creature away.
The encounter was really ephemeral since I only had a glimpse of the chameleon.
I must have sounded quite terrifying.
I hope the terror was ephemeral for the chameleon.

See the twinkle?
What are ephemeral are made less ephemeral now since I have recorded them here.
Thanks to Donna. 
Visit the links for Word for Wednesday at Garden Walk Garden Talk or join us and post about Ephemeral too.

GBBD Oct 2011 at Onenezz

Yellow represents sunshine.

It is associated with joy and happiness.

After removing the lawn, I reserved about 400 square foot of land to grow plants.

Before I decided what to grow, cosmos invaded.

I got rid of some but left most of them where they were because I thought they would be good to attract all the interesting critters apart from looking beautiful.

Below is a Common Grass Yellow Butterfly.

Here is a White Antenna Wasp Moth.

It is a moth, NOT a wasp.

Plain Tiger Butterfly.

Thanks to Nature Rambles, the orange butterfly below is called a Peacock Pansy.
It resembles the Blue Pansy which also appeared on the cosmos. 

Don't you just love the orange skipper below?
I'm entering this photo in Picture This Photo Contest at Gardening Gone Wild.
The theme for this month is 'Fill the Frame' and in this instance, it is the bokeh that is filling the frame, not the skipper.

Here is another orange insect.
Come to think of it, there are lots of of orange insects at this time.
Anything to do with Halloween approaching?

Treehoppers suck the sap of the plant.
They may not be healthy for plants but it really doesn't matter to me.
The cosmos has served its purpose of attracting many critters, both beneficial and otherwise.

A lady bug should be a delightful sight for most gardeners, I guess.

Actually, I enjoy these cosmos with or without the critters.

Anyone keen to adopt a grasshopper?

Probably not.
How about a dragonfly?

Linking up with :
GBBD at May Dreams Garden
Camera Critters

Cosmos as in the Universe

The space surrounding the cosmos flowers in this post represents the cosmos as in the universe.
See the beauty in space...

Linking up with :

Quotography - Anything
Fabulous Friday
Macro Friday
Camera Critters

Blue Pansy

According to the Online Encyclopedia, the Blue Pansy (Junoniya orithya wallacei) maintains its territory by driving away other butterflies that enters the area.

This explains why there have been many butterflies fluttering by but they don't stop and pose at the flowers for me.

I had thought it was the praying mantes that have been frightening them away.

Well, who knows, there could be many reasons why butterflies keep playing hide and seek with me.

Notice the blue in its wings changes to purple from an angle?

The blue pansy's wings are kind of torn and tattered.
Has the praying mantis above been nibbling them off?

Linking up with Mellow Yellow

Charmed by Yellow Cosmos

When I saw a yellow butterfly hovering around my yellow cosmos, I remembered the LEM Photography Challenge with the theme, Yellow.

If you are wondering where the yellow butterfly is, well, butterflies don't wait for the camera to arrive.

There were however other bugs waiting for their photos to be taken.
You might have noticed that there have been a lot of activities around the cosmos flowers, including in my last few posts.
I would always remember the green praying mantis that waved and smiled to me from a cosmos flower.
If you are looking for some critter activities, grow cosmos.
Critters tend to be easily charmed by cosmos.
Grow once and it easily self reseeds.

Male and Female Eggfly

'Kiasu' is a Chinese Dialect which means the fear of losing.

This word is so widely used by the Singaporeans that it has been incorporated into their English vocabulary called Singlish.

One example of a blogger with a kiasu attitude is Andrea.

Just because I posted on an Elusive White Butterfly 2 days ago, she posted a photo with a dozen white butterflies yesterday!!!

How 'kiasu' can she get?!

I must admit that although 'kiasu' has a negative connotation, it can lead us to strive forward and improve.

All the photos above are of a female eggfly.

This black butterfly with blue spots is a male Eggfly.

Together they may produce this spiky caterpillar.

Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Can you see that this 'kiasu' syndrome may lead to a dozen butterflies soon?

I can imagine a dozen butterflies in one photo, just like Andrea's.

 Before I get these butterflies to multiply, someone may post on a dozen of healthy cabbages and I'll post of mine with a thousand holes, eaten up by the caterpillars.

Oh dear, I must not be carried away with this 'kiasu' syndrome.

Just one little dose a day will keep fun my way.

Anyone game to continue with this 'kiasu' attitude postings?

It's just some 'impromptu interactive blogging' fun!
I know some of you 'kiasus' out there have just begun to sow cosmos seeds.
Well done, 'kiasus'!
------------
2 hours later...
Wait! I have something to add...
You got to check out the next 'kiasu' who is none other than Africanaussie.
She has just posted on some sexy looking butterflies.
She's the one who inspired me to track down the butterflies in the first place.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli