FUN IN THE SUN - OR BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE - .. WHATEVER....

 Anyway, I have been having a great time spending moments with the butterflies.  There are a  few thistle bushes over at the lake and the Swallowtails have been in abundance over there.  These were taken on the first day I discovered them this week and the one Monarch that was flying around never landed that day while I was there.  Yesterday I went back out and finally the Swallowtails were absent so the one Monarch could land.  Those photos I'll post later of the Monarch.  Truly beautiful butterfly.   Oh and the bees add a wonderful touch.  I'm so glad bees don't scare me - They were swirling all around my hair while I was trying to take a photo.  I guess they liked the fragrance of my hair products.

Here are a few from the other day with the Swallowtails.  

Did you know that Thistle is the national emblem of Scotland!  I love to learn new things so I'll past that on to you who read.  

SOME THISTLE AT THE LAKE ON A BEAUTIFUL YESTERDAY WALK

Thanks to Wiki - this is a cirsium vulgare or known as a "spear thistle."

The monarch definitely likes thistle - something I didn't know before.  But now I do. 

The bees dive deep into the thistle - and there can be three or four bees  at a time (or maybe more) in one thistle bloom.  They are going after the nectar and the pollen.  They are sure doing their job - eating at the same time as collecting pollen.  Busy bees indeed. 

We saw these thistles over at Lake Arrowhead.   After photographing the thistle I really wanted to jump on one of those intertubes or  that raft and float away for a few hours.  It was perfect weather as in the afternoon the breezes kick up and it makes for a great walk in the summer.