What's it like in summer-like October?

October has felt like summer so far.

Barely less than 30 degrees C, the highest in the daytime, is too hot 

for the second half of October.

The prolonged hot weather has delayed the coloring of the foliage.

At this pond surrounded by Japanese Maples, all were still green a week ago.

While the sun glared down on me, water splashes through my camera lens

 reminded me of shaved ice.

As for the seasonal flowers, they have come into bloom as usual.

Japanese Bush Clover

Sweetgum, or Liquidambar formosana, is one of the trees changing colors early.

I feel like that October is new summer, too warm but comfortable with crisp air

 totally different from the past three months sultry summer.

Temperature has dropped significantly at last today due to the yesterday's rain.

 Pigweed pollen is in the air in my part of the world.

I've had allergy to it and my symptons are the hardest this year.

Do you have any hay fever at this time of year?

Linked to Saturday's Critters

         Mosaic Monday

"Self-propelled flowers" among autumn flowers

 When the air changed suddenly last weekend around the Autumn Equinox,

 I walked around to breathe in crisp air and watched butterflies flitting around 

from flower to flower at the Kyoto Botanical Garden and in my neighborhood.

"Butterflies are self-propelled flowers."

ナミアゲハ, Papilio Xuthus, Asian Swallowtail

 ヒョウモンチョウ, Brenthis daphne, Marbled Fritillary

The backside of the wings of the Marbled Fritillary

ツマグロヒョウモン, Argyreus hyperbius, Indian Fritillary (female)

Then I got enthralled by the green reflections on a pond with shimmering water and ripples.

Oil painting touch

Looks like mosaics of broken glasses

The three butterflies below are small-sized and discreet in colors.

They are ofen seen in my garden and my neighborhood.

モンキチョウ, Colias erate, Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow

シジミチョウ, Lycaenidae　

コチャバネセセリ, Thoressa varia

By the way, オニヤンマ, Anotogaster sieboldii (Selys, 1954), or Golden-ringed Dragonfly is 

the largest species of dragonfly native to Eastern Asia, especially Japan. 

The realistic-looking Insect Repellent Dragonfly as large as the real one

 is for mountaineering, mountain stream fishing, camping, or outdoor activities.

I use safety pin for attaching it to my hat or backpack.

It is useful to avoid gnats and horseflies but unfortunately not for mosquitos.

The refreshing air of the last weekend was ephemeral.

Though September is going to be over, it still doesn't feel like autumn

 with the summer sun and sultry air.

Various many subtle signs of autumn, however, make me feel autumn is 

around the corner.

Linked to Saturday's critters

and

Mosaic Monday

"Dance on the edges of Time"

When I was at the greenhouse of the Kashihara City Insectarium, I was excited to see many butterflies of various species as I hadn't seen so many ones at one time.  They are really graceful “flying flowers” flitting fluidly among the static flowers of the greenhouse from one to another.

 They fluttered, danced, and sat on a flower to savor the joy of this world
or to pose to have their pictures taken.
I enjoyed each moment taking pictures of them.

 リュウキュウアサギマダラ/琉球浅葱斑, Ideopsis similis

 (click on the photo to enlarge.)

ツマベニチョウ/ 褄紅蝶, Hebomoia glaucippe



A butterfly has to struggle out of their cocoon to spread their beautiful wings. Likewise, don’t we have the time when we have to fight to leave the chrysalis situation in order to fly with wings of our mind?

カバマダラ/樺斑, Danaus chrysippus

 ジャコウアゲハ／Papilio polytes

Among all the ephemeral insects, a butterfly is often attributed as a symbol of fleeting life perhaps because of their delicate appearance with beautiful paper-thin wings. The average life span of a butterfly is about a month from egg to the end.  We live much longer than butterflies, but what is the difference compared to the infinity?  

 オオゴマダラ/大胡麻斑, Idea leuconoe

"The butterfly counts not months but moments,

and has time enough.

Time is a wealth of change,

but the clock in its parody makes it mere change and no wealth.

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time

like dew on the tip of a leaf."

-Rabindranath Tagore-