It’s the time of year where I try to take a little time each day to wander around the yard and check out who’s visiting my plants.

There’s the regulars

Monarchs – which aren’t here on mass yet, but I see one every other day at least.

Cabbage White Butterflies – which haven’t been as abundant this year as they normally are. It’s probably one of the reasons my cabbages are looking so good.

Comma – so named for the little white mark on it’s wing.

Common Skipper. We get lots of skippers in the garden, this one is probably the biggest.

And of course, the honey bees. They were much more prolific in the spring, but there are still lots of them buzzing about.

There are baby Praying Mantis absolutely EVERYWHERE! If you look closely, there are two in that bottom pic

There are so many different types of dragonflys! I didn’t get around to putting a pond in this year, but that hasn’t stopped these guys from visiting.

I especially love this pic of the dragonfly eyes peeping out either side of the thistle leaf!

Orchard Weavers are regular residents, and this one looks like a little jewel hovering in mid air. These guys like to build their webs suspended between the coneflowers and susans.

Now onto the new friends…

I caught sight of this guy from inside the house. He’s a Grapevine Beetle and he was just chilling on a sunflower leaf by the front steps. It’s North America’s largest scarab beetle. That’s my thumb beside it, so it gives you an idea of the size.

Speaking of grapes… this little goth looking moth is a Grapevine Skeletonizer Month. Apparently their caterpillars are quite destructive, as the name implies. I don’t have any grapes, but there are lots of wild grapes out in the country side around us.

We often find moths chilling on our kitchen door in the morning. This one is a Tulip Tree Beauty.

And this little guy is a Checkered Skipper. I’m not 100% he’s a completely new visitor… but he’s not a common sight, that’s for sure.

This neat fellow is a Goldenrod solidier beetle. The Goldenrod isn’t blooming yet, so I guess the false sunflowers are a good standin.

We have lots of different wasps, but there are dozens of these great golden digger wasps. They look scary but they are pretty gentle as wasps go.

And speaking of gentle.. how about a bumblebee fly? That’s right – it’s a fly, not a bee! No stinger, all fuzz!

Any new visitors to your garden?