Butterflies.....with a link to help identify

So, this morning I went outside and was looking down from the top deck.....only to notice my butterfly bush had a delightful variety of butterflies on it.

Three beautiful yellow swallow tail butterflies and two black swallow tails.  I love going outside in the morning to have my cup of morning brew, to listen to all the sounds of nature......as well as viewing the images.

Here are a few shots of the butterflies on my butterfly bush this morning:

Had to enlarge the photo of the two black swallow tails - kind of hard to make out in the photos.......

but, they were there.

Here is also a neat little link for all to determine what type of butterfly you have in your backyard.

CLICK HERE - GARDEN WITH WINGS

Simply select the primary color of your butterfly and pics to identify pop-up

click on the name and more info on your butterfly comes up.

Purslane - Weed or What?

  

After reading this article, I did a little research and it is very high in nutrients:

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), raw, fresh,

Nutritive value per 100 g.

(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA

Energy 16 Kcal 1.5%

Carbohydrates 3.4 g 3%

Protein 1.30 g 2%

Total Fat 0.1 g 0.5%

Cholesterol 0 mg 0%

Vitamins 

Folates 12 µg 3%

Niacin 0.480 mg 3%

Pantothenic acid 0.036 mg 1%

Pyridoxine 0.073 mg 5.5%

Riboflavin 0.112 mg 8.5%

Thiamin 0.047 mg 4%

Vitamin A 1320 IU 44%

Vitamin C 21 mg 35%

Electrolytes 

Sodium 45 mg 3%

Potassium 494 mg 10.5%

Minerals 

Calcium 65 mg 6.5%

Copper 0.113 mg 12.5%

Iron 1.99 mg 25%

Magnesium 68 mg 17%

Manganese 0.303 mg 13%

Phosphorus 44 mg 6%

Selenium 0.9 µg 2%

Zinc 0.17 mg 1.5%

I would have to try before buying to make sure I liked the taste - Says, "Leaves and tender stems have a slightly sour, and salty taste." Guess it is best mixed with perhaps other greens.

Purslane is a common edible wild food that grows throughout the world and has more recently become a popular cultivated salad green. Purslane contains the highest amount of alpha linoleic acid (which is the precursor to omega-3 fatty acid) and vitamin A out of any of edible plant which makes it one of the most nutrient rich green leafy vegetable to eat. Purslane also contains CoQ10, glutathione, dopamine, and melatonin which can not only can help regulate your sleep cycle, but also inhibit cancer growth as well. Purslane is excellent for boosting the immune system, improving vision, sharpening cognitive abilities, and strengthening the cardiovascular system. It is also great for helping to improve the effectiveness for treatment for bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, hyperactivity, depression, autism, ADD, and Alzheimer’s disease. Purslane is a rich source of vitamins C & B-complex and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese. Purslane contains a betalin alkaloid that has anti-mutagenic properties that can help to prevent or slow down the growth of tumors in the body. Purslane also contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is an ideal food for those suffering with autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, and lupus. Purslane is known to be good for hemorrhoids, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and parasites. In ancient Egypt, purslane was used to help prevent and treat heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Purslane leaves are crisp, chewy, and succulent with a mild lemony taste. It is a perfect addition to fresh vegetable juice and it also blends well with other herbs and leafy greens in a salad. The whole plant can be steamed, sauteed, or added to soups or stews. It’s mucilaginous texture gives it a thickening power similar to okra. Purslane can be often be found at your grocery store or farmer’s market alone or in a salad mesclun mix.

Here are several links found to give your more info for this interesting plant:

TheWomanYou, Health-Aromatheraphy and Morehttp://www.nutrition-and-you.com/purslane.html This site gives more info, and it tells you what to look for when purchasing to make sure it is fresh quality.

Purslane nutrition facts and health benefits

www.nutrition-and-you.com

Purslane features thick, succulent leaves that compose omega-3 fatty acids, mine...

TheWomanYou, Health-Aromatheraphy and More Here is an additional link w/some recipes:http://www.prairielandcsa.org/recipes/purslane.html

Purslane Recipes from Prairieland Community Supported Agriculture, Prairieland CSA, PCSA

www.prairielandcsa.org

Recipes for purslane from Prairieland Community Supported Agriculture, Prairieland CSA, PCSA

And another Blogger has some very interesting info and good photos of the plant:

click on: SERENITY IN THE GARDEN

Unexpected Tiny Creature

So, I am up on my deck talking to my sister on the phone.......and low and behold, I see an amazing site.......what appears to be a tiny baby hummingbird feeding off my butterfly bush. Well, I ran inside to get the camera snapped crazily to capture this tiny little creature....... Of course the first few shots look like the ones people take when taking photos of unidentified flying objects (now I know how they feel) anyway, I did capture some good pics and was surprised to learn.....it was not a hummingbird, but a moth. So, you guest it, I did some research to find out more about them.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM

THE HUMMING BIRD MOTH - LEARN ABOUT THEM

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW PHOTOS TAKEN BY OTHER STUNNED PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lots of pictures of this unique moth