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Tickseed or false sunflower? If goldenrod makes you sneeze, don't come here! If September were in a coloring book, the page for the Frederick County Audubon sanctuaries would need many yellow crayons.  Too bad Crayola just retired "dandelion" and replaced it with a new blue, because yellow is the color most predominant right now.  The fields at both sanctuaries are filled with goldenrod, and at Audrey Carroll, spikes of small yellow flowers poke their stalks above, seeking attention.  

Summer has taken its toll on this butterfly. Monarch on pastels The yellow flowers might be tickseed or "false" sunflowers, or perhaps they are Helianthus.  Whatever they are, they are pretty, and on some country lanes, they are in such abundance that people stop to take photos.  

Purple thistle stands out against a sea of yellow. A monarch feeds on goldenrod. Right now, monarch butterflies are taking advantage of the last of the purple thistle and the abundant yellow flowers to fill up on nectar, preparing for their long journey to Mexico.

This is a male. See the scent "pouches" on the lower wings near the tail? Sept 24 - 7A painted lady head on. At the Audrey Carroll sanctuary today, I was looking for any recently tagged monarchs.  I found plenty of monarchs, but none with tags.  Perhaps the tagged ones knew they were ready to begin migration and have left; perhaps the monarchs I saw today are newly emerged from their chrysalises and they are preparing for their flight.  Regardless, I got a good walk and lots of great butterfly images today at the sanctuary.  I hope you're not tiring of them!

Last but not least, a few more.  Enjoy!

Black swallowtail and friends

Yellow flowers, yellow background, male monarch

Painted Lady on goldenrod

To raise funds for hurricane relief, please consider purchasing a butterfly print from my Wings of Hope collection.

<Thanks for reading my blog entry, which is part of a personal photography project to bring attention to and to benefit the Audubon Sanctuaries in Central Maryland:  Fred Archibald Sanctuary in New Market, MD, and Audrey Carroll in Mt. Airy.  The sanctuary is owned and managed by the Audubon Society of Central Maryland.  Volunteers are always needed to help with sanctuary management.  Copyright 2017 Cam Miller.  All photographs are for sale upon request.>