dyhanara's Identifications

This observation is a yellow wildflower that has volunteered in a front yard that hasn't been mown all winter. Lovely surprise - the leaves are very narrow on an erect stem. the bloom is at the top of one of several leafy stems. the flower is school bus yellow - with a dark maroon center that is highlighted with orange fringy structures around the edge of the center. the petals are about twice as long as the center is wide, so the petals dominate the flower, the edges of the petals are uneven scallops. I accepted the Taxon suggestion of Thelesperma genus. the photos match those of green thread.

this observation is a gulf fritillary nectaring on a lantana flower. in my yard, next to where I was weeding. This species has the favorable habit of staying on one flower for a few seconds, and nectaring with wings wide open. Only rarely do I get to see the perched butterfly from this view, it makes me appreciate the astonishing thinness of the wings,