More Lilacs

Lilacs are so wonderful that I wanted to stretch out the bloom season, so I planted varieties that flower later than the common lilac. At the corner of the barn is a hybrid lilac Ludwig Spaeth, which has very large spires of a deep red-purple, quite dramatic from a distance. I also have a Korean lilac Miss Kim, which blooms later in the season and has a powerful sweet fragrance.




Even though the flowers aren't as richly scented as the common variety, the swallowtail butterflies seem to love them. I watched these lovely insects float from flower to flower, sipping from their centers.




Then I noticed an amazing thing: there was a small butterfly or moth, not moving off when I came near, so I looked more closely; holding it to the spot was a brilliant lemon yellow spider, its body an illustration of how the color "lemon" calls up the sour fruit. Looking at the colors of yellow and violet and orange, I could almost overlook the story of predator and prey and sink into pure aesthetic pleasure.