The large, red zinnias outside my library window have become quite the attraction. In just the past half-hour, three different kinds of butterflies stopped for a drink of nectar. This dark swallowtail sat and posed for quite a while.

During the morning hours, handsome, American Goldfinch males peck at the petals. Their vivid yellow coats and black markings are considerably brighter in coloration than the duller hued females.

Georgia wildlife

Our northern Georgia location brings many birds to our backyard including Eastern Bluebirds and the American Goldfinch. The bright, red zinnias are quite a draw for both the Goldfinches and also for the tiny, Ruby-throated hummingbirds. The finches pull out the petals searching for seeds while the hummingbirds poke their long, needlelike bills searching for nectar.

In the ravine behind the house, Red-Headed Woodpeckers scamper up and down the tall pines, boring holes to find a steady diet of insects.