I will if it's not storming with blowing rain. Do they even emerge on days like that? I'm just chock-full of questions lately, aren't I?

I wouldnt if I were them... however two of my kids were born in blizzards so who knows!

This summer, I have seen a fair number of butterflies out for the past three weeks, and in my South garden some dragon flies for the past three weeks.
Now I have seen very few wasps or bees which is a surprise as the weather is not bad for insects.

I've had more Monarchs this year than ever before, never seen the Monarch cats, and 5 total so far.

Earlier in the season I saw a fair number of western swallowtails, since very few of any kind. Not many bumble bees, honey bees, or solitary bees.

Bird numbers are way down, we have no swallows nesting in the bird boxes for the first time in 17 years, very sad.

We have very few bees of any kind this year, I think because of the long cold spell that delayed spring and then covered up the first flowers with ice. I have areas of flowering thyme and clover that are normally covered in bees, but not this year. Butterflies are around, but not many big ones. I have seen a lot of the tiny azure blues, though.

I have not seen a lot, but butterflies seem to have been around all summer, just a few at a time.
I think Sharon's Cleomes attract them.
With the skeets in full bloom, I wish the Dragon flies would come back.

The rest of the summer saw almost no butterflies here, all bee numbers are way down, worst year ever.

Our butterflies and bees were way down this summer. I'd say it's our worst year ever too, and I have a lot of plants they should be coming to.

Karen, me too about the plants, I bought lots of those recommended for the bees and butterflies, it has been sad to see so few bees and only 3 or 4 butterflies, of those 2 were skippers, on them the whole season.

SMoke from wildfires might be to blame ?

Caroline, the smoke sure didn't help but no I don't think that was the main cause as it started early spring, especially with the assorted bees, usually when the crabapple trees bloom they are all abuzz with all kinds of bees, this year hardly any, didn't see the usual spring butterflies either. I did see a fair number of Western Swallow tails and that's about it, they would flit around the garden and then were gone.

ON the bright side, did not see as many cabbage butterflies this year either.

RpR said:ON the bright side, did not see as many cabbage butterflies this year either.

True, me either.

No cabbage butterflies at all but have seen a few Monarch, or maybe Viceroy and other decorative butterflies starting mid-spring.
I have not seen a lot but a steady occurrence of dragon and damsel flies.

Still few butterflies or bees, don't know what is going on but it is sad not to see them.

We were lucky this year, lots of bees and butterflies, lots of moisture and cooler temps

Weather has been good here too, Rj.

Maybe they had better rates down here!😀

Sitting out by the garden yesterday and butterflies were most plentiful all summer.
Sadly some were cabbage buttervermin.