Strangers

A few days before Monday's surprise snowwe were dive-bombed(lightly)on our porchby five or six of these moths?butterflies?
They seemed more moththan butterfly
similar to Monarchbut not quitesimilar to Viceroybut not quite
anyone know what it is?

Something is sprouting here -I can't remember what -but love the surpriseand the energyof these tenacious purple sprouts.
Any guesseswhat plant this might be?
Speaking of strangers(the moth and the sprouts)a favorite literary conventionof mine isa stranger comes to town.
Just writing that phrasegets my brainjumping!
Do you have a favoritestranger comes to town story?
I will quitasking youquestionsrightnow.
xx