Red-Spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)Flitting about and making it nearly impossible to capture them in repose...
The rare to our garden~~Monarch ButterflyUntil, they stop to bathe in the warm sunshine~~
Gorgeous creatures of the moment.
Here today, then quickly gone, or so, it seems.
Here today, then quickly gone, or so, it seems.
We dance attendance to their song.
We stalk them,
hoping to capture the perfect light,
the perfect angle;
as they skip from plant to plant!
Oh, what a merry chase it seems.
hoping to capture the perfect light,
the perfect angle;
as they skip from plant to plant!
Oh, what a merry chase it seems.
How happy we are when they land upon a flowerand pose prettily for the camera.
We snap away creating
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) on Ruellia splendens (Limestone Wild Petunia)Treasured photos that will take us,
again and again,
to the garden where we danced together.
again and again,
to the garden where we danced together.
Gail
In the sun
the butterfly wings
Like a church window
-Jack Kerouac
In the sun
the butterfly wings
Like a church window
-Jack Kerouac
Good morning Gail, what a moving piece by Kerouac! Your photos are fabulous and the subjects sublime. That pipevine is a looker, as they all are. I have not been able to get a decent shot yet, included when I hung up on you to go after the monarch. He flew up over the treetops and was not seen again. I am so glad you have better abitilies. Strike one hundred and three for me. HA
ReplyDeleteFrances
Just stunning captures Gail. Hopefully when my Monarchs emerge from their Chrysalis' I'll be able to capture a decent photo of them. Isn't is funny how something some small and beautiful will have us running around like a child chasing an ice cream truck!
ReplyDeleteYou sure did capture their essence even if they taunt and tease you! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou did a fine job of stalking them, Gail! Those are lovely visitors.
ReplyDeleteI can just see you gliding through the garden like Ginger Rogers snapping away at each passing of the butterfly. Marvelous photos Gail. You captured the irredescence of the Pipevine.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Loved seeing all your butterflies. You have some that I don't see in this area.
ReplyDeleteI went out with the camera yesterday afternoon and found nothing but cabbage whites. Then a red spotted purple flew by and of course I followed. He flew up over the house and was goon:(
Marnie
Hi Gail, I've found them to be quite camera shy this season. Last year they were all posing for their photos so prettily. The Monarchs have been few & far between this summer which is sad. Great shots! :)
ReplyDeleteYour photos are lovely, Gail -- what beauties they are! I haven't had a single butterfly visit my balcony this summer; next year I will plant more butterfly-friendly plants, for certain.
ReplyDeleteThe quote is perfect -- their wings do resemble stained glass!
Hi Gail, Great photos. I love butterflies--wildlife in general is one of the reasons I garden!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Gail, it is hard to capture these beauties. I am not sure if we have the Pipevine Swallowtail --really pretty!! We are always taken with butterflies are we?
ReplyDeleteThis I've hardly seen any butterflies, I was starting to get worried, but now I know they're all in your garden!
ReplyDeleteHi everyone, I feel lucky to have captured these butterflies in the last week~~but I had to stalk them carefully. MARNIE, was it you, that said they fly off when our shadows fall on them? FRANCES, I was certain you would get a great shot of the monarch when you ran out the door! I have just about decided to get a Super Zoom camera...This is the closest I could get and they are not as clear as I would have liked.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to read that so many of us have had few of these beauties visit this summer. Especially when we plant for butterflies and bees.
I am off to water a few shrubs that are parched and then walk. I am so delighted you all visited today!
Gail
Hi Gail, nice shots of the butterflies indeed. I like the challenge of trying to catch that brief moment when their wings are in just the right spot on just the right flower :). Be aware on the superzoom cameras that they don't always retain the near focus (macro) capability when they are zooming. Sometimes it's a tradeoff.
ReplyDeleteGail girl .. do you think butterflies are cats with wings ? This taunt and tease thing is part of the essence of a cat, in my way of thinking .. so my mind's eye sees a cat with beautiful butterfly wings floating here and there in the garden .. while I chase them trying to take a picture .. same results here for either case .. NONE ! LOL
ReplyDeletePlease put up a sign in your garden with an arrow pointing my way ?? ;-)
Gorgeous photos Gail. Those butterflies are amazingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteStalk away, Gail! Love the Pipevine Swallowtail. Wish we had them here too as they are geeeeeorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOooh, my favorite is the blue and black pipevine. All of you bloggers with hummers and butterflies galore and prodding me to pay more attention to the plants that attract them. Someday I hope to enjoy plenty of these fluttering lovelies in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI too am guilty of being a stalker! I glanced out the window this morning and spotted a monarch in the garden. I immediately grabbed the camera, but before I could get out the door it had flown away. They can be quite difficult to capture!
ReplyDeleteHi Gail......Such a delightful post. Butterflies are so illusive.....I think that is part of their charm.
ReplyDeleteI have had so many blues in my garden this year and have not been able to capture a photograph of one.....so frustrating.
Such pretty photographs....you have captured the essence of the butterfly so very well......and I adore the quote.....
Lovely photos, Gail! And you certainly right about following them through the garden trying to capture them on film!
ReplyDeleteI always feel honored when a butterfly deigns to hold a pose for me! You had some gorgeous visitors in your garden!
ReplyDeleteI've never attempted to photograph a butterfly and I doubt that I would have the patience for it. I do love looking at other people's photos of them though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful combination of photos (great photos!) and verse. I was ready to give you credit until you gave credit to someone else! :-)
ReplyDeleteJust don't worry about those thumbs... keep taking photos and just do the best you can. (Are you sure you aren't texting??) ;-)
Wow, the black/blue one is amazing. And they're all beautifully captured!
ReplyDeleteTaunt and tease is right. I don't have such a sunny disposition after chasing them around the yard. My poetry would only end up using Nantucket.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Gail! I've spent a lot of time the last few weeks chasing butterflies myself. That elusive Monarch just refuses to land for me! I'm still wondering why there are so few butterflies this year--lots of caterpillars in my garden, so I hope that bodes well for the future.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is always the Red Spotted Purple, if only because he lights on things like dry dog food, dirty rags and shrubs where there are no flowers to attract.
ReplyDeleteIt takes incredible patience to get a stunning butterfly pic.
Click on my name to see my RSP.
Brilliant shots! You've managed to capture them - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKatarina
Gail, love your blog and beautiful photos! It sounds as though you have somewhat similar weather as here in the PNW with our wet winters (not much snow) and very arid summers. Generally we experience about 3 months without rain. We pray for it. ;)
ReplyDeleteGail,
ReplyDeleteNice collection of photos. Pipevine Swallowtails usually are all a flutter and hard to get decent photos of them. Still I won't use the name Red-spotted Admiral, it is stupid, Glasberg changed it at NABA Still use Red-spotted Purple myself.
Such beautiful winged creatures gracing your garden and camera lens Gail! They aren't easy to photograph - Kudos on these lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteGail, the pipevine swallowtail is new to me -- and, oh, what a divine creature it is, too. All your pictures are wish-we-could-be-there lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you for IDing the Pipevine Swallowtail. I took a lot of picutres of them last summer at Mt. Rogers and never knew what they were.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a treasure to have found so many beauties fluttering about your garden!
ReplyDeleteGail! The poem is so true and delightful! Like church windows for sure!
ReplyDeleteI've not seen many butterflies in my garden this year...yours are a gift...beautiful post!
Thank you for your constant encouraging words as I walk this healing journey of mine. love and light Anna xo
Thanks everyone I appreciate that you took the time to stop by and comment.
ReplyDeleteHave a spectacular weekend. gail
Stunning pics, Gail. I wonder how did you make these beauties stay still. It shows your photography skills. The monarchs are not native to our area but sulphurs are. They are quite in large number in our garden. I am growing tropical milkweed exclusively for butterflies. thanks for sharing these wonderful pics with us.
ReplyDeleteEvery one a beatiful capture, Gail. Love them in my garden and yours!
ReplyDeleteMeems
What beauties!
ReplyDelete