Thursday, June 4, 2009

For the Butterflies

I am almost as passionate about butterflies now as I am about birds. There are so many to learn about and it's amazing to find out about all the different kinds there are, and quirks they have.
This is the Hackberry Emperor. Just as it says in the book, it is a swift flier. As I tried to take the pictures, it would take off and I almost kinked my neck trying to follow it about the yard before it came back to the spot it liked in front of me.
Its larval foodplant is the Hackberry Tree...now I just have to find out what a Hackberry Tree looks like. See how the learning never ends! Another new butterfly for me is this Coral Hairstreak. It likes Butterfly Weed, so says the book but here you can see how tiny it is sitting on an Impatiens flower. It's larval foodplants are wild cherry and wild plum. An old home favorite is the Great Spangled Fritillary. I am at the very bottom of it's range here in Northern Alabama. As a matter of fact I am very surprised to have them here. It is quite large and just a beautiful addition to any garden. It's larval foodplants are violets.
Every garden should include plants that will bring these beauties in and this Butterfly Bush (buddleia) is just a great addition to any garden.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Very well done! I understand about chasing the butterflies- waiting on them to come to rest somewhere and stopping long enough to get a photo.

A friend and I once followed a beaver around for over 30 minutes (in a small boat) until we could finally get a good photo of it. That is the longest that I have ever "tracked" something for a photo.

Mary said...

All 3 of these are new to me...what a wonderful garden you have to attract them all. I'm going to enjoy all of your photos of them :-)

Carolynn Anctil said...

Awesome photos! I'm a big fan of the Coral Hairstreak and I love the photo that shows the "feeler" (forgive my butterfly ignorance)coiled up under its chin.

BTW, what's the difference between a moth & a butterfly...? Just wondering.

Jenny said...

Those a three fabulous butterflies Evie. It's really great to share your excitement about all the new things you're experiencing around your garden let alone the whole area. Are these taken with the new lens?

Shelley said...

I love all the butterflies you posted - so beautiful! We planted some butterfly bush this year too - but I'm not seeing the beauties you are yet.

FAB said...

WHOW Eve, great so see such beautiful visitors to your new garden. All 3 are new to me but the Buddleia is an old favourite.

Tina said...

These are great Eve!! Love that last pic a lot ...the fact that you caught the colors of orange and purple together ..how nice is that!!

DeniseinVA said...

Beautiful butterflies, and lovely flowers as well. Learning is fun. I've never heard of these.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, these are just wonderful.

Eve said...

Thanks Daniel, it takes a lot of patience to be a photographer!

Thanks Mary, there are so many butterflies and so many never notice them!

Hi Carolynn, oh now you put me on the spot...I think it has something to do with the antenna, and something with how fuzzy they are and maybe one is more of a night owl...and one is much prettier than the other...except in some cases!!! There, how that for an answer...the real scientific one!

Hello Jenny Wren, the first two butterflies are with the G9 and the ever-skittish GSF is with the new lens. I just can't get close enough to that guy!

Thanks Shelley, Frank, Tina, Denise and Steve! It's so nice to hear from all of you!

Anonymous said...

Stunning images Evie.

Rural Rambler said...

Your butterfly captures are breath-taking Eve! I have always thought them interesting but when we moved to our house 4 years ago I became enchanted with them. I love to watch two of them dancing on the wind above the flower beds.

Anonymous said...

Your pictures are wonderful! I share your passion for butterflies. I spend a lot of time on butterfliesandmoths.org.

John Theberge said...

Fantastic butterfly photos. Butterflies are one of my favorite subjects to shoot also. The best time to photograph them for me is at dawn when they're covered with dew and not moving much.

Leedra said...

Looks like while I have been gone you have been adjusting quite well to "Southern Living". Love the photos.