The Black Swallowtail (Papilio) feeds on various flowering perennials. This one paused long enough for a portrait. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Choices…
Animals
Ordinary beauty…
There are many varieties of Allium so I don’t dare guess at the specific Allium shown here. Alliums include onion, garlic and leek varieties; this one was decorative in purpose. The Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae) rests momentarily. It is probably the most readily visible butterfly in the Midwest, so it’s beauty is too often overlooked. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.
A moment of calm…
Hiding amongst the Coneflowers (Echinacea) is the wondrous Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly. Here one rests on the Conflower, but it’s preferred food is grasses while it lays eggs on the Milkweed plant. Monarchs in Chicago (and other northern places) and then travel over 3000 miles to Mexico for the winter. It will be a new generation that travels North next summer. CLICK the image above to track migration via “Journey North”. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Years of butterfly observation have taught me that Monarchs toward the end of their life fly slower and slower making them easy to catch by hand and hold for a short time before setting them free. They are fascinating to observe close up. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Seasonal traveler…
Green Heron
Careful observation at Lincoln Park’s North Pond can reveal unique birds. This Green Heron (Butorides virenscens) probably wintered in the southern States or Central America. In the South they frequent coastal areas or Mangrove swamps. In the Midwest they are content to residency by ponds and wetlands. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Just ducky…
Out of the water for a bit, this male Mallard tries to hide among the Dandelions. These images were all taken one morning at Lincoln Park’s North Pond. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Grooming is ever a process when out of the water. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.
Male Wood Duck sunning on a warm spring day. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Mallard Duck family enjoying an outing in Lincoln’s Park, North Pond, Chicago. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
First Street festival…
This weekend was the Belmont-Sheffield Music (and Art) Festival in Chicago. Summertime is full of festivals in Chicago; the fun is continuous. Enjoy! Note: I had the most fun taking images of people while listening to the music; forgot to capture the musicians.
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Of course I couldn’t resist a Lilac Bloom! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Spring sprung awake…
A clear sign that I’ve observed over my many years, is that when the Chipmunk sits still for a portrait it means it has just awoken from it’s winter sleep. They may sit in a patch of sunshine for quite awhile and gradually stretch to loosen it’s unused muscles. Next week it will be very unusual to catch such a long pause; portrait capture will be a challenge. This one was at Lincoln Park’s Caldwell Lily Pond. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Endangered mascot…
Couldn’t leave out the Bonnet House’s beloved Spider Monkeys from my collection of images. I only saw two of the three remaining monkeys that live freely on this property. They are old and so sighting them is treasured by volunteers and staff and visitors. they are the remaining generation of monkeys brought to the estate by the Bartletts. The Bartletts brought many kinds of tropical plants as well as parrots and monkeys to brighten their summer home, the Bonnett House.
The monkeys will not be replaced because of laws against such practice, of which I have no argument. The volunteers feed them each morning making seeing them easiest in those early morning hours. I will treasure these images more when they are no longer apart of Bonnet House.
Easy to love from a distance. A Bonnet House Spider Monkey. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
One of the treasured Spider Monkeys of Bonnet House, Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Subtle clues…
Shadows of Sea Grass accompanied by bird tracks, probably a Seagull’s. The occasional shell adds to the composition without changing our focus. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Lifestyle contrasts…
The cats on this quaint street in Miami easily roamed from backyard to sites around the neighborhood. The dog was too large to fit between the fence rails ensuring it’s limited experiences. The differences in their demeanor were striking to me.
Cat trying to hide it’s presence as it birdwatches. It was happy to expose itself when people came near so they could get him/her. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Cat enjoying socializing with passer-bys. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
This dear dog looked totally bored and yearning for more in life. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg