The Black Swallowtail (Papilio) feeds on various flowering perennials. This one paused long enough for a portrait. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Choices…
Butterflies
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
Friend of birds and butterflies…
Native Floridian, Firebush (Hamila patens) in budding stage. Heat and drought actually stimulate growth in the Firebush.. This plant is a favorite food and resting place for birds and butterflies. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Primarily red, some show orange coloring like these buds. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Passion for passion…
Each of these images is of the Passion Vine (Passiflora) species. They are evidence to me of God’s passion for beauty and attention to detail in his/her creations. The colors are arresting, and their unique design are worthy of equal consideration.
Any habitat for butterflies includes flowering plants as well as assorted grasses. Many caterpillars favor the Passion Vines (Passiflora) as their food source. These images were taken last winter at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Florida. For more information check out their website: www.butterflyworld.com.
Striking Passion Flower Vine. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Passion Flower “Lavender Lady” at Butterfly World. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Passiflora “Piresii” Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Passiflora “Susan Joy”. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Painted lady…
Painted Lady butterfly on end of fall bloom. Fading Hosta leaves set the background. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Outer markings of the Painted Lady butterfly are similar to inner patterning; which is not always true of butterflies. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Welcome back to the World…
The Butterfly World in Coconut Creek Florida seems like a world to itself. Today I am sharing a few images from last winter’s visit. They reopened today: https://www.butterflyworld.com/hurricane-closure-and-preparation/, and will release the butterflies and finches back into their outdoor habitats. There was no damage to the facilities by Irma.
A resting Clipper butterfly. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg.
Rain drenched stills butterflies; they are unable to fly with wet wings. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Macro image of butterfly among the flora. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
White Morpho butterfly. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg.
Thoas Swallowtail feeding on bananas in a dish. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg. I am unsure why its “tails” seem to be missing.
Trying to pay attention…
My macro lens is one of my favorites because with its use I have permission to stare at others. I can spend time intimately observing the tiny, abundant insect communities that most often are ignored. Sometimes I am surprised when my camera captures details and subjects that were unnoticed by me. This image is a prime example of such recorded evidence. I was focused on the Comma butterfly. I saw the one fly above the butterfly. I did not see the one below. And I absolutely did not realize the “spots” on the adjacent leaf were alive!
So much goes on around us all the time that is oblivious to us. Such findings make me keenly aware that my ability to see the world and make sense of it continually needs practice. This is true with people as well as nature.
Comma butterfly with others of the community. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Elusive beauty…
White Morpho, equally as strikingly beautiful as the Blue Morpho. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Blue Morpho at rest, which is a rare sight. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
“Morph” means change, yet for this family of butterflies it has a different connotation. The Morpho butterflies are so named for their beauty and shape, in reference to Aphrodite. Images of these creatures require patience because when they are visible, they spend most time in the air, rarely settling on a plant long enough to focus and capture (photographically).
This site goes into details of the variety of Morpho butterflies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpho
Aptly named…
The Bottlebrush Tree (Callistemon Sp.) at Florida’s Butterfly World. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Closeup of the “bottle bristles” in bloom. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg.
A favorite of butterflies, the Bottle Brush Tree is appropriately named and placed inside Butterfly World, Florida.