butterflies

Leave a comment Posted on Butterflies, Chicago, Garden, Photography Gallery

Final days of Chicago flight…

The Black Swallowtail butterfly resting on a remaining Marigold summer bloom. For more information on this Illinois native CLICK on the image above. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

As the colors of the Coleus plant fades due to cooler days and fewer hours of sunshine, an aging Black Swallowtail feeds and rests. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Leave a comment Posted on Butterflies, Design and Patterns, Garden, Ocean beaches and Florida nature, Photography

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

 

Leave a comment Posted on Butterflies, Design and Patterns, Insects and Arachnids, Nature, Ocean beaches and Florida nature, Photography

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.

2 Comments Posted on Butterflies, Garden, Nature, Prairie

Likenesses…

These two images are indeed of Piano Key (Heliconius Melcomene) butterflies. Note the “piano keyboard” on the bottom wings. The previous post was of a butterfly closely related but as clearly marked as a Piano Key.

Distinctly marked Piano Key butterfly, at Butterfly World. Copyright 2017, Pamela Breitberg

Piano Key butterfly at Butterfly World. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg

 

Leave a comment Posted on Nature, Random Observations

Be a part of the whole…

Blue (Butterfly) on Cranesbill copyright 2012 Pamela Breitberg

He had the genius to make sense of unseen nature and at the same time give amazing insights into the known…. us! Albert Einstein was, like each of us, a complicated person who was able to share his wisdom in uncomplicated terms so all of us could benefit. His wisdom appeared to me as I read today, at the beginning of the chapter, “Life is with creatures” from Urban Homesteading by Rachel Kaplan.

  • “A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

Those people who have known me a long time know me as a quiet person, easily spending free time in solitary. As a student I never raised my hand, shrinking in embarrassment if called upon in class. My friends never really knew me because I rarely talked; my strength was in listening. Nature was my favorite companion, proof of which is my treasured butterfly collection.

Skipper on Coneflower copyright 2012 Pamela Breitberg

Many of you who have become my friends the past ten plus years may surprised by this trait. My career has led me to act as leader of learning for both children and adults. I continue to treasure time for myself, it is a way for me to reconnect with myself. But I have learned the richness that life offers when experienced and shared with others. How shallow my life would be if I had not discovered the awesomeness of getting to know the many wonderful persons who’ve crossed my pathway.

My continued passion for nature is more rewarding when I work side-by-side with students in our outdoor “Living Museum” and include a small menagerie of classroom pets for first hand learning experiences. I have come to realize that the joys of planting, harvesting, or observing an insect at work are measureably more fun when shared with others.

Eastern Black Swallowtail on Coneflower copyright 2012 Pamela Breitberg