Monarch Rescue

taken:
day eighty five
09.13.2014

This monarch has a sweet story. As I was meandering the shore of Lake Mille Lacs at my parents cabin I felt a fluttering flip by me. I turned and noticed this monarch floating in the water right along the shore so I went over and gently plucked it out of the lake. I put it on the rocks in the sun so it could dry. Then I sat down and watch it. It flapped it's wings softly and before long it started to walk toward me. I got up a couple of times to move out of it's way, I wasn't sure where it wanted to go, if it was coming to me or trying to go past me. Then I decide to pick some flowers for it. When I put the flowers in front of it, it took a few sips of nectar. Really cool! Then, after a few more minutes, I started to worry because it looked like it was dieing. It seemed to drift off to it's side and almost stop breathing and moving. I wondered if it was nearing the end of it's lifecycle and that's why it landed in the water in the first place. So I started to feel sad and didn't expect a good outcome. But then, all of a sudden, in a quick instant, it lifted off and fluttered through the air above me, all the way up to the tree tops. I was so happy! It was fun to rescue that precious monarch and share a special moment with such a beautiful butterfly.

Face To Face

taken:
day eighty
09.08.2014

Who doesn't love coming face to face with a beautiful monarch butterfly. They are amazing creatures. Did you know that the monarchs that are born in September and October migrate all the way to California and Mexico? It seems impossible but it is truly astonishing that they can fly that far and still have enough energy to carry on and create the next monarch generation. Which will be the generation that will migrate back north in the spring and start the whole cycle all over again.

Dazzled

taken:
day sixty one
08.20.2014

I'm always so dazzled by butterflies. Especially when I spot a 'eastern tiger swallowtail' fluttering through my garden. I feel giddy and humbled by their visits. My tiger lilies are always a favorite for these butterflies.

Exquisite

taken:
day fifty four
08.13.2014

An exquisite 'eastern tiger swallowtail' butterfly enjoying a pretty pink cosmos. I love having these beauties visit my garden!

Making It Easy

taken:
day seventeen
07.07.2014

My butterfly weed was extra popular with the grey hairstreak butterflies this summer. I've never seen more of them gathering in my garden before. Sometimes butterfly observing can be a real challenge. But not with these sweet little butterflies, they always took their time going from tiny bloom to tiny bloom. Making it easy to sit and marvel them. 

Some Days

taken:
day twelve
07.02.2014

Some days I struggle to get a good photo. Like windy days or rainy days or just plain busy days. On this day the wind was breezy and this butterfly was swiftly bustling among these pretty white flowers. I tried my best to get a good focus on it's face and antennas but blurry is what I got instead. Blurry has to be good enough on some days.

Welcome June

Welcome June!

Spring is singing songs of pastels and promise.

It's sprinkling light and happiness in every direction.

Here's a bit of what's making me happy these days.

Pale pink blossoms on crab apple trees.

The scent of lilacs and the butterflies they attract.

My first encounter with these little sweeties, 'Dutchman's Breeches', growing along the shore of Lake Mille Lacs.

Dandelions and their symbol of vitality.

New leaves and new growth.

Ferns, green and lush.

White blooms blanketing every branch of this stunning tree. 

I always say that these flowers don't last long enough. 

But while they're here, they sure make me happy!

Spread the seeds of happiness, people, so we can have a world filled with flowers!!!

Lucky

taken:
day eight three
09.11.2013

A 'painted lady' butterfly in the intense light of the afternoon sun. I always feel lucky when I stumble upon a butterfly in the garden. Like it's some sort of miracle or something. And I feel even more lucky when a butterfly gives me time to grab my camera and snap some photos. This is the one and only 'painted lady' butterfly that I've seen all summer.

Fluttering By

taken:
day thirty eight
07.28.2013

While weeding my garden I noticed this butterfly fluttering by. I didn't recognize it so I tried to research and identify it and was only partially successful. I believe it's a Fritillary variety but couldn't pinpoint which one exactly. Many of them look so similar!

Anyone have more patience than me to identify it? :)

Since seeing this one, I've spotted many more fluttering around. It's so fun to have a new species of butterfly visiting my yard.

Sunlit

taken:
day forty four
08.02.12

Beaming from behind, this Monarch fluttered from one bloom to the next in the hot evening sun. 

I love how the shadow of it's antennas subtly shines through the sunlit flower petals.

Alluring Green Eyes

taken:
day ninety one
09.19.2011

This little creature, with it's alluring green eyes, is a 'pink edged sulphur' butterfly. On this day there were many of them fluttering around the marigolds enjoying the last of summers sweetness.

Fluttering and Free

taken:
day eighty three
09.11.2011

It was September 11th. A somber day of remembrance. A day heavy with memories of that tragic day ten years ago when America trembled with disbelief and life as we knew it changed forever. 

This black eastern swallowtail butterfly lightened the day. A lifting spirit, fluttering among the white garden phlox blossoms, free from the worries of the day.

Savoring Summer

taken:
day seventy
08.29.2011

About the only color radiating in prairie flowers these days is yellow. Sunny golden yellow. It's the goldenrod's turn to shine. This 'painted lady' butterfly dances from one 'stiff goldenrod' blossom to the next. Savoring the end of summers sweet bounty.

One Must Have Sunshine

taken:
day sixty
08.19.2011

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, 

"one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."  

~Hans Christian Anderson

This lucky swallowtail butterfly has all three, the hot summer sunshine, the freedom to flutter and these enticing little butterfly weed flowers.

Vision to Behold

taken:
day forty nine
08.08.2011

Caught in mid-flutter, this 'eastern tiger swallowtail' butterfly is a vision to behold. They are common this time of year, yet such an exquisite butterfly and so delightful to watch while wandering through the garden.

Modern and Classic

taken:
day forty eight
08.07.2011

According to my littlest son, this is a 'modern' butterfly. Funny little guy forgets that this classic butterfly is called a 'monarch' instead. These 'monarchs' are a frequent sight this time of year in Minnesota.

They are definitely out in full flutter these days. All butterflies are. And they seem much more docile this month than they were last month. Every butterfly I encountered last month was too fast to snap photos of. They were swift and unsettled and seemed too busy to stay in one place for too long. 

Now they are subdued as they drift from flower to flower. Where they pause almost dazed by the summer heat and sweet nectar.