Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Monarch

Monarch Butterflies
(
Danaus plexippus)

In these two photos, my favourite summer butterflies are shown feeding on Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) on the edge of our western hill in the Lanark Highlands. It will be several days (I think) before the milkweed is in full bloom, and they can feast on their preferred menu.

It is only in seeing the Monarchs through the eye of my macro lens that I realize how magnificent they really are.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Cate,
Beautiful, just marvellous. You are amazing, not the camera. To be able to grasp every colour, every amazement comes from the hands that hold the camera. Beautiful and sweet. You are an artist and graphist. You have the knowledge. Love your posts every day.
Thank you.

Steve Emery said...

I love these too - with that double row of white dots around the edges (that helps distinguish them from Viceroys - who are merely regal, not royal like these). And those wonderful caterpillars to come.

But my favorite, since boyhood, is the Great Spangled Frittelary. It's name almost lives up to it's pattern and proportions. My heartfelt thanks to the inventor of that name - it has made me smile many times.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cate
Yes, "magnificent" is the word. I've been looking for them here, but have not seen one. I'd forgotten their identification with milkweed.

My internet has been down for five days. It is so refreshing to visit your space again.