First Spicebush Swallowtail this year

These photographs of a single Spicebush Swallowtail were taken

Tuesday morning in my front flowerbed of zinnia blooms.

I did go ahead and make one of the photgraphs into one of my greeting cards.

Your can view more of my greeting cards at

www.leedrasgreetingcards.blogspot.com

Any photograph on my blogs or on my website can be selected for any card I have.

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly taken in Florida, February 2009.

Please visit the original post at Leedra's Photos For Fun

for additional photographs of this Monarch butterfly.

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly

Please visit the original post at Leedra's Photos For Fun

to view additional photographs.

White Peacock Butterfly

This photo of the White Peacock butterfly was taken at Lake Seminole Park in Seminole, Florida.

Falls Colors at Spring City Park - Sky Watch

Well, I am back in Spring City for a couple of days. Got up yesterday morning and decided to go up on the plateau to see the colors there. It appears they are a day or two beyond peak. Did get some good photos around the water, I will be posting those later.

When I got back to the valley (I guess Spring City is considered in the valley, either way it is not on the plateau) I went by the Spring City Park and took all of these photographs in the park.

We probably still have a few more days of peak before the leaves start dropping fast. Did you notice I said we? How quick I am adjusting to being here.

Common Buckeye

I was really surprised to see the butterfly in the park. We were told the Monday morning we were gone (vacation) it was 31 degrees. This past Monday morning is was 41. So you would think the days of photographing butterflies would be over until next year. I got excited when I saw the Buckeye, doesn't take much to excite me sometimes.

Please visit Sky Watch Friday to view wonderful photographs from all over the world.

Skipper on zinnia bloom

About the time I think they are all gone, then I see one. This skipper was in my yard on Friday afternoon.

Great Spangled Fritillary

These photographs were taken early summer, don't think the Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies are still out flying around here.
Look at his tongue in the bottom photograph.

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies today

It surprises me we still have butterflies after the cool weather. I photographed these Gulf Fritillary butterflies this morning. Almost missed this one, and it is blurred, but decided to post it anyway.

At least he did land on one of the fresh zinnia blooms for me.

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies

This is a different collage look in Picasa. The top one is all with the wings closed, or up. The bottom is the same butterfly (Gulf Fritillary) in various stages of wings flat or up, but from above it. The bottom set was screaming to be put in a collage. I went back through photos to gather the top collage, so they are on different days.

Monarch on zinnia

Look at all those polka dots. I am sure God has everyone of them numbered and in the exact spot he wanted them to be. Are we in the exact spot God wants us to be on this Sunday morning?

Oh, by the way, Pam has this one enlarged and at her house too.

Butterlies on the milkweed

These were taken in July behind my house in the hay field. Not too good of hay, but great for the butterflies. Notice the 1st photograph has a Skipper, Buckeye, Variegated Fritillary and a bee all on the same bloom.I went in the house and came back out and captured the Monarch.


I also saw American Painted Lady, but did not get a good photograph of it.

By the way, my hand is good. I kept it in ice water as long as I could stand, then out for a few minutes and back in. Did this for about 1 hour, looks like I am not going to have any problems. Will be able to tell later this evening I am sure. I hope the hummingbird enjoys what I was making him.

Tiger Swallowtail in Cataloochee Cove - GSMNP

Only saw this one Tiger Swallowtail, and he did not want his picture taken. So this was the best I got.

Pipevine Swallowtails in Cataloochee Cove - GSMNP

These Pipevine Swallowtails were so vibrant in flight. I thought they were Spicebush until I got home and started going through the photographs.

Great Spangled Fritillary in Cataloochee Cove - GSMNP

The butterflies love the patch of these wildflowers close to the Caldwell House.

Butterfly or Moth - Question Mark

OK, which is it? Butterfly or moth? That was the question for quite a while, but on September 7, Hap from New Hope has identified it as a Question Mark butterfly. Thank you Hap. I am reposting this one now that I know what it is. Isn't it neat that it ends out to be named Question Mark after it was in question for so long. I am also posting right in the middle of my Cades Cove series, but this was taken on the my neighbor's porch rail, not is Cades Cove.

Common Wood Nymph

This is my first Common Wood Nymph. Notice how he just blends in with the environment.He moved along the trail with us for about 50 ft, then I lost sight of him.
Took me a while to figure this one out, but hopefully I got it correct.

I know birders have a lifer list.

But I have a butterfly photographed lifer list. And even if I have the name wrong, it is still a first for me. Hap can probably tell me if I am correct with the name. Remember this was in the GSMNP, some of the options I found were only out west, which eliminated them from the choice.

I actually have a photograph of each butterfly and add a magnet and have them together on the door going out to the sunroom. My husband looked at it last weekend and commented on how it had grown this year. I still need to get some of them on the 'board'. Maybe at the end of this session I will photograph the door and post that.

Random macro photography

Just some random macro photography.