Butterflies

With spring finally arriving at long last, everything is in bloom. At our house, the bees and bumble bees are present in huge numbers, which is a blessing. Especially given the honey bees precarious state in so many places.

But the other day, while walking through the Botanical Gardens with a friend, I captured this beautiful butterfly, enjoying a sip from the blooming Ajuga. While this species is bright metallic blue-green on the inside of the wing, didn't realize until I downloaded my images the even the outside has color. What a beauty

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Easter Wishes to all! Hope on this rainy Easter Sunday you will still find many bright spots to greet you. As I did, wandering the yard in the fine mist. Finding blooming things, turning their faces towards the sky , drinking up the delicious watery bounty. While we might mutter at the long rainy season, Nature savors each and every drop, as do the many flowers in bloom.

Lavender Bumble Bee

I know this picture isn't terribly crisp and clear. But I loved the way that Bumble Bee was hanging onto the Spanish Flag Lavender. His heavy, striped body, dangling on slender legs, with his wings down behind him, translucent. You can see the flower head behind , through the "windows" of the wings. And though they are plump of body, they move rapidly from blossom to blossom. So very difficult to capture them sitting still for a moment. By the time I would focus and bring him up close, he would usually be gone again.

Tulip

Every year this tulip surprises me. Each time it unfolds its many petals I am astounded on how nice a tulip it is. The open flower reminds me of a Lotus blossom. I don't remember the name or even where I got it. But it comes back faithfully, year after year.

And each year we're delighted to see it slowly unfold those petals. It's been open now for well over a week. So before you know it, it'll die back once again. So wanted to capture it's beauty before the petals fade and fall.