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.

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.

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.

Sulphur on zinnia

Notice the skipper in flight. These Sulphur photos were taken mid July in my yard.

Random macro photography

Just some random macro photography.

Tiger Swallowtail at the daylilies

These photographs were taken in my front yard earlier in the spring and summer.

The pale yellow daylily is Leedra's Delight that I have had several post about.




I had prepared these for post before I learned how to make them larger. On occasion I will still be posting this size until I have used all the photos I had previously prepared. Remember I am still on dialup so I probably have some preparation most of you don't have. All future preparations will be the larger versions.

Spicebush Swallowtail on zinnia

The photographs of the Spicebush Swallowtail speak for themself.

It was fun to follow him around.

Monarch on Zinnia

I was at the neighbor's house the other day and he asked what kind of of butterfly this was. Needless to say, I started snapping.Notice the polka dots on his body.
This last photo is not very good, but it is real hard to catch a Monarch with it's wings laid flat.

Ecobirder, I finally figured out to get the photos a tad bid larger. Still on this dialup, so I am still limited.

Hackberry Emperor butterfly

Another butterfly I have not been able to id. Just saw it for the first time on Thursday. These are the only photos I got of it. Notice the last one, all the circles. I am sure there is a name for that, but I am still learning, as you can tell with me asking for help with 3 different butterflies all on the same day.

UPDATE: Thank you Ecobirder for sending me in the correct direction. It is a Hackberry Emperor butterfly. Still need help for the post previous to this one.

Variegated and Great Spangled Fritillaries

The top 3 are one type of butterfly.Notice the underside of this one.
This photo the wing on this side is completely flat. So it is a kinda of odd photo from the top of this one, but it does look like it is the same butterfly as the 1st photo.

Then you get to the bottom 3 photos. From the top this butterfly pretty much seems the same as the butterfly at the top. Although I don't have this one completely flat.

He also appears to not open his wings as he eats like the one above does.

Has the underside markings of a Fritillary, so I am fairly confident it is. Just which one?

It just amazes me these 2 butterflies are basically the same on the top, but the undersides are not similiar at all.

The top one I have been at for 2 summers now. Either I did not notice the bottom one last summer, or it is new to my yard this year. I am beginning to think Fritillaries are like Skippers. Label it as a Fritillary and go on. Although that does not quite satisfy me, so I would appreciate any and all comments helping me id these 2.

UPDATE: Hap in New Hope has helped id these 2 butterflies. The top 3 photos are the Variegated Fritillary. The bottom 3 photos are the Great spangle Fritillary. Thank you very much for the help.