In my previous milk thistle post I mentioned a lack of good flower photos to show, due in part, to windy conditions and uncooperative Monarch butterflies. Well, argh. I mistakenly identified them. They are not Monarchs at all, but are actually female Eastern Tiger Swallowtails or Papilio glaucus. I went back to the milk thistle intending to wrestle with the winged ones again, but was disappointed to see that the beautiful shrub had been mowed over. And no more swallowtails. So no new photos. I’m sure I’ll encounter the butterflies again, but I really miss that milk thistle.









Love both the purple flowers and the butterflies…particularly the colors on the one in the top pic–wow!
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Great butterfly shots, especially the first one. The thistles are surprisingly popular with bees and butterflies here, too. And the horses like to eat the purple flowers… but very gingerly.
Janie of Utah´s last blog post ..Irrigation Installation
Oh, I’d say those are lovely photos of a butterfly if I ever saw one! Good work!
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beautiful! beautiful! how does lucy feel about the swallowtails?? :)
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Gorgeous!!! I took a photo recently of milk thistle, but it was not even good enough to keep. These are great.
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I hate you. In a good way. I’m so jealous that you got these shots. I’ve stood out in my yard for 20 minutes trying to get pictures of Monarchs that come to our butterfly bushes. Didn’t get a one.
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These are wonderful Holly. I too have spent many a afternoon chasing butterflies! They can be very tricky and you did a wonderful job here!!
I am missing sunshine. It has been raining for almost two weeks now non stop!! I am down to the bottom scrubbing for photos. They say we have 4 more days then clearing. I really hope so because I need a day to get some shots!!
I love your butterflies!! you did an awesome job!!
I hope you have a great day!!
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Thats great pictures sister. It’s hard to find butterfly around us now, not like on my childhood :(
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aww bummer. but these are great shots. I love that first one. Have a great day
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Beautiful pictures. I too like those flowers/weeds/wild flowers. They show up from quite a distance. I should have realized the name of the butterfly. My brother was quite knowledgeable back in the day and I can remember him talking about them.
Sandy
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nice shot on the butterfly
It’s hard to get good butterfly photos so my compliments to you!
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Hi and thanks, drjay. I know how you like them purple flowers…
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Thanks, Janie. This is only the second thistle bush I’ve seen this summer and the butterflies sure do love them. Poor Boss and Mischief, though…ouch!
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Thanks a lot Lin, and thanks for coming by.
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Thanks, Charity. Lucy was too busy chasing rabbits, thank goodness. Not that she wouldn’t chase one…
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Hi Sinclair and thanks. I know how that is…most of my stuff doesn’t come out. Have to take so many pics just to get a decent one!
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Hi Kathy. Hee-hee, I know what you mean. They’re not the easiest to capture, but these guys were all over the place…I was snapping madly!
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Hi Jackie and thanks so much. I hope your rain lets up soon so you can get your pics. We’ve been pretty lucky as the weather’s been uneventful around here. Hope you get your sun soon!
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Hi and thanks, Another Blogger, and thanks for stopping by.
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Hi ann and thanks. Yeah, the first is my favorite too…he was just getting ready to take off, I think.
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Hi Sandy and thanks. I never really paid attention to butterfly names until I started the picture taking. And I never realized how many different ones there are. There are so many!
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Hi and thanks AVCr8teur. Glad you like ‘em.
Beautiful butterfly, great macro and amazing colour
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These photos are just beautiful, Holly. I love the color of these milk thistle..
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Absolutely stunning! Down here they don’t sit still long enough for me to get any good shots. Thanks for sharing yours!
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It’s wonderful the way you spend your days noticing and recording all these exquisite happenings. I think I appreciate the fact you do this even more than the pictures themselves.
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Twitter: earthtoholly
Thanks so much, Danilo. You’re too kind…really.
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Hi Icy BC and thanks so much. Isn’t that a beautiful shade of purple? I just love lavender, lilac…whatever color that is!
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Hi Lana and thanks so much. Yes, but you sure can capture those birds! I’ve yet to get a decent picture of a bird closeup the way you do. That is truly a skill.
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Thank you Nothing profound…how kind of you. I do enjoy just ambling about, looking for these things, although much to Lucy’s dismay. While I’m snapping away, she’s waiting for her walk to continue. Poor girl.
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