Last week I turned 60, but I am happy to confess that I still chase butterflies with much of the exuberance (if not quite the energy) of a child. There is something really special about the delicate beauty of butterflies that draws me in and the idea of their metamorphosis inspires me.
During a recent trip to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia, I was thrilled to spot this female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus). She was feeding on an identified plant that must have been tasty, because she kept moving from spot to spot on the plant, offering me multiple opportunities to get some shots.
I especially like the fact that I was able to get the sky into some of the images, reinforcing for me the idea of butterflies flying freely and lightly through the open air. Now that’s the way to live a life.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Happy Birthday, wonderful photographs. Keep them coming!
These are great shots. Happy BDay (I turn 60 a bit later this year).
Happy Birthday!
Happy sixtieth Mike. Lots of years of butterfly chasing ahead.The yellow swallowtail is beautifully photographed, I love it against the blue sky.
Happy Birthday! Great way to celebrate your entry into this wonderful 60’s club 🙂 ~SueBee
PS: love seeing your pics of the butterflies… I don’t see those as often as when I was a kid.
Forever young….
Happy Birthday Mike for last week… hope you had a great day and love the pics. xx
Your photos bring alive the small creatures
Meadowlark is great. Have you been to the National Botanical Gardens? I actually never have but am thinking of going this weekend!
Many happy returns, you are never to young to chase butterflies.
Belated best, Mike! I’m not at all afraid to admit that, two months from today, I’ll be your senior by a decade. Keep chasing the lovelies–it’s true that it helps to keep you young at heart!
happy birthday Mike, that last shot is perfection and my favorite.
Happy belated B-Day, now in your advanced age be safe getting those low angle pics.. 😉
Thanks, Ed. I didn’t really intend to solicit birthday greetings, though they are always welcome. I’m finding that getting down for the low angle shots is not a problem, but getting back up can be challenging. 🙂
I hear ya, its the getting back up thats a pain in the knees.. 🙂
Happy birthday Mike. Chasing those butterflies will keep you feeling young!
Lovely images, Mike. Happy birthday to a fellow Leo!