Do you like hidden surprises? It is often hard to spot Question Mark butterflies (Polygonia interrogationis), because the drab texture and color of their external wings makes them look like dead leaves, helping them to blend in well with their surroundings.
When I spotted this butterfly last Tuesday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, it was perched with its wings closed. Gradually the butterfly began to open them wide and I was treated to the spectacular display of its inner wings that seemed to glow in the sunlight. The beauty that was hidden was now revealed in its full glory.
It makes me wonder how much hidden beauty I miss every day, deceived by external appearances and rushed by the hectic pace of daily life. Who knows what beauty awaits if I am alert and patient? Maybe those are the question marks to which I should be paying more attention.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful post…both in its wise words and the photographs. Thank you Mike.
Well put Mike. It is in the pausing and patient looking that we come to find beauty. At so many different levels.
I find the closer one pays attention to the little things in nature the more one is awarded with beauty and peace. Great post and pictures!
Thanks. And I definitely agree with your observation.
Very Nice Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
It really is an honor to find these wonderful creatures that are so easily overlooked by many! Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
Love the PROV 25 quote from William. Trying to go more slowly mentally. Body would like to REALLY slow down. Somehow mind racing numbs us to the awfulness about us. Does not do anything to create CALM and peace though. I am starting to think the Lord is not only the Prince of Peace but perhaps the ONLY source of peace in this life.
I’m with you, Molly. Jesus said he was leaving us with His peace, which is not the same as the peace that the world supposedly can give us. I can’t help but think of the last two verses of Matthew 6, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
As my eyes scan through the lovely photos of this butterfly’s unfolding wings some words came into my mind. In the introduction to a recently read old copy of Natalie Angier’s book “The Beauty of the Beastly”, she wrote : “The beauty of the natural world lies in the details.” Sometimes in nature things are more than they appear upon first glance as you have so beautifully shown. Thank-you, Mr. Mike.
Thanks, Ellen. I was fortunate in this case to be able to capture shots of the wings closed, partially open, and fully open. Each shot gives a different look and feel to the butterfly. That is one of the reasons why I like to watch my subjects for a while–one shot is rarely enough for me when I am seeking to capture details that will reveal the beauty or personality of my subjects.
Ooh, such a delight!
Your third shot was well worth waiting for. There are question marks and commas. I’ve wondered many times: Why is there not an apostrophe butterfly?
I was always in favor of the semi-colon, one of my favorite punctuation marks. It goes back to a joke when I was in the US Army. Colin Powell was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time. I used to tell everyone that I was only half the officer that he was, so instead of calling me Major Powell, they could call me Semi-colin Powell. 🙂
I had an uncle whose given first name was Major. He was a private in the army and they had to call him Private Major Turner.
Here in Europe we have a species that looks a bit like this one…. it’s the Polygonia c-album or “Gehakkelde aurelia”
Polygonia is definitely the same genus. They must be cousins. 🙂
There were question marks in my mind as you unveiled the rich magnificent colour of the gorgeous Question Mark butterfly.. very satisfying conclusion at the end!
Thanks, Liz. Questions are always good. 🙂