Gary
In Defense of Solidago!
As I walk along the edge of the woodlands in my Florida community on this autumn day, my attention is focused on two plants growing side by side. Both are in full bloom, one with golden-yellow flowers and one with plain greenish blossoms. One is responsible for causing miserable symptoms of hay fever; the other […]
The Intelligent Butterfly!
I lead Anne down a grassy hill from where the community clubhouse sits to the cypress swamp along the edge of Lake Tsala Apopka. The sun is still rising in the east and shade shrouds the forest except for a few rays that penetrate through small openings in the tree canopy. We stand there for a […]
Where do Butterflies go in the Winter?
It is October in Florida and although we look forward to the break in the extreme summer heat, Anne and I are anxiously awaiting the fall migration of birds and butterflies. Yes, I said butterflies. In northern U.S., some species of butterflies over winter in the hollows of trees. Others go into an animated suspension in […]
Our Morning with Butter-wings
Anne closes the front door as we leave our villa to begin our morning walk. I see a medium-sized butter-yellow butterfly fluttering around the red hibiscus shrubs that stand as sentries on each side of our garage. These plants prop up about a dozen red flowers each day. Although cloudless sulphur butterflies inspect these crimson adornments, I […]
How Did the Butterfly Get Its Name?
Personally, I always thought this beautiful insect should be called a flutter-by, not butterfly. Although, sometimes I call them special words I cannot post here when they don’t cooperate when I am trying to photograph them. Some think the butterfly got its name because many of the European butterflies were the color of butter and thus […]
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