Butterflies and flowers are made for one another. On a recent hike in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, many wildflowers were in full bloom, and from their joyous, creative aerial dances the butterflies couldn’t have been happier.
Little skipper butterflies were most abundant. I found this one, which I believe to be a Confused Cloudywing, flitting from bloom to bloom on this patch of Golden Ragwort, a daisy-like flower.
The afternoon sun nicely illuminated this invigorating scene. “Brown on Yellow and Green” is my Photo of the Week.
© Bruce Stambaugh 2018
Roadkill Crossing 
I saw a bunch of butterflies on my trail Monday. It is a popular area for them but none would land for me to take a photo. I guess they were shy or too busy. 🙂
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Jennifer,
I had the same problem, especially with skippers like these. However, this one showed up as I was attempting to photograph the flowers and got a bonus when the butterfly stayed on this particular clump.
Bruce
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I’m glad you had some luck with it! They are such busy bodies flying around everywhere.
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Bruce, A few years ago I was working in Virginia and
my birthday, August 23rd, fell on weekend. I took the day off
with friends for a short road trip to Old Rag Mountain in
the Shenandoah National Park for a day hike.
On the way out of the beltway on the interstate I kept noticing
blue butterflies flitting across the highway, which I thought
odd and out of place. Later, driving on lesser roads and gravel
roads to the trail head, the number of butterflies we saw was
astonishing, thousands, everywhere. I remember a low spot in
the road, a dip that held a large muddy puddle, that looked like
ten feet of the road had been paved with blue butterflies.
There obviously had been a “hatch” very recently and the results
were something to see.
I’d go out of my way to be in the Shenandoah again around that
date just to see it again.
Hope you’re well. Tell Neva I said hey. Tell her I’ve simplified
my fried corn meal mush by just cooking the corn meal in a
double boiler and then ladling it out on a hot griddle, skipping
the cold loaf step. Easier, but maybe not the same gratifying aesthetic.
Bye for now,
Joe in Spokane
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Thanks, Joe. That’s interesting about the butterflies. Were they all blue or blue and black with spots? The group in the mud was what is called a puddling of butterflies. They are often seen doing that, extracting minerals from the mud and other items like scat that are in open areas. We are well, just having lots and lots of rain right now. Give our best to Janice.
Bruce
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