Jan and I took a "day trip" to Marble Falls last weekend to visit one of our favorite Hill Country wineries, Flat Creek Estates. I brought the camera in hopes of taking some good photos of the grounds and buildings, but these butterflies caught my eye. And that was that!
I am not sure of the name of the orange creature above. I looked it up on a butterfly identification website, and the best match is a Gulf Fritillary. It was very difficult to get them to stay still long enough to get a good sharp photo!
My old friend the Pipevine Swallowtail (see On to the Next One from 2007). There were many of these around the bushes and flowers. They were constantly running others off from the flowers which was very interesting to watch.
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This is a very close cropping of another photo of the Gulf Fritillary. If you look closely, you can see that it's sipping nectar from the flower! This photo is one I'd like to get enlarged and framed. I like it a lot. I hope you do, too.
I hope you enjoy these "gardens with wings," as one website has called them. I have re-cropped and replaced these photos so you can see the details better. Please come back soon and see what's new!
All the best,
Mike Z
---> PS - I just found a very nice video that shows off a little of the winery and the wines. Enjoy!
Hi there and thanks for note!! really glad to see your photos again. i love the butterflies, but vau...the sculptures are sooooo romantic as well!! wish we had something that cool here somewhere in the nature!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have something interesing for you to see! Since Texas is so vast a state, we have lots of room to make parks and gardens like this one. I've only been to a tiny fraction of what is out there!
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned, more coming in future days/weeks. See you then.
Mike
Just read my last comment over and it sounded a little like bragging... sorry, I didn't mean to.
ReplyDeleteJust trying to say that there's so much to see.
MZ
hehehee... i actually did not read any bragging out from that. but if there was any, then i bet it was so because you have a good reason for it. but anyhow, just dropping by to see any news ;)
ReplyDeleteall the best for you Mike!!!
Hi Mike - nice butterfly catches! Pretty sure the queens resemble monarchs underneath with the tops of the wings orange with spots - one of the Austin garden bloggers had a post about four similar butterflies but I can't remember who it was at the moment.
ReplyDeleteWe went to Flat Creek last spring and liked it, too - great place to take out-of-town visitors!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Thanks Annie, I thought it might be a monarch, but for some reason I couldn't find an example on any of the butterfly identity sites, so I didn't try to name it.
ReplyDeleteIf you find out who named the four that you saw, please let me know.
Glad you still visit the 'site!
all the best,
Mike Z
PS We go to Flat Creek often! I like the owners very much. (and the wines!)
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteI just put all new photos on this post. I spent a while cropping to bring out more detail in the butterflies, and added some I hadn't put up before.
I hope you'll come back by and see the new photos.
thanks for everyone checking in with MPM!
Mike Z
Amazing stuff Mike! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heather, I like the "re-do's" much better.
ReplyDeleteMike Z