Monarch Mania!

Monarch Mania Has Arrived!
Please enjoy photos of 13 Monarch butterflies from beginning to end, excluding the eggs.  These precious jewels metamorphosized into their chrysalises on April 28, 2012, and, about 8 days later,  on May 6 and May 7, 2012, they emerged out to their new world.

 

Monarch Butterfly Emergence on 4-25-2012

The new young Monarch butterfly has emerged onto her Monarch Butterfly Candle Jar!

Also…it is the Monarch Caterpillar explosion!  Fourteen in all to be exact!

 

 

My First Monarch Caterpillar of the Season!

Do you believe that this little Monarch “Cat” decided to choose such an appropriate place to make her home?  Enjoy!  Short video to soon follow!

Monarch Caterpillar

Monarch Caterpillar on my Monarch Candle container!

***Bees In The House!***

***Honey Bees and Black Bees***

I have been into the bee photography lately.  I think it is because I am in search of the ultimate bee picture.  I am guilty of not using a tripod and am not using a macro lens as of yet ( yes, I know…bad) …so it has become an obsession to try and shoot the perfect shot.  I have a lot of “almost” perfects…Oh well…I hope you enjoy them anyway.   I think you will be able to tell the difference between the Black Bee and the Honey Bee in my Enchanted Butterfly Garden!  Does anyone really know whether it is Honey Bee?  or Honeybee??

Bees And Hornets!

~March 18, 2012 – Sunday afternoon in my Mom’s flowers~

Well, I searched and searched but still cannot ID the wasp/hornet that is swathed with a beautiful pollen bath!  It looks very similar to a Yellow Jacket but the markings are not quite the same…The last photo shows clearer markings…possibly a Green Jacket?…Anyone know what it is?  The other, of course, is the Honeybee!  Enjoy!

In My Enchanted Butterfly Garden Today!

Red Admirals in the Air!

I spied this beautiful Red Admiral butterfly basking in the morning sun on my Bottlebrush tree this morning.  Spring is definitely in the air!  This Red Admiral cautiously looks on as a Honey bee stops by to take notice.

Honey Bee and Red Admiral

Honey Bee meets Red Admiral Butterfly

 

Long Boat Key Art Exhibition

The Ringling College of Art & Design presents Opening Reception: of Long Boat Key ANNUAL  JURIED  EXHIBITIONThursday March 8th from 5 – 7pm.  My wife Carolyn Hamilton & her Mom  Miki, will be attending and they both have submitted Art pieces.  Carolyn has entered her photograph of a Skimmer bird, and Miki painted an original oil piece.  This will represent the first time they have entered the same art show.

**Sand Wasp with host prey**

Sand Wasp – Bicyrtes

Back in June 2011, I just happened to be looking down on a patch of sand in my backyard with camera in hand…of course…just in time to capture this fascinating shot of a Bicyrtes Sand Wasp digging a hole in the sand where her  Stink bug prey will become the nutrients for her offspring survival.  After enjoying the photo (click on it to enlarge for detail), click on this link to see a really cool video of her process.  Really amazing stuff!

Sand wasp - Bicyrtes

Bicyrtes Sand Wasp hiding her Stink Bug prey!

CALLAWAY GARDENS, GEORGIA

Fun at Callaway Gardens!

Hello Enchanted Butterfly fans!  Last weekend, we took a family trip to Callaway Gardens in Georgia to see the beautiful butterfly Center featuring many species of exotic butterflies…so I strayed away from my own butterfly garden (as I do not get much action this time of year) to snap a few shots of these “flutterbys”…naturally, I try to catch them in flight but seemed to only be able to catch the beautifully decorated Paper Kite butterfly (native to Southeast Asia) in motion.  The gorgeous iridescently Blue Morpho and delicate Postman butterflies native habitats are the tropical rainforests of Central and  South America.  Again, these are just a few shots of the many colorful butterflies to enjoy at Callaway Gardens…so enjoy and click on the picture to enlarge!

Sulphur Egg

Hello Enchanted Butterfly Fans! I have been meaning to show this picture of a tiny Sulphur butterfly egg that I caught glistening in the sunlight on the edge of one of my Giant Cassia leaves. This is what so fascinates me about Mother Nature, the beauty that is right in front of our very eyes that so many of us don’t take the time to explore. Enjoy! Please click on the picture to enlarge.

Sulphur Butterfly egg

Beautiful Sulphur Butterfly Egg On Giant Cassia Leaf.