Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly
I.D. by Tammy (Thanks)
It is Monday and I am just finding out that N. California had a scary earthquake Saturday. Being out of the "loop" has some negative points I suppose. About all I've done on the net this weekend is download tax forms, keep an eye on the weather, and read blogs.
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We finally had some sunshine yesterday afternoon and a bit more this morning, but now it is cloudy with more snow threatening; it is still very cold. Spring will be a humdinger this year; any warmer weather will be good weather. This past spring I saw the first robin in my yard on Feb. 16, but I had been seeing them around for about a week previously. I will begin my annual robin watch three weeks from today on Feb. 1. I need to get some raisins and dried citrus pieces to feed them while they await worms to migrate near the ground surface. Other critters also eat the fruit (dadgum jaybirds for one) so all I can do is put the food out and hope the robins get some of it. Robins also eat berries from the nandina during harsh spring weather.
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The lady Vols won easily and the men beat the top ranked team in the country. I am tiring of Spongebob Squarepants reruns; I wish they would show some old Rocko's Modern Life cartoons. Actually my favorite cartoons were made between 1935 and 1955; the ones they showed in movie theaters during those days. They had super animation and very little plot to worry about, and a lot of the earlier ones were in black and white.
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Have a great Monday.
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We finally had some sunshine yesterday afternoon and a bit more this morning, but now it is cloudy with more snow threatening; it is still very cold. Spring will be a humdinger this year; any warmer weather will be good weather. This past spring I saw the first robin in my yard on Feb. 16, but I had been seeing them around for about a week previously. I will begin my annual robin watch three weeks from today on Feb. 1. I need to get some raisins and dried citrus pieces to feed them while they await worms to migrate near the ground surface. Other critters also eat the fruit (dadgum jaybirds for one) so all I can do is put the food out and hope the robins get some of it. Robins also eat berries from the nandina during harsh spring weather.
----
The lady Vols won easily and the men beat the top ranked team in the country. I am tiring of Spongebob Squarepants reruns; I wish they would show some old Rocko's Modern Life cartoons. Actually my favorite cartoons were made between 1935 and 1955; the ones they showed in movie theaters during those days. They had super animation and very little plot to worry about, and a lot of the earlier ones were in black and white.
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Have a great Monday.
8 comments:
Ken, you are writing about robins as they were your good friends. You are ready to prepare for them some raisins and dried citrus pieces, oh, that's nice; raisin ['reizn] - my new word, so I must learn how to pronounce it... ;-)
I love you composed a photo of the black butterfly. This square format was really the best choice (actually square format is not easy).
Lately I also limited my time I used to spend on Internet. As you know I have my rehabilitation, besides I'm more focused on reading books.
Have a nice Monday evening, my friend. :-)
Early on warming spring mornings, there is no sound that satisfies my soul more than robins singing just for the pure delight of being alive. Yes, I dearly miss the robins. Even though the crocus may bloom before robins arrive here, they are the real harbingers of Mom Nature's promise to take care of us by allowing us to join hands with her and beginning anew each year. They are happiness. :-)
When using square format, it is difficult to "compose" the photo, especially when the subject about fills the frame. Just hope for the best. I have another sparrow for you tomorrow; I made the photo today while it was feeding on the back porch. :-)
Enjoying a book at anytime is a good thing, but being entertained by and making friends with literary characters in cold winter is heartwarming and relaxing.
Be well and stay warm, Jola. :-)
oh very nice and yes, well composed in the square.
Your bird collection is really looking good too. I expect to see them in a gallery and on one of those marvelous slide shows that we will have. Its going to be so nice to be going to only ONE place soon, I hope.
I would love to see your book ready for your store, even if you need to edit and produce it yourself. There are ebooks now, too as you well know. I wonder if we would be able to store our own writings and publish them to read on a kindle *spelling.
I can't believe your weather! Everyday I expect to see that you are as warm and balmy as we are here.
Hope the driving is going ok in the snow now too.
Sending you blankets and quilts.
:-I
I always liked Pinky and the Brain.
As for basketball I am in Duke country. I hate Duke. That should make for some interesting conversations.
With all the snow around this winter especially up in the mountains it should be an intersting spring if there is not all slow melt off.
Ken dear I think your photo is of simply an Eastern Black Swallowtail, at least according to my books. The Tiger Swallowtails are much larger and have prominent black/yellow colorings. I can't tell the gender of this specific one, although in my garden I can spot male/female at a glance unless its a Gulf Fritillary which are tough to identify.
Of course you may have a different species than the Florida types. Mike's favorites are the Zebra Longwings and mine are the Giant Tiger Swallowtails. I counted 6 different species of butterflies in my garden last year and I hope the cold weather doesn't keep them away this year.
I didn't know robins will eat fruit, I'll throw some out for them. I have been greated every morning with their song and when they are ready to come home I'll kiss them sweetly and send them your way.
Tamatha, the Butterfly Goddess of the South...
Thanks, Maggie.
I will keep both Flickr and new site accounts and probably the jpg one too.
I took the plunge and added a youtube song to the last photo I uploaded on the new stream; Smoke On The Water of course. It works! :-)
I now have the stories I want for the book save one. It will be a short book of short stories. I can get it published fairly cheaply in paperback and no photos, but I would like to have a few hardbacks. I bet most everything publishable will soon be Kindle ready.
It is snowing here again. This crap is supposed to break this week and be above normal temps for a few days.
My driving is fine so far; Carolyn shouldn't be allowed in a car! :-)
Blankets and quilts are very welcome. :-)
Pinky and the Brain is different enough to be good.
You are squatting smack in the middle of a basketball hotbed; should be fun.
If it's like around here, in springtime the deciduous trees allow a lot of sunshine to hit the ground and the snow is soon gone. A mid-spring snowfall would be good and it sometimes happens.
Thanks, Mark.
Thanks, Tammy. I think you are correct, although this was a pretty large butterfly. The photo is a bit deceiving; those leaves and flower masses were huge. It was made near the top of Roan Mt. where there is a lot of moisture year round. I saw some oxeye daisies almost as large as the palm of my hand.
I only looked at one or two photos via google, and I was obviously wrong. First mistake I ever made! ;-)
I like the little sulfurs, skippers, and tiny blues. I like any of them that will hold still long enough for a close portrait. :-)
I have seen robins pecking at apple cores, too. Send them along, kisses and all. Mark should be seeing them a week or two before us'uns in the hills. :-)
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