Paper Kite Butterfly

 Well did everyone have a great Easter weekend!

Cause today is April Fool's Day.  So watch out for all those jokers and pranksters.  Someone will get someone somewhere.

 

Paper Kite Butterfly

Take a look at this beautifully delicate butterfly.  This is a Paper Kite Butterfly Idea leuconoe.   The Paper Kite Butterfly is typically found in west Malaysia.  I found this beauty at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.



Paper Kite Butterfly

 

 An interesting little fact about these butterflies is that they belong to the subfamily of Danainae which is the same subfamily as the Monarchs.  As most of may or may not know is that the Monarch is poisonous to most of their predators which means so isn't the Paper Kite.  I never realized that there were so many butterflies that are poisonous.

 

Paper Kite Butterfly

 

The Paper Kite is also known as a Tree Nymph and Rice Paper Butterfly.  These butterflies are about 6 inches across and move quite slowly, but ever so gracefully.  They are quite stunning to watch.  So if you get the chance to visit a butterfly conervatory, by all means do.  It is peaceful and beautiful to watch such grace.

 

Have a terrific week! 

 

Malachite Butterfly

Happy Monday!!

Check out the lovely butterfly!

 

As my Dad would say that's a hum dinger!  Although he would say that about the fish he used to catch.

 

This is a Malachite Butterfly Siproeta stelenes.

For those who don't know what malachite means,  a green mineral that is a basic carbonate of copper used especially for making ornamental objects such as jewelry. 

 

 

(click on the image to view large or purchase)

The top side of the Malachite butterfly is dark brown to black with whitish green or yellowish green patches.  The Malachite's habitat are in mango, citrus and avocado orchards in Florida; subtropical evergreens and semideciduous forest in Central America.  They range from Brazil north to Central America, to Mexico, to Southern Florida and Texas. 

 

I photographed this Malachite butterfly at Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Massachusett.  I stop here every year on my way to Mystic, Connecticut where I do the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival.  I get there early and usually it's a weekday and while I walk about photographing, I look at such beauty and grace.  The peace and quiet takes over and I find myself so relaxed.  Each time I leave I'm ready to take on the remainder of my trip and I leave just as the groups start to roll in.

Have a Awesome Week!!!!

 



Social Networking....What's Working for You?

 

What's your key to successful social networking? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

I've been trying to find the right combination of social networking that I can manage. So this year I have chosen to work with facebook, twitter, my blog, both my Etsy and Fine Art America teams. The goal is to maintain some kind of consistency. Since that is what they say should be done.

So my blog will consist of Monday posts with new photos, Tuesday posts of Etsy treasuries and Friday posts for Flower Power Friday or Food Friday. I also have a pages for my Art Festival Schedule, Sales and Promotions and I will be having Scavanger Hunts throughout the year.

Now if this is too much by all means your input would be appreciated!

After posting to my blog, I post on Facebook and Twitter. I will also post a link to my blog on my Fine Art America site and then head over to my teams on Etsy and post there.

Now that is all regarding my blog. I will also post new photos and I've also been trying to post more general converation posts on Facebook.

 

So what do you think?  Am I on the right track or is it too much or not enough.  Your thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

Heliconius erato notabilis

(click on the image to view large or purchase)

 

If your ever in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, stop by and visit the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory.  This is where I photographed this beauty!

I would appreciate your input!

Have a great week!

 

Scavenger Hunt Coming Soon!

Monarch and Their Relatives

 

 

Happy Monday!

Last Monday I had mentioned that I was rearranging my work/office space and so far it is working out fine.

This Monday I have 3 new photographs that I have added to both my Etsy shop and Fine Art America.

 

 

Common Crow Euploea core

 

The beautiful butterfly above is known as the Common Crow.  Who would name such a beautiful butterfly such a name?  Some interesting facts about the Common Crow also known as the Oleander Butterfly.  They're related to the Monarch in that they have similar body types and feed on Milkweed and the Oleander plant which both have a toxin which the caterpillar ingests to protect it from predators as a caterpillar and as an adult butterfly.  The Common Crow is found in Australia,  South Asia and India.

 

I photographed the Common Crow at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.  For the past couple of years on my way to Connecticut I stop by and do some photographing and to just enjoy the quiet and beauty of these magnificent butterflies.  The Monarchs I photographed in my gardens.

 

Monarch Danaus plexippus

I've been playing around with some new techniques and I wanted to get your opinion on which photograph you like better.  The process with the above Monarch is using French Kiss textures to soften and give the photograph a more pastel feel.  Where the Monarch below is what I like to call a traditional photograph with some minor adjustments.

I have to say that I'm kinda in between, I love the softness of the above Monarch, but I love the bright boldness of the Monarch below.

Monarch Danaus plexippus

 



I guess it is a matter of preference.  The softer Monarch photograph would be great in a little girl's room or nursery.  Would even look great in a bathroom as would the bolder Monarch.  Well needless to say you can find them both in my Fine Art America and Etsy shops.

Speaking of shops....in the next few days I will be in the process of revamping my shops, mostly adding keywords and description for better SEO. 

 

In case you missed it here is last Friday's "Food Friday"post.

 

Tomorrow is Tuesday Treasuries and there are some great fines!

 

Have a great week!